Best Live Bait Rigs for Snook & How to Use Them

Snook fishermen are fortunate enough to be able to target these great gamefish in many different places with many different applications. From the spillways to the beaches, live bait is hard to beat for linesiders. Here are a few of my favorite rigs for snook, no matter where I’m fishing in the state.

1. Circle Hook & Small Float

I like to spice up the typical free-line rig with a small float, roughly three feet above the hook. This is my go-to when fishing mullet along seawalls and docks. The reason for the float isn’t to keep the bait high in the water column, but more so a visual for me. The small, streamlined cork still allows the bait to swim freely but still lets me see when the bait is getting close to the strike zone or near structure. The small size also doesn’t cause much resistance when the fish is swallowing the bait and swimming away prior to setting the hook. I’ve had snook spit baits out before the hook-up due to the resistance of a larger cork being pulled underwater. 

2. Knocker Rig

A knocker rig excels when fishing areas such as docks where a precise cast may be necessary to get your bait in front of the fish but give a little more movement to your bait over something like a jig head.

The knocker rig is as simple as they come, an egg sinker right above the hook. The weight “knocks” down onto the hook. These work great for any baits that like to be on the bottom. Large live shrimp, pinfish and croakers are a few that come to mind. Keeping a tight line, the weight stays snubbed up to the hook in the water, fishing like a jighead.

Open your bail and the weight will then lay stationary on the bottom. Your line will then slide through the hole of the weight, allowing your bait to swim freely. Close your bail and get tight and the bait snubs right back up to the weight. Great for fishing around structure where you want to let your bait have maximum movement but stay out of the snags at the same time. 

3. Jupiter Rig

The Jupiter rig gets its name from the fabled Jupiter Inlet, arguably the best giant snook spot in the world. This rig pins an egg sinker in between two swivels, then an 18-inch piece of leader on the bottom swivel to a circle hook. The idea of this rig is the opposite of the knocker rig, as the weight is unable to slide up and down the line due to the swivels. The goal is to hold your bait in place on the bottom in the heaviest of currents, which you typically find in the inlets and passes. The short leader keeps your bait from spinning and snagging in the tide, as well. This is meant to be fished downstream of the boat. Note: You only want to nose-hook your bait with this rig, as they will drown in the current if hooked in the back or tail.