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Common
Snook Centropomus undecimalis
- World Record 53 Pounds 10 ounces
- Other Names Linesider, Robalo, Ravillia
- Popular species on the West Central Coast, they often live
among the mangrove shorelines, grass flats, seawalls, bridges, docks and pilings.
Size ranges are generally between 3 and 15 pounds but are not unusual up to
30 pounds.
Florida
is one of the places in the United States you can catch the mighty snook. The
"striped sergeant" fish is the commanding officer of the flats. They
are one of the most sought after gamefish on our saltwater flats fishing charters
in the Tampa Bay, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, Florida area.There are a few
reasons why.One of the reasons
why many anglers seek these fish is because they are difficult to catch. They
are a challenge to even the most experienced angler. Most people are immediately
hooked at their first strike. These fish give you line stripping explosive runs
and acrobatical jumps.The snook (also known as the "linsider") is
also one of the best tablefare.We
catch these linsiders in shallow water around mangrove trees, docks and the
mouths of creeks. They can be caught year round, but the best time is February
through November. The snook will
eat artificial baits such as topwater plugs, crankbaits and jigs, but the bait
of choice is always live greenbacks. You can also catch them on fly rod.
Information on Snook
 The
fever of snook fishing has become extremely intense in Florida. Catch and release
restrictions have greatly increased snook population throughout the state. Inshore
gillnetting in Florida has been made illegal, in addition to an increase in
baitfish population and a string of consecutive mild winters (Water temperatures
below 70 degrees stress the snook and temperatures below 60 degrees snook may
not survive.) The result is that snook populations are prosperous and on the
up rise. This has inshore flats fishing anglers excited.Snook is defiantly by
any standard one of the world premier gamefish.
Biologist list a dozen snook species worldwide but the most common snook would
be centropomus undecimalis is the most abundant and most popular for anglers.
The world IGFA record for common snook was caught out of Prismina River on the
East coast of Costa Rica weighing 53 pound, 10 ounces and was 54 inches long.
The all tackle world record weighed 57 pounds, 12 ounces caught from Rio Naranjo
on the Pacifi Coast of Costa Rica. This record snook is a black snook, which
are larger but are more difficult to catch.
The swordspine snook, tarpon snook and fat snook are rare and average 6 to 10
pounds, which is considerably smaller than the common snook. Twenty to 30 pound
fish are regularly caught in Florida, Mexico and Costa Rica. The common snook
record in Florida is 44 pounds, 3 ounces but fish have been reported up to 50
pounds. Snook weighing 60-70 pounds have been documented in South America often
seen in fish market, which is not uncommon to display a 5-foot fish for sale.
All snook species have a similar appearance, which is long silvery thick body
elongated with a tapered head and a large mouth with no teeth. Snook also have
a divided dorsal fin and a very pronounced black lateral live extending from
the top of the gill plate behind the head to the caudal fin. Once an angler
sees a snook or catches a snook he will always be able to identify the fish
there is no other fish that looks like a snook or fights like a snook.
Where to find
snook
Florida
offers the best snook fishing for inshore flats fishing anglers. The snook can
be caught from central Florida and south of. The population has prospered due
to the efforts in conservation's. The best snook fishing occurs along the so
called "snook line" which extends from Cape Canaveral on the East
coast to Port Richey on the West coast. Snook are abundant on both coasts south
of that line including part of the Florida Keys.
Snook spawn in passes and inlets during strong full moon and new moon tide of
the spring and early summer. Snook pack in channels and cuts near beaches where
the tidal flows support their eggs long enough for the eggs to hatch.
Backcountry fishing is classic for catching snook which sharpen up anglers casting
skills. Snook are found around most mangrove shorelines throughout south Florida.
Snook will be almost anywhere mangroves grow. Tree lines with strong current
pushing into them are preferred. The best mangrove edges have water several
feet of water in depth. Such places are natural highways for snook to travel.
Click on pictures below to
enlarge.
   
1-800-644-5940
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Snook Fishing-Florida Fishing Charters-Captain
Mike Manning of Action Fishing Adventrues
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