The edge of sandbars and outflows from the beach are areas where you should start fishing during mid-tides. But when the water is high around sunset or sunrise, pay close attention to right along the edges where sand and surf meet. This is where snook hang close to shore, to feed on baitfish being disoriented by the pounding waves.

Over the years, the Jensen Beach and Stuart areas have earned a reputation for being the home of world-class snook fishing. From what I’ve seen, the St. Lucie Inlet is probably the epicenter of this special fishery.

While fishing this area -- either in the inlet or from the beaches -- my favor lures to use are a 4-inch glow-in-the-dark DOA Shrimp or a DOA root-beer-colored Cal jig.

On either incoming or outgoing tides, you can effectively sight-cast to snook along the edges of the channel, docks or the rocky shore of the inlet’s north side using medium tackle with these lures. For snook anglers, there’s no better thrill than watching a 20-pounder attack their DOA Shrimp.

I’ve had the pleasure of snook fishing with a handful of very good local guides, including Captains Mark Nichols, Pat Price, Robby Archer, Craig Snyder, Chris Magurie and Duber Winters, along the shores of Martin County’s south Indian River Lagoon.

From them, I’ve learned a load of useful information. But the one most interesting thing, I think, is that in this area, snook fishing is a way of life. These students of the sport have proven that you can catch snook on any day of the year from these waters.

Jupiter Inlet has also earned some notoriety for its excellent snook fishing. My friend, Capt. Mike Peppe, is a hard-core snook angler and guide who fishes the Sebastian Inlet area. He loves to travel down to Jupiter Inlet and target lighted docks right after dark, during an outgoing tide.

Capt. Peppe prefers throwing a small white fly that probably looks most like an immature pilchard or bay anchovy. Fly-fishing these docks isn’t a task for the faint-hearted.

These fish strike with terrific speed and strength, and before you realize it, a good-size snook can get away by pulling the line under a barnacle-covered pilling or boat. Even the best of anglers get this type of treatment when dock-fishing for snook.

Along the nearly 100-mile span from Ponce Inlet at the northern end of the Mosquito Lagoon to the Indian River’s Sebastian Inlet, this dock- fishing hits a peak in late summer or early fall.

In this region, a growing number of serious snook anglers are fishing docks with plastic baits too. One of my favorite plastic lures is made by Bass Assassin. They offer a line of scented baits that are very effective for this type of fishing because they can be rigged weedless on a 5/0 circle hook. The incorporated natural scent isn’t released until the bait hits the water.

There are three things that attract snook: sight, sound and smell. The Bass Assassin Saltwater Shad or Sea Shad have their scent built in and come in three colors -- Good Penny, Pearl or Electric Chicken -- to satisfy the first requirement. When using these baits, I usually add a Woody’s Rattle to add the second important fish-attracting element.

Many of the snook caught in these central lagoon areas are either under or over the legal slot size limit of 27 to 34 inches, so these fish should be released quickly. A Dehooker, an incredible device made by the Aquatic Release Conservation Company, is the best tool I’ve found for a fast and safe release.

September is an outstanding time of year to fish snook, and Florida’s east-coast fishery is a very special resource that provides plenty of world-class snook action. It’s a treasure worth exploring this year.