The dorsal surface is a dull gray color with a yellow to green tint, and is separated from the ventral surface by a well defined black lateral line. The maxillary reaches to or beyond the vertical as measured from the center of the eye. The species is restricted by water temperature to tropical and subtropical North, Central and South America. In Florida, the range of the common snook is sympatric with other snook species, though when C. undecimalis does occur with other related species, it is generally the more common. Occurs throughout the Indian River Lagoon.
Female specimens are generally larger than males of the same age.
A bill passed in the Florida legislature in 1957 prohibited commercial capture and sale of snook. Though Centropomus undecimalis adults may utilize fresh water habitats, they are unable to spawn in fresh water, as sperm become activated only in saline waters. Snook species in Florida have been observed to congregate for spawning at the mouths of rivers, inlets and canals. Gilmore et al. When reproductively active, snook spawn in the evening over the course of several days.