UTERSnook fishing in The Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, snook peak April–July and September–October and are around year-round, spawning in May–July, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Fish at the bridges and in the channels.
Snook opens in the backcountry; bones, permit and the return of the kings. Snook on the backcountry bridges and creeks; bonefish on the higher fall tides; kings and Spanish return to the reef edge and the wrecks.
Snook in The Florida Keys, month by month
- JanuaryAroundBackcountry and the bridge channels; Flamingo side.
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilPeakFish at the bridges and in the channels.
- MaySpawningSpawning around the bridges and channels — check MyFWC.
- JuneSpawning
- JulySpawning
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeakBackcountry creeks and the bridges.
- OctoberPeakSnook opens in the backcountry; bones, permit and the return of the kings. Snook on the backcountry bridges and creeks; bonefish on the higher fall tides; kings and Spanish return to the reef edge and the wrecks.
- NovemberAroundFall bonefish; sailfish season begins; kings on the wrecks. The best bonefish tides of the year on the oceanside; kings and cobia on the wrecks and the reef edge as the water cools.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish snook near Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon
Oceanside flats and patch reefs inside the reef line, the reef itself, then the Gulf-side banks and basins of Florida Bay and the backcountry. Bridges and channels connect the two. The clearest, warmest water in the state.
Fish Scouter charts 871 mangrove shoreline, 339 dock / pilings, 88 bridge, 49 pass / inlet, 43 beach / surf spots in the The Florida Keys 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 Florida Keys?
Peak season is April–July and September–October, with fish spawning in May–July (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Snook are here year-round. April: Fish at the bridges and in the channels.
Where do snook hold in The Florida Keys?
Look on pass / inlet, bridge, channel edge — around Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine, Key West.
What is the best bait for snook in The Florida Keys?
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 Florida Keys?
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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