Smyrna times., 1954-01-07
SNOOK


This intriguing name is applied
to number of fishes closely kin to
Centropomus unidecimalis, a fish
related to our fresh-water basses
and perch. Shook are found in
the warmer seas that border Flor
ida and the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico. In the Texas region they
may be found in large schools and
were formerly abundant in the
Everglades area. The run up many
coastal streams and sometimes are
at their best for sportsmen in
brackish waters. A representative
of the group is found in the Pa
cifc from Mexico to Peru. AS is
usually the case the common name
is applied to number of fishes
recognized as being different spec
les by fish students. The so-called
"Snook" of the coast of Africa is
not a close relative.
While Shook weighing to over 20
pounds have been taken, the aver
age size is between 5 and 10
pounds. They are excellent fight
ers when hooked, leaping into the
air frequently to free themselves
and making strong runs.
The lower jaw of a Shook has a
superficial resemblance to that of
a pike or pickerel while the rest OF
the fish bears some resemblance to
a percn. The lateral line is black
and the dorsal fins are yell separ-
ated from each other. The tail is
moderately forked. Superfcially
the Shook looks like green and
white or silver fish, the upper
parts being green or sometimes
brown while the underparts are
silyery or white. The dorsal fins
are gray to dusky and the paired
fins, yellowish.
The bats used in taking snook
are usually small aquatic animals
such as shrimps, crabs, molluscs
and fishes. The best fishing may
be expected arounl pilings or
wharfs, the very places that are
considered as inviting by the aver
age fisherman. The bottoms over
which Shook feed may be either
sandy or muddy and the feeding
areas may shift with the changing
tides so that spot good at one
time may be bad at another. AT
another time the reverse may be
true. well remember catching
my first Shook off the West Coast
of Florida and wondering at the
time what it was. So unique is the
shape of the fish that l am sure
identification made for me by my
boatman was correct.
I regret to state that to my
knowledge L have never tasted
Shook but for that matter there
are few fishes outside the trout
that make any important appeal
when they are served on my table.
I much prefer to be identified with
catching them in their native ele-
ment than with eating them. The
flesh 1 understand is excellent, be-
ing fiaky and white when well
cooked.
Shook are frequently called Ro-
balo. The Robalo Blanco, or White
Shook, is considered to be superior
as a fighter to the Robalo Negro,
or Black Shook. The former is
considered to have a softer mouth
and because of this to require
more skill. in making a landing.
They may be taken by plug cast
ing, by baited hook, on artificial
flies and by spinning. In the Flor
ida area they are commonly taken
in mangrove-bordered waters and
once hooked they recognize in the
mangrove an excellent place fol
tangling a line and getting free
from the hook. Because of the
sharp edges exposed on the cheeks
and gill-covers, wire leader is al
most essential in the tackle. SnooR
breed in May through July in large
schools and are taken by commerc'
ial fishermen at these times.
= E. Laurence Palmer