Science Name: | Centropomus undecimalis |
Other Names: | linesiders, robalo, sargeant fish, common snook |
Ideal Temp: | Above 62 |
World Record: | 53 lbs. 10 oz, Costa Rica |
Environment: | inshore, coastal |
Techniques: | light tackle, casting, fly |
Snook are protandric hermaphrodites, meaning that many change sex from male to female at some point in their lives. This transition usually occurs between two and seven years of age or when they reach a fork length of 17-30 inches. For this reason, most very large fish are females.
Habitat
Snook prefer waters of no more than about 60 feet, and they tend to gravitate
toward shallow lagoons and estuaries where warm saltwater mixes with fresh
water, brackish creeks (especially in winter) and beaches. They are highly
sensitive to water temperatures, preferring very warm waters; they can't survive
for long in water temperatures below 60 degrees.
Feeding Habits
Snook are agressive predators that seek their prey throughout the water column.
Foods include both freshwater and saltwater species of crustaceans and fishes.
Some of the items identified in the stomachs are crayfish, shrimps, crabs,
pinfish, pigfish, mullet, anchovies, and mosquitofish.
Tips for Fishing