Snook Fishing in Rio San Juan

In central America exist 7 Different type of snook ....

In Rio San Juan and Nicaragua Lake we fish for two Species:

Welcome to the exciting world of snook fishing in Central America! We know that snook fishing can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, and we want to share with you some of the unique species you can encounter in the Rio San Juan and Nicaragua Lake area.

In this region, there are seven different types of snook, but we specifically fish for two species: Big Snook, also known as Common Snook Centropodomus undecimalis, and Small Snook, or Calva, which is a small fat snook known as Centropodomus parallelus. The Common Snook is a real prize catch, weighing anywhere from 10lb to 40lb and more. These snooks can be found all year round in specific areas of the San Juan River, with some staying put and others migrating.

During the run from October to January, you can also find abundant numbers of Small Snook, or Calva. These fish typically weigh between 4lb to 10lb and are known for their plump physique.

Tricks to identify Common Snook

We understand that identifying Common Snook can be a bit tricky, but we have some tips to help. These fish are commonly referred to as the big snook and have a distinctive yellow tail (also known as Cola Amarilla). If you're still not sure, look for the first small ray on the above fin - Common Snook only have one sharp and strong ray, while other snook species have two.

We want to make sure that you have the best possible snook fishing experience in Central America, and we're excited to help you catch these incredible fish.

Notes from my Fishing Reports concerning Snook fishing

Insights and Tips for Snook Fishing: Notes from My Fishing Reports

During the month of November, we caught some good-sized snook in Nicaragua, and the week before we had several big ones in Costa Rica's Rio Frio. Our record is still a 42 lb caught by Augusto.

In December, we witness the calva run from the Caribbean sea to Nicaragua Lake, bringing in an incredible quantity of small snook. We've had success fishing them with Plumero, feather color white or yellow, and some small Rattle trap.

It's worth noting that snook have their feeding hours, and we've observed this in our fishing. Even with the incredible quantity of small snook Calva we have here, we've noticed their activity varies depending on the weather. For example, on sunny days with strong rain, snook may be active, and after the rain, tarpon will be.
If you're interested in learning more about the tackle we use for snook fishing, please check out the Tackle section of my site. Thank you for reading, and happy fishing!

SNOOK I.G.F.A WORLD RECORD (2003)

In color red the record in Central America

CONVENTIONAL TACKLE

  • M-2lb 24lb 4 oz Florida 1995 G.E.Hogan Jr
  • M-4lb 1 oz Florida 1988 Jesse web
  • M-6lb 41lb 8 oz Florida 1996 G.E. Hoggan
  • M-8lb 41lb 0oz Mexico 1998 N.A. Brown
  • M-12lb 55lb 9oz Costa Rica 1992 J M Brenes
  • M-16lb 49lb 13 oz Costa Rica 1990 G. Cespedes
  • M 20lb 53lb 10oz Costa Rica 1978 G. Ponzi
  • M-30lb 57lb 12 oz Costa Rica 1991 G. Beck}

FLY ROD

  • Tippet 4lb 15lb 8oz Florida 1998 Andy Novak
  • Tippet 6lb 22lb30z Florida 1971 Dave Chernansky
  • Tippet 8lb 24lb 8oz Florida 1995 Robert Orth
  • Tippet 12lb 28lb 8oz Florida Martin Gottschalk
  • Tippet 16lb 28lb 8oz Costa Rica 1980 Bill Barnes
  • Tippet 20lb 30lb 4 oz Florida 1993 Rex Garrett

Comments about SNOOK I.G.F.A WORLD RECORDS

Exploring New Snook World Record Destinations: Where to Find Them

Hello fellow fishing enthusiasts! As a seasoned angler and lover of all things Snook, I wanted to share some thoughts with you regarding Snook world records. While many records have been set in Costa Rica, I believe that it's time to start exploring new destinations.

In my personal experience, the situation with Snook in Costa Rica has changed. While there are still some very good spots on the Pacific coast, overfishing and pollution have taken a toll on the Caribbean coast. The quality of fishing in usual spots has been decreasing significantly. Despite the regulations in place, nets in the river are still being used, which is unfortunate for Snook populations.

But there is hope! There are two classifications for Snook now: the Pacific and the Atlantic Snook. For Atlantic Snook, the Rio San Juan in Nicaragua is a great place to explore. And as for the Pacific Snook, Costa Rica may still bring some surprises. Our local friends from Club National de Pesca have caught some big Snook, and I have personally found spots with Snook that I estimate to be over 60lb.

If you're looking for a new challenge and are interested in exploring new destinations for Snook fishing, I highly recommend looking at neighboring Central American countries such as Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras. I have found these countries to be peaceful, and anglers from all over the world are welcomed with open arms.

At San Carlos Sport Fishing, we've been regularly catching Caribbean Snook weighing in at around 20lb/35lb, with some interesting Snook around 40lb. Our biggest catch was a Snook weighing in at 42lb, with three even larger ones lost to the boat.

Let's explore these new destinations together and see what new Snook world records we can set!