Fish

Black snook (Pacific black snook)

Róbalo prieto (róbalo negro)

Centropomus nigrescens

SaltwaterBrackishFreshwater

At a glance

Typical size

8–25 lb.

Depth

2–40 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and night.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: The biggest Pacific snook: a long, thick body that is darker than other snook — dark olive to almost black on the back and gray-silver below — with a black lateral line and a jutting lower jaw.
Typical size: 8–25 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft and close to 60 lb.
Diet: Fish, shrimp and crabs.
Behavior: Hunts around river mouths, rocky points and mangroves; big fish often feed at night.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Pacific Mexico, Baja & Sea of Cortez, Pacific Central America, Pacific Colombia & Ecuador and Peru. River mouths, estuaries, mangroves and rocky shores from southern Baja California and Mexico to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; Costa Rica and Panama are famous for big ones.
Habitat: River mouths, estuaries, mangroves and rocky shores from southern Baja California and Mexico to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; Costa Rica and Panama are famous for big ones.
Depth: 2–40 ft.
Fishing depth: 3–20 ft at river mouths and points.
Best season: All year; the rainy season brings big fish to the river mouths.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and night.
Best tides: Moving tide; the falling tide at river mouths is best.
Best weather / conditions: Stained water after rains, small surf.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live mullet, sardines and big shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Big swimming plugs, bucktails, soft swimbaits and topwater poppers.
Tackle setup: 7–9 ft medium-heavy to heavy rod.
Hook size: 4/0–7/0.
Line: 40–65 lb braid.
Leader: 60–80 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Lures Poppers

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: River mouths, estuaries, mangroves and rocky shores from southern Baja California and Mexico to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; Costa Rica and Panama are famous for big ones.
Rig up: 7–9 ft medium-heavy to heavy rod. 60–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live mullet, sardines and big shrimp. Lures: Big swimming plugs, bucktails, soft swimbaits and topwater poppers.
Fish it: Fish live bait or big plugs at river mouths and rocky points at dawn, dusk and night on the falling tide.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and night. Moving tide; the falling tide at river mouths is best.

Fishing techniques: Fish live bait or big plugs at river mouths and rocky points at dawn, dusk and night on the falling tide.
BigJoe's tip: When you find one big snook on a point, others are usually nearby.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: White, mild meat; excellent grilled, fried or in ceviche.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp gill covers; crocodiles at river mouths.
Regulations: Countries set minimum sizes and limits; many lodges release big snook. Rules vary by country: Mexico requires a CONAPESCA sport fishing license for everyone aboard a fishing boat, Costa Rica requires an INCOPESCA license, and Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru set their own rules. Many islands and coasts (Coiba, Isla del Coco, Malpelo, Gorgona, the Galápagos and others) are marine parks with strict limits or no fishing.
Conservation: Release big breeders.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits