Species
Snook Fishing Charters
Snook are a warm-water inshore fish of Florida's mangroves, passes and beaches, with closed seasons and slot limits. 157 captains and guides in 21 towns list snook. Here is where, and the months it is in season where we have a published calendar.
Key facts
About the snook
A long, slender fish with a sloping forehead, a jutting lower jaw and a dark black lateral line that runs well into the tail. Back is dark brown to golden, sides silvery, with two widely spaced dorsal fins; it is the largest of Florida's five snook species.
- Scientific name
- Centropomus undecimalis
- Also called
- Linesider, robalo, sergeant fish, saltwater pike
- Family
- Snook family (Centropomidae)
- Typical catch
- Commonly about 20 inches; Florida's largest recorded females were 43.5 inches on the Atlantic coast and 40.6 inches on the Gulf coast
- How big they get
- Up to about 55 inches (140 cm) and 53.6 pounds (24.3 kg) per FishBase; the hook-and-line world record is 53 pounds 10 ounces, from Costa Rica
- Where they live
- Abundant along Florida's Atlantic coast from Cape Canaveral through the Keys and Dry Tortugas, and north to Cedar Key on the Gulf coast; found infrequently along the Texas coast (mostly the lower coast) and occasionally as far north as North Carolina and beyond.
- Habitat
- Shallow coastal waters, usually under about 65 feet: mangrove shorelines, beaches, river mouths, passes, nearshore reefs, salt marshes and seagrass. Gathers around pilings and other structure and moves up rivers, which also serve as warm-water refuges in cold weather.
- Diet
- Other fish, shrimp and crabs; very young snook eat tiny crustaceans.
- Lifespan
- Estimated to live about 20 years
- On the table
- Called a fine or excellent food fish; it can be cooked like other bony fish. Note that sale of snook is banned in Florida and Texas.
Where
Where to catch snook with a charter
| Town | Captains listing it | Main months | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers, FL | 22 | — | Report |
| Tampa, FL | 15 | Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Miami, FL | 12 | — | Report |
| Naples, FL | 11 | Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Marco Island, FL | 11 | Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Crystal River, FL | 10 | — | Report |
| Islamorada, FL | 9 | Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Anna Maria Island, FL | 9 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Cocoa Beach, FL | 9 | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Clearwater, FL | 7 | Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Key Largo, FL | 6 | Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Sarasota, FL | 6 | Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Report |
| Stuart, FL | 6 | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| Jupiter, FL | 5 | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec | Report |
| South Padre Island, TX | 5 | Year-round | Report |
| Key West, FL | 3 | — | Report |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | 3 | Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov | Report |
| Marathon, FL | 3 | — | Report |
| Daytona Beach, FL | 3 | — | Report |
| St. Augustine, FL | 1 | — | Report |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1 | — | Report |
Counts are captains who list snook, as of October 2026. Months come from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ published calendars where we have one; seasons and limits change, so check current rules.
Before you go
What to know about snook fishing
Things to know
- Snook are very sensitive to cold; cold snaps can kill large numbers, and adults can die when water drops to roughly 43-54 F.
- They start life as males and many change to females as they grow, so most large snook are females.
- Spawning runs roughly April through October, peaking in summer, with adults gathering at passes and river mouths.
- Florida made snook a gamefish in 1957 and banned commercial sale; recreational harvest is tightly managed with a slot size, closed seasons and regional rules – check FWC (myfwc.com) or TPWD before you go.
- A strong fighter and an aggressive feeder.
How charters catch them
- Live shrimp dangled along pilings in clear water
- Fishing around pilings, docks and other underwater structure
- Fishing passes and river mouths where adults gather in summer
Related fish
Fish caught on the same kind of trip
Questions
Snook questions
Can you buy snook at a fish market?
Not in Florida or Texas. Commercial harvest and sale are banned there, so snook is a catch-only fish.
Why are big snook usually released?
Snook change from male to female as they grow, so the largest fish are mostly breeding females. Florida's slot size protects them.
Where do snook go in winter?
They move to warmer water, such as rivers, which give them a refuge from cold. Sudden cold can still kill many fish.
Facts on this page come from official fisheries and wildlife sources, checked October 2026:
Size and bag limits and seasons change and differ by state. Check the state agency before you keep a fish.
For captains and guides
Your boat, listed free. No commission, ever.
Anglers call you or book on your own website, and you keep 100% of every trip. Want more detail or the one Featured spot in your town? Enhanced is $19/month and City Spotlight $49/month.