Getting Snookered in Texas 

WHEN IT COMES TO inshore fish, there’s no doubt that snook dominate their class. And yes, besides Florida, Texas is home to a fishable and expanding population of snook.

Their pronounced, black lateral line is something to marvel over as well as their gleaming yellow dorsal fins and narrow set of eyes. Aggressive in attitude, snook check all the boxes an angler could seek with their extraordinary fight. Hostile headshakes, freight train runs and full body aerials; these fish do it all.

Releasing a snook is just as fun as catching one. The mouth of a snook is similar to that of a largemouth bass. When releasing one, grasp its lower jaw with your thumb. The snook will close down on it until it’s ready to swim off. This is where they get the nickname “thumb-sucker.”

The Lower Laguna Madre is the prime spot to target both species of snook, the common and the fat snook. South Texas has mild winters which are favorable for snook, who are sensitive to cold water temperatures. Both the deep waters of the Brownsville Ship Channel and the South Padre Island/Boca Chica Jetties are great, safe havens for these fish when the temperatures drop. During the freeze of 2021, snook sought refuge in these deep-water channels and didn’t take a massive hit.

The slot for a snook in Texas is 24 to 28 inches. With their numbers on the rise, it is not uncommon to hook one or two fish of this size during a fishing trip. These fish are also growing in overall size. Capt. Brian Barrera is a local fishing guide who specializes in tarpon and snook and has spent days on end studying and chasing after these fish.

On a recent trip I had with Brian, he caught a massive snook coming in at 38 inches. We landed several fish in the 33- to 36-inch range on this same day, as well. If you’re like me and thought snook of this size only existed in Florida, think again.

Similar to bass, snook seem to eat everything, or nothing at all. When they aren’t being picky, there are several ways to catch a line-sider. Focus on areas with structure and preferably a strong current. Live baits such as a finger mullet under a cork, or a noisy top-water, even a soft plastic on a heavy jighead will make an attractive snook meal.

The rarity of catching a snook in Texas makes the pursuit and chase of this first-class fish that much more special. No matter the size, landing a lone star line-sider is a prized moment for any angler.

 

Email Kelly Groce at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

< PREV Return to CONTENTS Page NEXT >