How many types of snook are there?
The answer is 12. There are a total of 12 distinct species of snook that live in the temperate waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. There are 6 different types of snook species that can be found in the Atlantic Ocean and 6 differrent types of snook species that can be found in the Pacific Ocean.
There are 5 different types of snook species that can be caught in Florida's fertile waters. One Atlantic Ocean species, the Mexican snook can be found from the Gulf of Mexico down to Belize but does not live in the waters of Florida.
The Pacific Ocean has even more species of snook. There is the armed snook; the black snook; the blackfin snook; the union snook; the white snook; and the yellowfin snook.
So the answer to the question, " How many types of snook are there?", depends upon what geographical area you are referring to. There are as many as 12 different species of snook worldwide. There are 6 Pacific Ocean species of snook and 6 species of Atlantic Ocean snook.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the grass flats and beaches all over Florida for more than 40 years. My region is lucky enough to contain 3 different species of snook. We have the common snook, the small scale fat snook and the large scale fat snook.
In the article below, I will teach you what I know about the 5 species of snook that live in Florida and how to catch them and give you a little bit of information on the non-Floridian species of snook.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more.
The answer is 12. There are a total of 12 distinct species of snook that live in the temperate waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. There are 6 different types of snook species that can be found in the Atlantic Ocean and 6 differrent types of snook species that can be found in the Pacific Ocean.
There are 5 different types of snook species that can be caught in Florida's fertile waters. One Atlantic Ocean species, the Mexican snook can be found from the Gulf of Mexico down to Belize but does not live in the waters of Florida.
The Pacific Ocean has even more species of snook. There is the armed snook; the black snook; the blackfin snook; the union snook; the white snook; and the yellowfin snook.
So the answer to the question, " How many types of snook are there?", depends upon what geographical area you are referring to. There are as many as 12 different species of snook worldwide. There are 6 Pacific Ocean species of snook and 6 species of Atlantic Ocean snook.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the grass flats and beaches all over Florida for more than 40 years. My region is lucky enough to contain 3 different species of snook. We have the common snook, the small scale fat snook and the large scale fat snook.
In the article below, I will teach you what I know about the 5 species of snook that live in Florida and how to catch them and give you a little bit of information on the non-Floridian species of snook.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below to learn more.
How many types of snook are there in Florida?
Common Snook:
The common snook is the snook that Floridians think of when they are fishing for snook. This snook is just about everywhere in Florida's inshore waters. They can be found in freshwater rivers and canals; they can be found along the beaches; they can be found in the grass flats and mangroves; and just about anywhere else that there is a waterway that is connected to the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.
This snook species can grow as large as 48 inches and the state record weighed 44 pounds and 3 ounces. This fish was caught in the waters of Ft. Myers, Florida.
However, species that are very similar to the common snook have been caught outside of Florida that weighed nearly 60 pounds and where well over 50 inches in length.
All of Florida's snook species are very cold water intolerant. They will die if water temperatures fall below 60 degrees for a period of 48 hours or more. This is why the common snook is only found in North Florida's waters in the hot summer months.
Learn how to catch common snook in Florida here.
WANT TO CATCH SNOOK? BOOK YOUR FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
Small Scaled Fat Snook:
The small scaled fat snook is the most common species of fat snook that reside in Florida's east coastal waters. There are two species of fat snook in Florida. Both seem to be perfectly at home in freshwater.
Fat snook are discernable from the common snook because they are more block shaped. They also have an elongated anal fin similar but smaller than the swordspine snook.
Fat snook are common to about 12 inches in length but scientists believe that they can grow to around 28 inches. They will spawn in the inlets on the east coast of Florida just like the common snook do.
Large Scaled Fat Snook:
The large scaled fat snook was only discovered in 2006. This species of fat snook has only been found in the waters from Sebastian down south to Jupiter. Obviously, its scales are larger than its cousin the small scaled fat snook which is how it got its name.
BUT it also has other distinguishing characteristics. It has more gill rakers than its small scaled cousin too. Both species of fat snook occur in freshwater more than the other snook species. These two snook species seem to prefer freshwater over brackish and saltwater habitats.
This snook species is common to 12 inches in length but scientists think that they can grow as large as 28 inches.
Tarpon Snook:
The tarpon snook is one of the smaller species of snook that reside in Florida's inshore waters. This snook is common up to about 15 inches long. A very large specimen can reach upwards of 22 inches in length.
Like most snook, the tarpon snook is perfectly at home in freshwater. The tarpon snook along with the swordspine snook are only found in the extreme Southwest inshore waters of Florida. The corridor from Naples to the Everglades is a stronghold for this snook species.
Swordspine Snook:
The swordspine snook is another native Floridian fish species. This is the smallest of all of the snook species that can be found in Florida's inshore waters. This snook is prevalent up to about 10 inches. A very large specimen would be 15 inches long.
Just like most snook species, the swordspine snook is comfortable in freshwater and saltwater environments. They prefer brackish or freshwater estuarine enviroments.
This is a very rare species of snook and is easily distinguished by its elongated anal fin that reaches all the way to its tail fin. Another distinguishing characteristic of this snook is its extremely large scales. It has the largest scales of all of Florida's different snook species.
Watch this video of a huge common snook getting caught in the surf.
How many types of snook are there in the World?
Armed Snook:
The armed snook ranges from Mexico down to Ecuador. It is one of the smaller snook species and scientists believe that they can grow to a maximum length of 15 or 16 inches.
Black Snook:
Black snook range from Mexico down to Guatamala. This snook species can grow very large like the common snook and a white snook. There have been black snook recorded up to nearly 60 pounces and 50 inches in length.
Blackfin Snook:
Blackfin snook are anther species of snook that live in freshwater and brackish water enviroments. They range from Mexico down to Columbia and can grow to a maximum of 28 inches in length.
Union Snook:
The union snook ranges from El Salvador down to Peru. This is one of the smaller species of snook and can grow to a maximum of 18 inches.
White Snook:
White snook are one of the larger species of Pacific Ocean snook. They can reach lengths greater than 50 inches and weight nearly 60 pounds. They are very similar in appearance to the black snook. They range from California down to Peru.
Yellowfin Snook:
The yellowfin snook is another one of the smaller species of Pacific snook. They can grow to a maximum length of 14 inches. They range from California down to Columbia.
Mexican Snook (Atlantic Ocean):
The Mexican snook is the only species of Atlantic Ocean snook that cannot be caught in the waters of Florida. They are a very large species of snook and can grow to 36 inches in length and weigh as much as 20 pounds. They range from the Gulf of Mexico down to Belize.
Conclusion:
Snook are a very successful species of fish. They inhabit the temperate waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and have evolved into 12 different species of snook. The common snook, the Mexican snook, the black snook and the white snook can grow quite large and are a much sought after game fish in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The other snook species are much smaller by comparison and will tend to inhabit freshwater and brackish water environments more than the larger species of snook. All of the snook species that live in Pacific and Atlantic waters change from males to females after they grow to a certain length.
Here in Florida, the snook fishermen are fanatical about catching this delicious and hard fighting group of fish. They are very highly regulated and you should definitely look up the newest regulations before fishing for them.
The legal slot sizes of the snook that you are allowed to keep changes quite often and differs depending upon what part of Florida you are fishing in. Some years you cannot keep any snook at all. Go to the Florida Wildlife Commissions website to check on the latest regulations for snook in Florida. I hope that this article answers the question, "How many types of snook are there?"
Do you want helpful fishing articles like this emailed to you every week? If so, sign up for our email list below. Sign up today and get our FREE ONLINE SNOOK COURSE.