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SNOOK
/
DISTINGUISHING SIMILAR FISH
FISH THAT BITE BACK
(Click selection above)
SNOOK, Family Centropomidae,
Centropomus undecimalis
(Click pictures to enlarge)
Judy and Rod
Ed Leesburg, FL
Jim Beverly Hills, FL Neal, N.H.
Daytona, FL
 
36" Long, 16.8 Lbs
36" Long, 16.8 Lbs
20" Long, 2.9 Lbs 38" Long, 19.6 Lbs
(Weights calculated by Fish Length-to-Weight
Calculator)
Although Snook are sometimes caught in this
area, they are not a species I normally target. Snook usually prefer
the warmers waters a little further South. But- there's always
that nice surprise when one of my clients gets
a-hold of one !
Description: distinct lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin;
sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than
other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.
Where found: from central Florida south,
usually INSHORE in coastal and brackish waters, along mangrove shorelines,
seawalls, and bridges; also on reefs and pilings NEARSHORE.
Size: most catches 5 to 8 pounds.
*Florida Record: 44 lbs., 3 ozs.
Remarks: spawns primarily in summer;
cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees F; can tolerate wholly
fresh or saltwater; schools along shore and in passes during spawning
season; feeds on fish and large crustaceans.
* The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission's printed publication, Fishing Lines and
are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only
as a benchmark.
Can you
distinguish between these three species ?
Jack Crevalle
Permit
Florida Pompano
You're not alone if you can't. They are all very
similar in shape and color, and many novice anglers have trouble telling
them apart.
Jack Crevalle: are colored
bluish-green to greenish-gold on the back and have a silvery or yellowish
belly. They have soft dorsal and anal fins almost identical in size.
There is a prominent black spot on the gill cover, and a black spot at the
base of each pectoral fin. There are no scales on throat. Jacks average
3-5 Lbs, however they do get quite large. The Florida record is 51 Lbs.
Jack Crevalle have a very prominent bone at the base of the tail, unlike
the Permit and Pompano. Jacks have a much darker flesh than Permit
and Pompano and are not considered good to eat, although some people do.
Permit:
are colored gray, dark
or iridescent blue on the top, and shading to silvery on the sides. Fish
found in dark waters show golden tints around breast. Small permit have
teeth on the tongue (none on pompano). The permit has a much wider body
than the Pompano and a very tall dorsal fin. Permit grow up to 40 lbs in
size. Permit are very good to eat.
Florida Pompano: are greenish
gray on back, shading to silvery on the sides. Fish caught in dark waters show gold on throat, pelvic, and anal
fins. Pompano have a deep flattened body with small mouth, and rarely
grow over 6 Lbs. Pompano are very good to eat.
| Blue fish have
sharp teeth and are programmed to bite at everything. A
towel or gloves can be used to get a firm grip on his body. |
| Catfish are
slimy, won't hold still and have sharp dorsal & pectoral
spines that can inflict painful, venomous wounds that often
become infected. Use a rag or gloves and a lot of care when
handling. |
| Cobia are
remarkably strong and are known to become violent at the
boat. There are 8-10 sharp stiff spines just ahead of the
dorsal fin which can produce serious puncture wounds. If you
are keeping the fish; gaff him, hang on tight and swing him
directly into the fish box. You can remove the hook later. |
| Big grouper
tend to be powerful, rough fish. Strong crushers in the
throat, spines on the back and rough gill plates mean you
should be sure he is more tired than you are before inviting
him aboard. |
| Jack Crevalle
have a small cutting projection near the anus. Paralyze the
fish by grabbing behind the head and pinching the black
spots. |
| Leatherjacks or
skipjacks are small silvery jacks that often hit
small baits. Small spines located ahead of the dorsal and
anal fins can cause intense pain. |
| Mackerel have
a long thin slippery body that can be hard to control and a
mouth full of sharp teeth. A towel or gloves can improve
your grip, but keepers over 10 pounds should probably be
gaffed. |
| Redfish have
sharp gill rakers and strong crushers in the mouth that can
make them hard on your hands. Grab the fish behind the head
or by the tail. |
| The words "Shark"
and "Bite" just seem to go together. A shark's teeth
are serrated like a steak knife and multiple rows are
located in a wide powerful jaw. Since his skeleton is
cartilage, instead of bone, he can bend his head back to his
tail to bite the hand that holds him. Even a small shark, or
a normally docile species like the nurse shark, can inflict
a serious wound if miss-handled. The rough skin of a large
thrashing shark can also do serious damage to a fisherman or
his boat. Sharks pose an additional threat when landing or
releasing other species so keep a sharp eye out for trouble
whenever reaching overboard. Large sharks should never be
brought inside the boat and remember that even "dead" sharks
have been known to bite. |
| Snappers have
their name for a reason. They have sharp canine teeth in a
strong jaw that snaps shut like a steel trap. Sharp spines
along the back make the belly the best area to hold. |
| Snook have a
small, but extremely sharp cutter blade on the side of their
gill covers. While they have teeth, most small snook can be
lipped. Many guides prefer to lift a snook from the water
with a hand placed under its belly. Gloves, or even a lip
gaff are suggested with fish over 20 pounds. |
| Spotted seatrout
have sharp canine teeth, but not overly powerful jaws. Their
bite may be painful, but not usually dangerous. |
| Tarpon are
large, powerful and can jump with their entire body out of
the water. If that jump ends with the tarpon in your boat in
can be very dangerous and destructive. A large tarpon
should never be brought "green" to the boat, but tired out
(not exhausted) first. Small tarpon can be lipped, but
gloves or a lip gaff are recommended for fish over 30-40
pounds. If you ever feed the tarpon at Pete's Pier in
Crystal River,
you will see signs warning that a tarpon's mouth is both
rough and strong. |
|
The most dangerous
part of many fish will be the set of treble hooks hanging
from the lure in their mouth. A sudden leap or
thrashing can cause you to become as securely caught as your
prey. Removing hooks from your anatomy is always painful and
the experience is not made any better when you are sharing
it with a large fish fighting for his life.
Whenever landing any fish, take a minute to
plan your next move, look around to make sure the area is
clear and see that any tools you need are close to hand.
(This list
was brought to you by Hurricane Georges on 9/25/98)
WHEN IN DOUBT- CAUTION IS ALWAYS A GOOD PLAN ! |
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TROUT TRIVIA
The gator trout you see above was
landed by Captain Mark. He caught this 28" 6lb-plus speckled trout (spotted sea
trout) with a live shrimp under a popping cork out of Crystal River,
Florida.
A trout this size is estimated to be 6-7 years old! Thanks to the ban
on gill nets and tighter restrictions on recreational limits, fish like this
one survive to reach their potential size and age class.
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