My principal snook-hunting territory is the little marina that is part of our condo complex. There are numerous well-lighted docks and finger piers, the water is anywhere from two feet to 12 feet deep and there are ample baitfish swimming in and around the dock pilings to attract snook. And early spring (we don’t have “winter” in Florida) is a great time to target snook in the marina. The water is just warm enough that the snook are willing to chase down a bait, there are no bugs about and the sun sets early enough that I can finish dinner and then take a leisurely expedition around the docks when the dock lights give me the shadows that snook love to hide among.

What makes it all extra convenient is my custom-made “snookmobile.” I admit that “custom made” overstates the case. It’s just a sturdy lawn wagon to which I’ve attached a three-rod holder. I stick two or three hefty rods with big spinning reels in the holders (once you hook a big fish around the pilings, it’s mano-a-mano; either you get the fish out of the water within 10 or 15 seconds or you get cut off), load my bucket of live shrimp in the wagon with a bubbler to keep them lively, then set off down the docks. Having a couple of rods rigged and ready is an integral part of my convenience strategy. The pilings are sheathed in ultra-sharp oyster shells and barnacles so that the chances of getting cut off by a rampaging snook are high. If I lose one fish, I just store that rod and pick up the second one without wasting time re-rigging.