Are Snook common on reefs?

[KyPete]

After developing my film from a trip to Key Largo last week, I found a photo of what I believe is a snook. Perhaps I haven't been paying close enough attention, but I don't recall seeing snook on swallow (less than 50') reef dives before.

Anybody know anything about snooks and whether they are perhaps more common than I thought?

 

[ibnygator]

I found references to snook sightings on two wreck dives in the keys. I think that snook are fairly common in Florida.

 

[Walter]

Snook are not what I'd call common on the reef. OTOH, I see them fairly frequently.

One Snook, two Snook, three Snook, no Snooks.

 

[KyPete]

Thanks for the correction Walter....ya' know, in Kentuky spellin' is considered a graduate level class.

 

[scubagrl]

I've seen Snook frequently on shallow reefs in the Caribbean, but primarily on nights dives which would make sense since they are mainly nocturnal feeders.

 

[cougarspd]

Ive got a spot at Sunshine Key were you are bound to see at least 15 of them on any given day.... Its a good thing that not many people if any at all know about the spot since I could forsee some a-hole go on a shooting spree...

 

[zboss]

Snooks are big bone fishing game down in the BVI, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos for executives with a lot of extra cash to spend - they can be found in the sandy bottom shallows but don't necessarily inhabit the reef (although they are often seen going by at high speed over a reef if the reef is near some flats).

 

[Rick Murchison]

I would characterize snook as "rare except where abundant." By that I mean I usually see a lot of 'em or none at all. And it seems to vary by time, too. On my annual Bonaire trip I usually see quite a few, or none at all. This year I didn't see any.
Rick

 

[caymancase]

The only snook that I've seen here on Grand Cayman is a school of 4-6 under the dock at Rum Point snorkelling (4 ft. max). "Rare except where abundant", as Rick said.

 

[metaldector]

I teasure dive along the Florida East Coast from Sebastian to Jupiter Inlet. Over the past 7 years I have encounter several large snook under limestone ledges at about 15' to 20' feet. These fish are alway solo, and in a resting mode. When I move close to them they edge away. When I retreat they slowly move back to the original position. Of course I encounter Nurse Sharks, grouper, flounder, lobster, and a lot of other fish too. Even the occasional Jew fish will be under a ledge.