Fly Fishing Everglades Snook

Everglades Fly Fishing: Snook

Those in the know understand the appeal of a Snook. Snook don’t get the hype that the “Big-3” (tarpon, permit, and bonefish) receive, but those who have spent time in Southwest Florida chasing big Snook with a fly rod will attest that catching a big Everglades Snook on fly is a fly fishing accomplishment on par with or greater than a Key West permit.

Snook are found all over the waters of the Everglades, Marco Island, and Naples, and tend to move from the beaches to the backcountry as the weather cools. Snook will inhabit deeper water, but will use the shallow mangrove shorelines, flats and bays to hunt and regulate body temperature. They are ambush predators and can be seen laying motionless in the shallowest of places or sliding across a mud flat looking for its next meal.

Snook have some of the most explosive eats in the saltwater world and will eagerly smash an assortment of flies. Once hooked, they will try to destroy your gear, often heading for the mangroves in an attempt to break you off.

When should I come to the Everglades to fly fish for snook?

Fly fishing for a big Everglades Snook is a test of patience, stealth, accuracy, and determination that occurs year-round with most snook anglers agreeing that the months of November-April are the best time of the year to sight fish a good one on fly.