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Swordspine snook


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#1 Guest_Snookman_*

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Posted 24 May 2009 - 09:27 PM

I have a couple a wondered if anyone else keeps these here?

Justin

#2 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 27 May 2009 - 05:20 PM

Tell us about them?
I was amazed to learn there are some tiny [~12"] snook native to Florida. Now I wonder if any of the tiny snook we caught and were calling "babies" were one of those species. We were way way back in the mangroves.
Do the swordspines look distinctive enough to catch the eye of someone unfamiliar with snook?

#3 Guest_Snookman_*

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Posted 03 June 2009 - 11:42 AM

Tell us about them?
I was amazed to learn there are some tiny [~12"] snook native to Florida. Now I wonder if any of the tiny snook we caught and were calling "babies" were one of those species. We were way way back in the mangroves.
Do the swordspines look distinctive enough to catch the eye of someone unfamiliar with snook?


They are very distinctive. All the snook species look very similar while in their juvenile state. The swordspines have a unique feature...a spine on their anal fin extends past the caudal peduncle making it look very long for it's size. Look at this pic for example:

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#4 Guest_Snookman_*

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Posted 03 June 2009 - 11:49 AM

Here's a link to a pic of a common snook...see how the anal fin is much shorter.

Juvenile common snook

#5 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 24 June 2009 - 06:35 PM

Are they found in North Carolina?

I've never seen one

#6 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 26 June 2009 - 06:38 PM

BTW, thanks for your link from a couple weeks ago. Totally spaced it until it got bumped.

I feel pretty sure we only got juvie common snook. I just wish I knew about the mini-snook species while I was there fishing. I'd have tried to target them.
Ironically, I had never heard of the mini-snook and actually learned about them from a magazine article I read - on the flight home! :rolleyes:

#7 Guest_Snookman_*

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Posted 27 June 2009 - 07:55 PM

Are they found in North Carolina?

I've never seen one



They are only native to the southern half of Florida and possibly extreme south gulf coast Texas on down through Central America and into the north end of the South American Continent. There are 12 different species of snook in the genus Centropomus, a few of which stay relatively small like C. ensiferus (swordspine snook) and C. armatus (armed snook). I believe there is one or two more but these 2 species are in the smallest spots both topping out at around 12" TL. The swordspine snook is the only "true freshwater" snook though making it the number one choice although many snook species can be acclimated to freshwater but prefer brackish to marine.

Justin




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