"Snook are one of the most exciting fish in the lagoon. They're silver with a distinctive black line down their sides. They're aggressive, they fight hard, and they're delicious. But they're also sensitive — to cold water, to overfishing, and to habitat loss. That's why they're protected."
Meet the Snook
The common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is one of the most prized game fish in Florida. It's a large, silver fish with a distinctive black lateral line running from gill to tail, a protruding lower jaw, and a sleek, torpedo-shaped body built for speed. Snook can grow to 48 inches and weigh over 40 pounds, though most caught in the lagoon are 20-30 inches. They're aggressive predators that ambush prey from mangrove roots, dock pilings, and other structure. Snook are found from Florida to Brazil, but Florida is the northern limit of their range — they can't survive water temperatures below about 60°F, which makes them vulnerable to cold kills during Florida's occasional winter freezes. In the Indian River Lagoon, snook are found around mangroves, docks, seawalls, and inlets, particularly in the southern and central lagoon where the water is warmer.
