Big Snook Common snook "Centropodomus undecimalis" Local name Cola Amarilla  weight from 10lb to 40lb and more. They  are present all year round in some very specific area of San Juan river,  apparently  some of them stay there, they do not Migrate... ( Same than with the Tarpon some goes some stay... ) 

Small Snook  ( Calva , small fat snook ) Fat Snook :Centropodomus paralelus   between 4lb to 10lb  are abundant during the "run" from October to January ....

Tricks to identify Common Snook  In San Juan River obviously by the size.. they are "the big snook" the Cola Amarilla...and also in doubt by simply counting the first small ray on the above Fin , Common snook has only a sharp strong small one, other snook does have two

Notes from my Fishing Reports concerning Snook fishing 

* NOVEMBER In this trip We also had our first good size snook of the season in Nicaragua .. ( The week before we had several big Snook but in Costa Rica precisely in Rio Frio, our record still remain a 42 lb caught by Augusto ).

* December  The "calva run" From Caribbean sea to Nicaragua Lake  bring in incredible quantity of small snook, we fish them with Plumero , feather Color white or Yellow , some small  Rattle trap are also efficient.

* Definitely Snook do have their feeding hours , this is obvious  and very sensitive in our fishing  even with the incredible quantity of Small Snook "Calva" we have here 

* Sunny day come a strong rain.. during the rain Snook may be active.. after the rain  Tarpon will..

Please also have a look at Section Tackle of this site

SNOOK I.G.F.A WORLD RECORD (2003) 

In color red the record in Central  America 

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

Many world record for Snook "are in Costa Rica" ... I see several reason for that:

1) Since ever  big Snook are present as  well on the Caribbean Cost  than  on the Pacific...For long there have not been much  pressure on these fish as well from Sport Fishing than from Commercial Fishing...

2) Since long Costa Rica is  well known all over the World  for peace and friendly attitude with tourist it is a very appreciate destination for many Top anglers in the World , many very good angler like to come  fishing here.. The more good angler the more possibility of World record , but in fishing history of any  destination  this is  true only for  a short  period.. because  more Anglers also mean more pressure..

Nowadays In Costa Rica , there are snooks, but the pressure on fishing did increase drastically  From Sport fishing but worst from Commercial Fishing, Netting even if forbidden is a current practice everywhere even inside the Rivers...   

If authority do not act ..( If actual laws were enforce all would be fine but.....) From my personal fishing experience in Costa Rica I do not think than  actual Snook World  records are going to be beaten in Costa Rica...It is necessary to find new grounds..

So Snook World Record?   Where?

For long IGFA was only considering Snook in General.. but nowadays exist  two Classification , the Pacific and the Atlantic Snook , this is very interesting and do open possibility of World Record...In Rio San Juan  for Atlantic Snook, or on the pacific c oast for Pacific snook ...I plan to organize Special expedition.

Note Concerning Pacific Snook .   Costa Rica  can bring a major surprise .( Yes there are still some very good  spots...Our Local Friends of Club National de Pesca  do catch big snook...). I have been told of snook caught by local people whose weight was apparently over  80lb...  I have been Scuba diving on the Pacific Coast with friends and we found spots  where  snooks  in my opinion of  more than 60lb  are present .. .

Concerning the Caribbean ( Atlantic snook)  the situation is not the same...  Quality of  fishing in usual spots has been decreasing a lot  specifically on the Caribbean Cost  of Costa Rica , ( Over netting, Nets in the river even if totally forbidden .. are some  of the problems...Pollution also )  a pity but  present World  records are going to be very tuff to beat  there ...it is time to look at new destination in  neighbor central America Countries as Caribbean I specifically think of the Coast of Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras...I do not know Honduras, but knows Panama and Nicaragua and confirm than  nowadays they are peaceful countries  where ANGLERS from any part in the World are Welcome.

I figure than in the coming years some  new Snook  World record will come  from these two countries...

In the last two years at San Carlos Sport fishing we report regular catch of Caribbean Snook  around 20lb/35lb  some interesting snook around 40lb all these weighted   and three monsters in the Fifties + + + ..lost to the boat

Please also have a look at Section  Tackle  of this site

 

I suggest to readers interested in Snook Fishing to have a look at the site of the International Snook Federation

 

 

 

         

SNOOK FISHING ON  SAN JUAN RIVER

WHAT TO EXPECT...

We report all year round catch of Caribbean Snook Common snook, Cola Amarilla around 20lb/35lb  some interesting snook of more than 40lb all these weighted  

I also report  four monsters in the Fifties +  ..lost to the boat

From October till February the small snook Calva are also present

We fish in Jungle River  quiet fresh water

All year round weather wil be Rain and sun and Rain and sun

Professional Guides. New boats, pro fishing Tackles...

Fishing is conventional and fly