Snook are both fun to catch and great to eat. We are thrilled when we run into them in the water.

The common snook is native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, from southern Florida and Texas to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. And yes, we do have them here in Panama.

One of the largest snooks, the common snook grows to a maximum overall length of 4 feet 7 inches and a maximum recorded weight of 54 pounds. This one pictures above is about eight pounds. The common snook does not have much coloration except for a distinctive black lateral line. It may also possess bright yellow pelvic and caudal fins especially during spawn.

We find snook mainly in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons, however, they often enter fresh water such as river mouths. It is carnivorous, with a diet dominated by smaller fish, and crustaceans such as shrimp, and occasionally crabs.

Here in Panama as in other Spanish speaking countries the snook is known as róbalo.