Common Snook
The common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is one of Florida’s most popular inshore game fish because of its spectacular fighting ability and awesome table fare.
Anglers call the common snook many names, but the two most common are robalo and linesider. The word “snook” comes from the Dutch word “snoek,” meaning pike. The majority of anglers pronounce the name as “snook” (like took), but in parts of south Florida, it is pronounced “snuke” (like fluke) I think Flip Pallot started this or just jumped on the bandwagon cause it sounded cool. Common snook are a euryhaline diadromous, estuarine-dependent species occurring in the tropics and subtropics of the western Atlantic Ocean. Snook are limited in distribution by water temperature. Partial genetic isolation occurs between Florida’s Atlantic and gulf coast stocks (Tringali and Bert 1996). Snook are protandrichermaphrodites: some males develop into females when between 1 and 7 years of age. Females smaller than about 500 mm fork length are uncommon. Snook growth rates are highly variable.
Females are generally larger than males of the same age. Atlantic coast fish grow more quickly and to a larger size than do fish on the gulf coast . Maximum snook age is just over 20 years.
Spawning occurs every 1 to 3 days from April through October within estuarines and nearshore waters.
Early juvenile snook occupy sloping banks, under overhanging vegetation within estuarine waters.
As juveniles grow they occur in a wide range of estuarine habitats, including docks and mangrove habitats.
Description: distinct lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.Similar Fish: other Centropomus. Fat Snook, Tarpon Snook, Sword spine Snook – I have only caught common I think.
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. not for me mine are usually 2 to 3 pounds 
*Florida Record: 44 lbs., 3 ozs. dude that is huge!
Remarks: spawns primarily in summer; cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees F
can tolerate mostly fresh or saltwater; schools along shore and in passes during spawning season; snook feed on fish and large crustaceans.
