Dock lights for snook on the fly is Pure Enjoyment
Sight fishing for snook using fly fishing tackle is an adrenaline-charging, rewarding and sporting tactic for catching this prized inshore saltwater gamefish. You get to see the catch before even making a well-placed cast, and when you do, it’s rod bending, line stripping pure enjoyment as you battle with this shallow water acrobat of skinny water.
Believe it or not, there’s an obscure tactic for catching snook on the fly in south Florida, on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Leave your sunglasses at home and go sight fishing for snook at night. Finding where to start your search is the easiest part. Spending hours scouting through signs of bait and snook in a maze of mangroves is unnecessary. What is more, you don’t even need a boat. And the minimal effort guarantees a hook up with the oftentimes spook-prone snook.
Dock lights. That, in simple, terms are where this obscure tactic works best. Bait is attracted to the beam of light cast across the water’s surface, and that food source sets off the predator instinct of the snook. They know where there is light, there is an easy meal. And for the angler, dock lights are equally as easy to find. Think of dock lights like feeding stations for the snook. The action can go year-round, and especially on the southwest Gulf Coast and the Atlantic side in the Miami area.
Choosing dock lights for snook
The best docks have good tidal current that serve as ambush points for the snook, as the bait is swept past them in the illuminated water. Like all shallow predators, snook prefer isolated cover for ambushing bait, and that includes dock lights. Look for docks with limited lights; too much illumination scatters the fish across a broader area, making them difficult to pin down. Snook aren’t particular about the kind of light on the dock. Overhead lights using a single light bulb, or giant incandescent or high-intensity gas-discharge lights area ideal, as they will create silhouettes of bait (and your fly), making them easier for the snook to home in on. The keys are a consistent source of food and tidal current.
Stealth is a key factor for dock light snook on the fly
Mobility aside, a boat is the ideal for covering the most docks and locking in on which have the most bait, the timing of the best tidal flow, and other obvious reasons. However, this tactic is ideal for those on foot. You practice stealth when in a boat, shutting off the outboard and either deploying shallow water anchors or drifting with the tide. Shut off the motor well outside the light arc cast across the surface when fishing from a boat. On the dock, your stealth approach focuses on soft steps and going light with tackle, wearing a backpack or sling bag with everything you need. A few of my favorites Here.
Fly choices for fly fishing in the dock light for snook
Schooling minnows swarm dock lights, and shrimp are common around dock lights and offer great opportunity for dock lights for snook on the fly. The key is matching the size and profile of the bait to the choice of flies. Baitfish fly patterns are white; brown is preferred for shrimp. Dock light fly anglers typically tie flies on No. 4 hooks, but carrying bigger flies are desirable when snook are feeding on small mullet or larger sardines. Fly tackle gets the nod over spinning tackle as small flies (as small as size 8) resemble the size of glass minnows and small bait favored by snook.
Our recommended fly rod for dock light snook
While fishing dock lights, keeping snook away from the dock pilings is a must to avoid losing the fish. At the minimum an 8-weight fly rod with sufficient drag will help prevent the fish from running into the danger zone. Use at least 30-pound fluorocarbon leader with a 20-pound tippet section of two feet.
Great Florida Night Snook Destinations
Some of the best locales for nighttime dock light fishing are around Sarasota. The Grand Canal in Siesta Key and Lido Key are targets. Longboat Key has an extensive canal system running through this barrier island. Topping the list is Snook Alley, known for its abundance of dock lights, and the four nearby bays that create a flushing action that attracts bait and snook.
Great Adventures on the Water Await
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