Snook
name: Snook
other names: Sergeant Fish
Snook have a long, concave snout and a lower jaw that juts out beyond the upper jaw. The large mouth is filled with brush-like teeth. Although snook feed primarily on other fish, their carnivorous diet also includes shrimp, crabs, and a variety of other organisms. Snook lie in wait while currents funnel the food to their vicinity, and then they ambush their prey with lightning quickness. Snook is a streamlined, extremely powerful fish. It is silvery green, and a distinctive black lateral line runs from the top of its gills to the end of its tail. The fins are sometimes a bright canary yellow.
While snook are occasionally reported on reefs offshore they are usually an inshore fish, and they like fast-moving tides and tend to "roam the shores" of inlets and estuaries. Snook may be found in salt or fresh water, and are tolerant of wide ranges of salinity. They have a strong preference for mangrove shorelines and swamps and are known to be very habitat-dependent. Snook are object-oriented as well, and are ambushing predators. They tend to be found near piers, docks, submerged cover, or other features, which allow concealment from prey.
Snook are carnivores and their prey is mainly a wide range of species of fish, crabs, and shrimp. Pinfish, Pigfish, Croakers, sardines, finger mullet, and other inshore fish.
Common snook are fairly long-lived and fast-growing fish, females might live 20 years and can grow up to a length of 48 inches. Males live around 15 years and can reach 39 inches.
People have their own preferences to artificial baits, and snook can be taken on a wide range, from top waters, spoons, grubs, jigs, and other lures. Snook have strong jaws, and are capable of breaking artificial lures made of balsa and even plastic on occasion. Snook are most fun like most fish if fished for on balanced tackle. Small to mid size snook provide great sport on light bait caster outfits and fly outfits.
