Snook fishermen often argue about the best baits for snook fishing.
For many, they’re keen to use the same bait they’ve used for years just because it works for them and brings in the results.
If you’re having trouble with your baits and lures or are new to snook fishing, you might want to know, what are the best baits and lures are for snook fishing?
The short answer is pinfish, finger mullet, and shrimp are the best baits for snook fishing no matter the depth of the water. As for lures, you’re looking at 3-inch and 5-inch while paddles tails. These should have a 1/8 oz jig head for shallower water and a 1 ½ oz flair-hawk jig for deep water.
This complete guide to baits and lures for snook fishing will tell you all the techniques and tips to get you catching more snook.
Table of Contents
The Basics of Snook Fishing
One reason why anglers often debate different baits is that presentation is almost as important as the bait itself.
So, if one fisherman uses something different from you, it might still be good because of the way it is presented.
You can get almost anything to work in the right conditions and with the right presentation.
Where to Go Snook Fishing
Before we look at the best baits and lures, you need to be in the right place for snook.
Here are some great locations for snook fishing:
- Docks – snook like structures and so love to be in dock pilings where there are lots of grasses, barnacles, and oysters for example. They also like facing into a current so placing the bait up current will give the best results.
- Sea walls – this is another excellent place to fish for snook as they like to pin prey against the walls so there is one less way they can escape.
- Bridges and inlets – you can catch some really big snook around bridges and inlets!
- Beaches – snook can often be found within three or so feet of the shore as they seek out whiting, croakers, and other shoals that spend time in the shallow water.
- Creek mouths and mangroves – these are excellent spots to find snook, especially at high tide. Snook like cruising under mangrove branches when they’re hunting for food.
- Spillways – during rainy months when spillways are in operation to stop flooding, thousands of freshwater shrimp, shiners and bluegills arrive but they struggle with the saltwater environment and so snook eat them up quickly.
The Best Baits for Snook Fishing
Now we know where to go, we need to know what to use.
The good news is that you can use so many different baits to attract snook.
Let’s look at some of the best.
Shrimp
If you want to catch a snook, this top’s the best bait for snook list!
Scaled Sardines
Since baitfish exist naturally in the water, snook will often bite on the ones they see often. For snook, sardines are a familiar sight, so these are a good bait to use.
Grunt
As the name suggests, grunts make groaning noises. These will catch snook whenever you use them as bait.
Pinfish
This is a great bait for any sea fishing!
Finger Mullet
A common type of fish that is often consumed by humans either smoked or fried, the finger mullet is also a popular dish with snook (no cooking necessary, of course!)
Ladyfish
A great bait is a live ladyfish – and these can catch foot-long snook or longer!
Perch
Both silver perch and sand perch are great baits to use to catch snook.
Threadfin
Threadfin is also a great bait and is part of the Herring family. Their name comes from their extended dorsal fin.
Crabs
Finally, crabs can be used as snook bait.
Best Baits for Snook in Different Locations
If you’re heading to the docks as suggested and want a dead bait, mullet chunks and ladyfish chunks are a great choice, especially the heads, which snook seem to love.
You can also use dead pinfish in the same way.
As for sea wall fishing, some good live baits to use are mullet, pinfish, or whitebait.
For the beach, you can use all of the ones mentioned or try out a croaker.
Top 5 Best Lures For Snook
Now we’ve got an idea of the bait to use, let’s look at some of the best lures:
1. Dr. Fish Bucktail Jig Fluke Lure
This is a great lure that makes catching snook easy thanks to its realistic feel.
- LIFELIKE. 3D eyes and scaled holographic jig body
- PREMIUM MADE. Bucktail made in the USA, provides realistic glides-through and swim-along action in water, set this jig from those cheap products who hang straight down after hitting water
- PRODUCTIVE. It is great for jigging off the bottom fishing weakfish, fluke, and walleye. As well as for bluefish, stripers, snook and other inshore species
- Equipped with hooks with great durability and super sharpness. The milky bucktail jig glows in Dark night
- Weight: 1/2oz; Color&Qty.: white; 3pcs
It is unique and comes in a variety of colors to make it stand out in the water.
With its 3D eyes and scaled body, it also has realistic bucktail hair that hides the hook.
2. TRUSCEND Lures
This lure is really flexible. Its bulging 3D eyes and scaled body make it look enticing to snook.
- ?Lifelike Swimbait - Designed with multi-jointed body sections, Truscend 3.9&5.4 fishing lures deliver a natural S-shaped swimming action at any speed, affording an incredibly flexible bend to deliver extra action. Makes it a prime target for hungry fish.
- ?Multi Jointed Body - Constructed with a tough ABS plastic body that is supported by ultra strong mesh woven fabric, which will bring you an ultimate fishing experience.
- ?Mustad Hooks - Equipped with super sharp treble hooks, high durability and flexibility in saltwater and freshwater.
- ?Artificial Bait - 3D printing body with perfect pearl powder coating. Brilliantly replicates color and patterns of actual bait fish.
- ?These lures are arguably one of the most realistic imitation hard baits ever made: triggering the natural predator instinct of these freshwater or saltwater monste
The lure is divided into eight segments that are connected for life-like movement. It has a sharp hook too.
3. Rapala X-Rap Lure
This snook lure is great for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. Despite its small size, it has excellent features including a 3D holographic design.
- The adrenaline-pumping X-rap slashbait has Xtreme attitude with its hard-cutting, aggressive darting action
- Running depth: 3-8 feet
- Weighs .4375 Oz
- The integrated long-casting system partners with an irresistible rattle and classic rapala action
- It suspends and comes to a roll at rest to trigger the b
This can be seen underwater and can go three feet in. It’s great for any depth and can also be used at high tide.
4. Livetarget Yearling Squarebill
This is a great artificial snook bail for both amateurs and professionals.
- Squarebill design comes through cover
- Imitates a small school of baitfish
- Silent design for a subtle presentat
The structure is lifelike and realistic and has two sharp hooks attached.
You won’t catch a really large snook with this but it’s good nonetheless.
5. Livetarget Scaled Sardine
This is a lure most commonly used by professional anglers and you can’t go wrong.
It has a flexible, realistic structure and feel, going with the water flow and catching snook in both shallow and deep water.
- Product type : FISHING HOOK
- Package weight : 0.050 lbs
- MADE IN United States
- Package dimension : 12.446 cm x 5.588 cm x 2.54
There are different models available. The hook on this lure is also corrosion-resistant and can be used for ice fishing or fly fishing too.
It also has great underwater visibility.
Final Thoughts
You’re not alone in wanting to catch snook; it’s one of the most sought-after species along the coast and in inshore waters.
These fish, while being abundant, can be difficult for inexperienced anglers to catch.
If you’re someone who has had trouble catching snook in the past, then we hope this complete guide to baits and lures for snook fishing has helped guide you in the right direction.
Other things that you can try are going fishing late or early in the day.
The last couple of hours before the sun sets or the first couple of hours before the sun rises are the best times to fish for snook.
You could also fish for snook at night!
Read Next
- What Pound Line is Best for Catfish Fishing?
- Complete Guide to Baits and Lures for Snook Fishing
- Best Time to Fish for Bass in a Pond – Plus Reasons Why!
- Beginners Guide for Catching Bluegill in Summer and Winter
- Muskie vs Pike: The Main Differences Between These Fish
- How To Set Up for Fishing Perch
