Meet the Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)
The common snook is a coastal game fish in the family Centropomidae and one of the most popular sport species in the western Atlantic. Recognized by its sleek, golden body and bold black lateral line, it can exceed 40 inches and is built for speed.
Snook are protandric hermaphrodites-most mature first as males and some transition to females as they grow. Spawning peaks in warm months in higher-salinity passes; juveniles use protected estuaries, creeks, and marsh edges before shifting back to saltier water.
A warm-water specialist, snook slow feeding below ~58°F and can be impacted by winter cold snaps. Opportunistic carnivores, they feed on baitfish, shrimp, and crabs, scaling up prey size as they grow. All of this makes snook a thrilling, technical target for light-tackle anglers.