There’s a special kind of fish in Florida you’ll hear on the whispers of men. Unique to the crystal blue tropic waters, this fish is a legend in its own right. Anglers dream of finding them, catching them, and if they’re lucky, eating them. This fish, my friends, is the infamous Snook.
Snook have a sleek body, large toothless mouth, and protruding lower jaw. Their signature feature is a thin black streak from tip to tail which dissects their silvery scales. With a high dorsal fin and relatively short anal spines, they use their tail to launch an ambush on prey in bursts reserving their energy in-between. They use our calm shallow grass flats and mangrove forests to assess their meals from the shadows. We also find them running our beaches, inlets, and docks.
With a go-for-broke attitude and aggressive strikes, they steal bait, cut lines, and send anglers cursing as they realize they’ve just been had. Sharp gill plates on either side will cut a leader line with one quick twist. With a will to fight, the challenge becomes avoiding precisely this scenario. Snook can grow over 40” in length, and there’s an exclusive club for those who have landed a “forty-incher”. Photos required for admittance.
Although grouper is a renowned fish in this area for edibility ratings, you won’t regret the time spent to catch & cook the infamous Snook. Thick, white meat sans ‘fishy’ flavor goes great with the most delicate of pairings. The bones are dense and easily removed. And if all this isn’t enough to tantalize your taste buds, let this be your favorite fact: Snook are only available to the recreational fisherman. This means in order to eat one, you have to catch it yourself.
When it comes to catching snook, current regulations are set for catch and release only through August 31st, 2020. As anglers, we are respectful of this regulation because, frankly, we want them around. The 2018 Red Tide had us nervous about their numbers but fishermen report they’re seeing snook regularly. Historically, Snook season runs March 1st – April 30th, and September 1st – November 30th. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides updates as this information changes.
We’ll also address changes in regulation with this fishing report as they happen in Terra Ceia Bay. Fisherman’s Cove Resort is built for fishing, and our calm bay with mangrove walls inhabit the infamous snook along with various other species. We’re currently hearing reports of gag grouper, red snapper, jack crevalle, blue crabs, and flounder nearby. We are also seeing catch and release species such as spotted sea trout, redfish, and snook.
Whether you’re looking for snook, or just a great place to experience Florida, this is your place. We look forward to camping and catching with you soon!
