Figured i'd repost it for anyone new to snook fishing from bridges or piers.
I thought i would share some simple procedures that I have learned along the way to safely catch and release my favorite fish the SNOOK. If you feel like i have missed anything please feel free to add something on. Its very important that you handle them with extra care this time of the year they are here to reproduce and make more snook so they are vulnerable.

1) When live baiting try and use circle hooks as they will prevent gut hooking a fish most of the time.

2) In the event you do gut hook or gill hook a fish just cut the line do not pull or tug on it and try and free your hook this will kill the fish.

3) Try and use tackle that will quickly end the fight as not to completely exhaust the fish.

4) When your using artificials such as x raps or mirrolures that have trebles remove the front set of trebles you will still hook the fish it just eliminates some of the possibilty of damaging gills or your body when removing the lure.

5) Once you have your lunker snook up and want that picture try and do this as quickly as possible . The fish is not breathing while outta the water. Hold your breath as long as it takes to dehook and take pictures and this is what the fish feels like after such a tough battle,remember they don't know they're being released they fight as hard as they can to escape.

6)When your posing for your picture support the fish horizontally NEVER vertically this can and will cause internal as well as any egg damage. They are here to spawn so lets try and let them have the best chance to reproduce. One hand to support the jaw and one to support the belly.

7)This is the most important of all IMO. You used a bridge net to get that lunker up and take your picture use that same net to lower her down. Never ever just throw a snook over the rail if they are carrying eggs that will destroy the eggs as well as being fatal a lot of times to the fish.

If you do see someone spearing or poaching (illegally harvesting) call FWC immediately 1 888 404 3922

saw some people throwing over snooks after being caught at juno. a few weeks back(like 2 weeks ago ) u would here them slam at the water

Number 4 is for tyler.

i regret not saying nothing because there wew quite a few being slammed that day but thell get there slam one day!

i had slamed one snook because no one came with a net so when i tryed to put him in the water he sliped out my hands.

great post!

great post indeed and guideline!.

I yelled at a couple kids @ Juno the last time I was there. Hopefully they'll take more care releasing next time.

Great Post this should be stickied in the how to section.

Shouldn't even take the fish out of the net. Rest it at the rail and lean over next to it if you need your proof so badly, then just lower it right back down asap.
And people, try and learn how to pop off a Tarpon instead of bringing it up on the pier.

Who said I was releasing the snook? Lmao Just kiddingI would never do that. But yea, those are good rules to follow/

Great post. Pass the word.

This post is a sticky and has been moved to the How to area.

Thank you Scott for this information

Scott, great post. The only thing I would ad, for whatever it amy be worth....

Quote "4) When your using artificials such as x raps or mirrolures that have trebles remove the front set of trebles you will still hook the fish it just eliminates some of the possibilty of damaging gills or your body when removing the lure."


Replace trebles with single hooks. You will be surprised.

Totally agreed.

That is the way to do it especially in spawn time.

Other thing I can think of is not to touch the fish and rub against the scales if you wind up taking it out of the net for any reason.

Use a bridge net with a smaller mesh to avoid gilling the fish

Great post Scott

Tommy thank you for making this a sticky and thanks everyone for the compliments hope it helps save a few linesiders.