UTERSnook fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, snook are around May–September but never at the peak of their run, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: A few fish around Ponce and Matanzas in warm years — not the story here.
Not in The First Coast this month.
Snook in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayAroundA few fish around Ponce and Matanzas in warm years — not the story here.
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAroundBull red spawn in the river mouth; the mullet run begins. The best bull redfish of the year at the Mayport jetties and the river mouth; mullet start down the beach with jacks and tarpon behind them.
- OctoberNot here
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish snook near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 351 dock / pilings, 79 mangrove shoreline, 51 bridge, 18 beach / surf, 5 pass / inlet spots in the The First Coast map area — the kinds snook hold on.
What to use for snook
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- CroakersHooked through the back on a 2/0 to 3/0 circle hook, free-lined or on a Carolina rig — big trout and redfish can't leave them alone.
- Leader30–50 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–5/0
- Jig head1/4–1/2 oz
- Braid15–30 lb
Feeds in 68–90°F water, best at 74–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch snook in The First Coast?
Snook are in The First Coast May–September, but the calendar never marks a peak here. May: A few fish around Ponce and Matanzas in warm years — not the story here.
Where do snook hold in The First Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, dock / pilings, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for snook in The First Coast?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, finger mullet, live shrimp. Pilchards (whitebait): Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore. Tackle: leader 30–50 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–5/0, jig head 1/4–1/2 oz, braid 15–30 lb.
What are the rules for snook in The First Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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All about snook · The First Coast, the whole year