Key West Catch of the Week - October 20, 2014

This week of fishing here in Key West has been splendid on all fronts, from deep sea to light tackle fishing in Key West. There have been a wide range of catches that have surprised even us, while the weather has provided the perfect conditions for fishing during much of the week, one of the primary reasons as to why big catches were so plentiful. While there were a number of standout catches, it was Joe of New Jersey that hauled in our latest Key West Catch of the Week, a Common Snook that weighed in at around 12 pounds. While this might not seem too noteworthy, Common Snook rarely ever exceed 15 pounds, which is why this was a rather substantial catch and more than enough to land atop the Catch of the Week.

Aside from their small weight, Common Snook have a maximum length of a little less than 5 ft. and are an exceedingly skinny species of fish. While the vast majority of this species of fish is grey in coloring, they can be identified by anglers fishing for them due to a striking black line that extends the lack of their body, from the tail to the head. There are also times when the caudal fins will be a bright yellow, though this only happens at certain times. As the spawning season for Common Snook is from April to October of each year before they move back to brackish waters, October is one of the last chances to catch one of these fish, making this feat by Joe all the more spectacular.

In general, Common Snook can be located within tropical and warmer waters, as they can't live for long in cooler waters, which is why they can be found in abundance in Key West. The diet for Common Snook primarily consists of crabs, crustaceans and shrimp, though they can also feed on smaller invertebrates if food is scarce. This species of fish is one of the most sought after species of fish for food, due to its value to restaurants, both in the U.S. and internationally. Common Snook is also thought to be a fantastic game fish, due to its tenacity and toughness once hooked. Though this species is relatively small in weight, they make up for it in power and can be surprisingly tricky to reel in once snagged.

As the weather is looking to remain in the low 80's to high 70's for quite some time, it's expected that the Common Snook will stay in the open waters of Key West for at least a little while longer before moving to other areas. As this is the case, you could swing by Key West, spend some time on one of our light tackle fishing charters in Key West and see if you have what it takes to catch an even larger Common Snook. There's even a chance you could also see your catch as the Key West Catch of the Week!