Lee County Fishing Guides in One Place! Find Them All Here!

**Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis)**
Description: distinct black 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.
Where 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.	Remarks: spawns primarily in summer; cannot tolerate water temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit; can tolerate wholly fresh or saltwater; schools along shore and in passes during spawning season; feeds on fish and larger crustaceans. Florida record 44 lbs., 3 ozs.

**Fat Snook (Centropomus parallelus)**
Description: deeper body than other snooks; color yellow-brown to green-brown above, silvery on sides; black lateral line extends onto tail; mouth reaches to or beyond center of eye; usually no dusky outer edge on pelvic fin, as in other snooks; smallest scales of all snook. Similar fish: other Centropomus.
Where found: INSHORE species found in mangrove habitat; found commonly in fresh water; occurs more in interior waters (as opposed to estuarine waters) than other snook. Size: a small species, rarely more than 20 inches.	Remarks: usually found in fresh water; mangrove shorelines serve as nursery grounds for young.

**Swordspine Snook (Centropomus ensiferus)**
Description: smallest of the snooks; profile slightly concave; prominent lateral line outlined in black (not solid), extends through caudal fin; color yellow-green to brown-green above, silvery below; giant second anal spine, hence the name; largest scales of all snook. Similar fish: other Centropomus.
Where found: occurs in INSHORE estuarine habitats from south Florida as far north on east coast as St. Lucie River. Size: usually less than 1 pound (12 inches).	Remarks: full-grown adults are less than 12 inches long; mangrove shoreline habitats serve as nursery areas for young; rare on Florida's west coast; prefers only slightly brackish or fresh water.

**Tarpon Snook (Centropomus pectinatus)**
Description: only snook with 7 anal fin rays (others have 6); lower jaw curves upward; compressed body; prominent black lateral line extends through tail; tips of pelvic fins reach beyond anus. Similar fish: other Centropomus.
Where found: INSHORE in south Florida; frequently in fresh water. Size: usually less than 1 pound (12 inches).	Remarks: maximum size of 16 to 18 inches; feeds on small fish and larger crustaceans; young are nurtured along mangrove shorelines; rare on Florida's west coast.