Snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are the inshore "grand slam" for many Florida anglers. All three live in the same kinds of places - grass flats, mangroves, docks and creek mouths - and can be caught with the same light spinning tackle.
Snook
Snook love structure: mangrove shorelines, docks, bridges and inlet jetties. They are ambush feeders that face into the current, waiting for bait to wash past. Snook are sensitive to cold, so in winter they move up into rivers, canals and deeper, warmer water. Live shrimp, pilchards and soft plastic jerkbaits all work well.
Redfish
Redfish feed on crabs, shrimp and small fish around oyster bars, grass flats and mangrove edges. On a calm, shallow flat you can sometimes spot their tails waving above the water as they root for crabs. Gold spoons, soft plastics on a light jighead and cut bait are all reliable.
Spotted seatrout
Seatrout (speckled trout) cruise over grass flats in 3 to 6 feet of water. Drifting the flats with a popping cork and a live shrimp or soft plastic is a classic Florida technique. Trout have soft mouths, so play them gently.
Simple tackle that does it all
- 7 foot medium-light spinning rod and a 2500 to 3000 size reel
- 10 to 15 lb braid with a 2 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader (20 to 30 lb)
- Soft plastic paddle tails and jerkbaits, 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigheads, a popping cork and a gold spoon
Timing
Early mornings, evenings and moving tides are best. A rising tide pushes fish up onto flats and into the mangroves. Our tide guide explains how to match the tide to the spot.