image gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.comBy Capt. Robert McCue
There’s no question that fishing for snook when the bite is on, has more to offer than any other type of fishing in Florida. Then again, when snook fishing conditions are off, you are better off fishing for other Florida gamefish. Let's take a look at Florida snook and our snook fishing charters...perhaps you too have what it takes to be a relentless Florida snooker.
Snook. Just the name strains even the imagination. Living in a jungle of snags or on open water Florida sugar-sand beaches, striking like marauding tuna or with the elegance of dining royalty, walking on water or slugging it out deep, there is nothing common about the Common Snook- except the animal's natural beauty and the memories the fish leaves with you after the fight.
Snook are sub-tropical fish and are most common to Central America. Historic changes in the earth's weather is what brought the snook to Florida. It is believed that during a great warming trend after the Ice Age, snook moved northward along the Mexico shoreline. They followed the perimeter of the Gulf of Mexico, down the West Coast of Florida and up the East Coast. Since then, continued changes in the weather patterns have just about eliminated the population north of Homosassa on the West Coast and Port Canaveral on the East Coast of Florida.
Snook are complicated animals. Among other things they are highly temperature sensitive. Like other fish they are cold-blooded animals, meaning they rely on the temperature of the water to heat their bodies. The snook's comfort range is between 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything outside that range and the fish become sluggish and inactive. Much below the lower range is a real matter of concern to the snook. Snook cannot tolerate sudden changes much below 60 degrees. Below 58 degrees snook are in danger of dying. A sudden blast from Jack Frost is a sure death sentence. We have learned just recently that if the water slowly falls below 58 degrees, snook can acclimate and survive. For how long and how much they can handle is uncertain. Thanks to warmer weather patterns over the last decade, Florida is enjoying some great snook fishing. Understanding weather, temperature, and periods of daylight are essential to catching this sleek gamefish. I believe more so than other fish we hunt on our Florida fishing charters, snook are the most temperamental to the elements.
Though snook don't actually migrate or "run'' on the West Coast of Florida, they do make great movements throughout their range. These movements are more of an east and west direction than north and south on the Florida Gulf Coast.
During the winter, snook move to areas of warmer water. Rivers and deep creeks feature freshwater run-offs and springs that seep water from the earth at a comfortable 72 degrees. Deep water canals and ship ports offer an insulation blanket. Slower to cool, snook can use these man-made holes to stay away from the rapid cooling of the bays and the Gulf. Florida power plants and their warm- water discharges offer a great refuge to winter snook lucky enough to find them.
Adopted From : http://www.activeangler.com/flyfishing-articles/mccue-snook.shtml