Snook

Snook

The snook is a muscular torpedo of a fish given to reel-screeching runs and hook-throwing acrobatics.  Probably only tarpon and bonefish rival it in the esteem of Florida’s coastal anglers. The snook also has a razor-sharp gill plate that fisherman ignore at their peril.

Snook are prized game fish because of their powerful fights; they are described as “largemouth bass on steroids.” Once hooked on a line, snook immediately swim toward the sharpest surface, tangle the line in mangrove, or attempt to cut the line with their razor sharp gill plates. Snook differs from other more popular sport fish like tarpon and marlin in that they are also a celebrated table fish. If an angler is lucky enough to reel a snook to shore, the large fish should be filleted so that their skin, covered in stunning silver scales, is removed from the flesh. If cooked with the skin on, the meat will develop an unpleasant soapy taste. It is a white fish, with meat that’s heavier than a trout’s but lighter than a swordfish steak’s, and it has excellent flavor, in part due to its diet of crustaceans and other smaller fish.

Snook’s status on the Florida legislature’s protected species list, however, prevents them from ever entering fish markets and grocery stores. Only “snookers” and their friends and family have access to their fillets. Give us a call to find out if they are in season.