The word 'snook' comes from the Dutch word 'snoek,' meaning pike.Īnglers call the common snook many names, but the two most common are robalo and linesider. The common snook is the largest and most common and is the species caught by most anglers.The majority of anglers pronounce the name as 'snook' (like took), but in parts of south Florida, it is pronounced 'snuke' (like fluke). In Florida waters, it may grow to 48 inches and 38 pounds. parallelus, which seldom reaches 24 inches, has a squarish-shaped body covered with scales that are smaller than those on the common snook. With slightly larger scales and fewer gill rakers than the small-scale fat snook, this species has been found only on Florida's east coast between Sebastian and Jupiter. pectinatus, is another small form with a squarish body, but it has larger scales than the fat snook does and has an upturned mouth, similar to a tarpon's mouth. ensiferus, is rare it is the smallest species and has a disproportionately large anal spine.

The four smaller species (2 through 5) are found in south-central and extreme southern Florida, usually upstream in coastal rivers or less saline habitats in upper estuaries.Ĭommon snook are normally found in southern coastal Florida, from about Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic coast, around the peninsula, to about Tarpon Springs on the gulf coast. The distribution then becomes disjunct, and they are found again from southwest Texas, south along central and south America, to about Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The northern distribution is limited by the 50° F water isotherm, but during warm winters, some individuals may move north of this usual range. In the summer of 1989, after twelve years with mild winters, a 16 pound common snook was caught at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Because this species is associated with land masses that have freshwater rivers, it is principally a continental species, but it also occurs on larger islands that have rivers, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands.Ĭommon snook are moderately long-lived and fast-growing fishes. Females live about 21 years and can grow to lengths of 48 inches. Males live about 15 years and can reach 39 inches. Females attain legal minimum size ( current snook regulations) in about four years, whereas males require five to six years to reach that size. Fifty percent of male snook reach maturity at about 18 inches total length and about two years of age, whereas 50 percent of females are mature at about 30 inches total length and five years of age.

Old Snook for apple instal