Winter Snook School

FALL FISHING ON THE LOWER LAGUNA MADRE was exceptional with lots of triple digit tarpon, bull reds and big snook being landed.

Now that we are in the bone-chilling months of January and February, it is time to change gears. For us anglers in deep south Texas, this season means good snook and speckled trout fishing.

Along with pristine grass flats and mangroves, the Lower Laguna Madre fishery has deep water areas with lots of structure that common snook are known for inhabiting. Here are some techniques to help land these one-of-a-kind fish this winter.

Topwaters: Catching snook on topwaters has to be the most fun and visually pleasing style of hooking these fish. Mid-day seems to provide the best window to throw noisy topwaters such as a Shimano Current Sniper, along rock edges or walls.

I like the 95mm size in these lures that produce the perfect amount of ruckus, have sturdy hooks and are easy to “walk the dog.” We’ve had several days, where the only thing they want to eat is a topwater on the surface. These days are my favorite. Make sure to beef up your leader line when using topwaters for snook. The wild headshakes will leave you with a frayed line and lost fish. 

Jigheads: The most effective technique during the winter months to hook a snook is to use a heavy jighead paired with a soft plastic, such as a D.O.A. Lures 3-inch C.A.L. Shad Tail. With the warmest water temperatures being at the lower level of the water column, using a heavy jighead keeps your bait in the zone where snook will be laid up.

As far as lure color, it depends on the water clarity that day. If it’s dirty water, try a dark-colored soft plastic. When trying this technique, think flounder fishing; low and slow.

Live bait: I personally prefer to throw lures for redfish and speckled trout. However, putting a live bait out for a giant snook has quickly become a preferred way of fishing for them. Capt. Brian Barrera, who is the Lower Laguna Madre’s premier snook and tarpon fishing guide, has fished here for years targeting big common snook. I have witnessed him land the largest Texas snook I have ever seen on a live bait.

Free-line a mullet or pinfish so it swims on the surface or use a weighted hook, such as a Skyline ¼ ounce weighted circle hook to keep the bait lower in the water column. Both work great depending on the water and the day.

Pairing these techniques with sonar technology will, without a doubt, increase opportunities for landing fish. “Humminbird’s MEGA Side Imaging® technology not only helps me find the fish, but also determines what type of mood they are in.

“If I see fish above the thermocline or in the upper water column, it makes me feel like they’re happy and eating,” says Capt. Brian Barrera. “which means it is topwater time. If I’m marking them on the bottom, they may not be as happy, so I’ll drop big jigs down or small live baits,”

Barrera uses the Humminbird Solix 12. Humminbird’s Side Imaging® clearly shows what direction, depth and distance a fish is at, giving you the added advantage.

Last year, the months of January and February blessed us with great inshore fishing. By fishing areas with good tidal movement, we were locating groups of not only snook, but speckled trout and redfish.

You know you got it good when you have snook on the brain, but end up catching a 29-inch speckled trout as a bycatch. If this winter follows suit, we are in for a good time.

For more information on snook or to book a trip for this unique fish, visit www.inshorefishingsouthpadre.com.

 

Email Kelly Groce at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

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