Snook Tagging: Proof That Snook Are On The Move North!
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
How far north do snook live?
Traditionally, they’re found about halfway up the Florida peninsula, but now scientists are finding some wild new data!
In this episode, we have on Estuarine Ecologist Charles Martin to discuss everything they are discovering in their snook tagging research.
And one of the craziest things is how far north they’re finding snook!
Yes, they are finding snook upwards of South Carolina now!
Check out the video below as we discuss:
- Which inshore species (snook, redfish, or trout) moves the most when the seasons change
- The coldest temperatures that snook can survive in
- How far snook go offshore (and how far they travel up rivers — this is crazy!)
- What you should do if you catch a tagged fish
- And much more
You can watch the video version of this podcast below, listen to the audio version by clicking the play button underneath it, or listen to it on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
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Snook Tagging [VIDEO]
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Snook Tagging [PODCAST]
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Here’s a timestamped table of contents from my conversation with Estuarine Ecologist Charles Martin and the Salt Strong fishing coaches about tagging snook:
0:52 – An introduction to Charlie
3:06 – How the snook population, in general, is currently doing
5:26 – How scientists catch and tag snook
7:33 – Where snook migrate to in the winter
10:12 – The ultimate goal of why scientists tag snook
12:13 – Which inshore species is most migratory
13:00 – How far north Charlie has found snook
14:44 – What the coldest temperatures snook can survive in are
17:46 – How far snook go offshore
20:02 – An interesting note about snook regulations where snook aren’t normally caught
22:55 – Surprising data that Charlie has found about snook
24:15 – What snook eat when they’re in these freshwater rivers and springs
28:56 – Where Charlie targets snook in the spring
31:52 – Charlie and his team’s goals for this year as far as tracking and tagging snook go
33:27 – What to do if you catch a tagged fish
Conclusion
Snook are headed north — that’s great news for you Florida Panhandle and Georgia (and even South Carolina!) residents!
And it’s interesting to hear that there are some genetic differences between some of the groups of snook along the coast and up in the rivers.
I’m excited for Charlie and his team to keep studying snook over the years and see what they learn.
You can keep up with and contact them at the links below:
Have any questions about snook biology?
Let us know down in the comments!
And please TAG or SHARE this with your friends who love to catch snook!
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So I have been wondering for a long time what the bait fish look like that you talk about as if it is inherently common knowledge to know all about them. Please do a piece on bait fish id, when they are where they are and how to easily catch them especially from kayak. I can id a shrimp. But that is about it.
☆ Great discussion guys!
It couldn’t be more true about snook using springs to keep warm in the winter. During winter nights, as the air temperature was around freezing, I found snook concentrated springs in the river. Some snook were in less than a foot of water.
Wondering if over time, expansion of Snook population could negatively affect Trout population in some areas.
Excellent podcast! Really enjoyed this one, guys. Regarding catching saltwater fish in freshwater, I called FWC and asked them if I needed a fresh license for the Manatee River when I fish for snook. They said no. When fishing fresh and if you catch a snook, you have to follow regs for that species. If there’s a gray area or you’re unsure, best not to keep a fish. Call FWC for specific information.
Would love to see more in the Choctawhatchee Bay Area! I saw a post on the Pensacola fishing forum last summer of one caught in Pensacola bay!!
I know of a few being caught in North Carolina. It’s not a common occurrence, but it has happened.
They are moving towards the low tax states.
Hahahaha