Sand Fleas for Snook

[stephen]

Guys,
I'm heading down to FL (Clearwater) in two weeks and was tying up some sand fleas out of sheer boredom due to the 2'+ of snow I have her in northern Michigan. I began wondering if these would work for cruising snook along the beaches? I've heard of them used for Pompano but thought it might be fun to toss one out in front of a snook in the wash. Should I bother trying it or stick with the EP minnows? Two weeks until hapiness sets in................
Steve

[Onshore]

I have no experience using them for Snook but, then, that doesn't mean muchl I've taken Snook on small deceivers and Shrimp imitations.

During last Summer and Fall I found Snook often right in the first wave before daylight which is where Sand Fleas occur too. Give it a shot and let us know how they work.

[En Fuego]

Never thrown a live sand flea at a snook. But if its is white and shiney it doesnt matter what you call it. I would stick with the minnows or pilchard looking fish pattern.

[Quicksilver]

Funny you should ask this question. I have a old timer friend who lives in Naples, FL. At the moment he is under the weather, but he usually starts his day by walking and fishing the beach at Doctors Pass. Last time I visited him he showed me the remnants of a fly and asked me to copy it. The fly was on a #6 hook. The body was white yarn and the wraps went halfway down the bend of the hook. The fly appeared to have a white hackle palmered over the body. (Wasn't much left of it). My friend told me the original fly had flash worked into the body, although there was no trace of flash on the fly I looked at. He said one morning a guy was killing snook with the fly.

[Tarpon41]

Would agree with previous poster EF as to white and flash and QS observation at to white ...I never used a flyrod in Doctors Pass but plenty of pinfish...mullett...green backs and probably at least 5 full cards of white peanut head jigs forgot the tackle makers name...white deceiver/clouser red eyes...size of weight eyes depended on what depth the snook...back when I fished the area it was at nite at the dock lights... my experience in doctors pass and marco was that if you tipped the white jig with shrimp I got reds and mangrove snapper more than snook so I just used straight white jig...1/4/ to 3/8...when after snook

[stephen]

Sounds like the crystal minnows and EP minnows are the best bet but if I get a shot I'm giving it a try. I'll post results, good or bad. Thanks.
Steve

[saltydancindave]

Snook probably eat sand fleas, but this time of the year with the water being so cold there won't be any snook on the beaches; so the fish that bite the sand fleas will most likely be pompano & sheepshead off the gulf beaches.:cool:

[En Fuego]

Stephen,
Its a little chilly(by florida standards) for the snook to be on the beach. But try early am, I mean first light am. Stay away from the main beach and Pier 60 and head to the north end of the beach. Really your best shot would be to find a hotel on the intercoastal with a dock and dock light. Snook are stacked in the residential canals right now where the water is a few degrees warmer.
Below is a good pattern this time of year. (the other pic is my dock light last night with some pets) Snook are hitting tiny minnows, because the regular pilchards are not plentiful. Snook season opens March 1 on the west coast. Good luck

[flyfishsalt]

this spring the water temps are very warm along the gulf beaches and the snook are already on the beaches. I see guys who rake sand fleas for pompano catch snook all the time...

[stephen]

My hotel has a lighted dock so I'll make sure to visit it in the PM. I fish the beaches for whatever is there. If there's snook so much the better. Thanks for all the advice.
Steve

[oldpogie]

I'm headed to Pensacola the same time and wondered about the beach opportunities as well.

Is there a water temperature that makes the surf fishing a more viable option? I know it's late winter/early spring in the panhandle should I look to the backwaters and leave the surf alone?

Thanks all...

By the way 93" of snow in Grand Rapids, MI over the last three months..whatever the weather is in Pensacola is just fine with me.