The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Snook Centropomus undecimalis
Snook Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 20–34 in, 3–15 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 4 ft and 53 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 20 years |
| Range | Warm coastal Florida on both coasts and through the Keys, west along the Gulf to Texas and south to Brazil, with strays turning up well up the Atlantic seaboard. |
| Habitat | Mangrove shorelines, dock lights, bridge pilings, inlets and beach troughs; abandons cold water fast. |
| Diet | Ambushes finger mullet, pilchards, pinfish and shrimp swept past on moving water. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Snook
- Bold black lateral line running onto the tail
- Sloping forehead with a protruding, scoop-shaped lower jaw
- Yellowish fins (often bright yellow pelvic/anal fins)
- Two separate dorsal fins, distinctly divided profile
- Silvery-green back fading to a white belly
Tell it apart: The single sharp black stripe down the lateral line plus the jutting lower jaw is diagnostic; no other inshore fish here carries that crisp black line onto the tail.
How to Catch Snook
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- May through August is peak around spawning passes and bridges; work topwater and flair-hawk jigs at night, soft plastics in the backcountry.GearFlair-hawk bucktail jigsWalking topwater plugs40 lb fluorocarbon leader
When & Where Snook Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida & the Keys Inshore |
Snook Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.