🌊 Saltwater

Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

The common snook is the premier inshore game fish of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Found in mangrove-lined creeks, estuaries, passes, and nearshore waters, snook are powerful fighters that often dash into structure to break a fishing line. The distinctive black lateral line is unmistakable, and their popularity means snook fishing regulations are among the strictest of any inshore species.

📏
Typical Size
18–36 inches (45–90 cm) typical
⚖️
Weight
3–15 lbs (1.4–6.8 kg) typical; record 53 lbs 10 oz
⏳
Lifespan
15–21 years
💧
Water Type
Saltwater

🗺️ Habitat

Warm, coastal waters of the Atlantic from Florida to Brazil, and the Pacific from Baja California to Peru. Found in mangroves, estuaries, beaches, and nearshore reefs.

🔍 How to Identify Common Snook

  • 1Thick, prominent black lateral line running from head to tail — the most distinctive feature
  • 2Slightly sunken head profile, like a "concave" slope from dorsal to snout
  • 3Two separate dorsal fins
  • 4Yellow or golden pelvic fins
  • 5Pointed snout with a large, protrusible mouth

🍽️ Diet

Mullet, pinfish, shrimp, crabs, and other inshore prey

💡 Fun Facts About Common Snook

  • ★Snook are euryhaline — they can live in both saltwater and freshwater
  • ★Like grouper, snook are protandric hermaphrodites — males first, some transition to female
  • ★Snook are highly sensitive to cold — a cold snap can kill large numbers in Florida
  • ★The Florida snook fishery was closed twice after major cold kills (2010, 2021)
  • ★Catching a snook requires stealth — they are notoriously spooky in clear water

🛡️ Conservation Status

Least Concern — managed with strict regulations in Florida

🔗 Related Species

TarponRed Drum (Redfish)Summer Flounder

Identify Common Snook Instantly with AI

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Learn more:

How to Identify Fish: A Beginner's GuideMost Common Freshwater Fish in North America← Back to All Fish Species