Fish

Pacific white snook

Róbalo blanco del Pacífico

Centropomus viridis

SaltwaterBrackishFreshwater

At a glance

Typical size

5–15 lb.

Depth

1–30 ft.

Best time

Dawn, dusk and night.

Found in

6 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Classic snook shape: long silver body with a sloping forehead, a jutting lower jaw, and a black lateral line running into the tail; greenish-silver back.
Typical size: 5–15 lb.
Maximum size: Over 4 ft and about 47 lb.
Diet: Fish, shrimp and crabs.
Behavior: Ambushes bait in the surf, river mouths, mangrove channels and lagoons, especially on moving tides.

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, Peru and Galápagos Islands. Beaches, river mouths, mangrove lagoons and lower rivers from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Habitat: Beaches, river mouths, mangrove lagoons and lower rivers from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Depth: 1–30 ft.
Fishing depth: 2–15 ft at river mouths and surf troughs.
Best season: All year; big fish gather at river mouths in the rainy season.
Best time: Dawn, dusk and night.
Best tides: Moving tide, especially the falling tide at river mouths.
Best weather / conditions: Small surf and dirty water at river mouths after rains are good.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live mullet, sardines and shrimp.
Best artificial lures: Swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft swimbaits and topwaters.
Tackle setup: 7–9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod.
Hook size: 3/0–6/0.
Line: 30–50 lb braid.
Leader: 40–60 lb fluorocarbon — snook gill plates cut light line.

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

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

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: Beaches, river mouths, mangrove lagoons and lower rivers from southern Baja California and the Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galápagos.
Rig up: 7–9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod. 40–60 lb fluorocarbon — snook gill plates cut light line.
Pick your bait: Live mullet, sardines and shrimp. Lures: Swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft swimbaits and topwaters.
Fish it: Cast plugs or live bait into river mouths, surf troughs and mangrove points on a falling tide.
Time it: Dawn, dusk and night. Moving tide, especially the falling tide at river mouths.

Fishing techniques: Cast plugs or live bait into river mouths, surf troughs and mangrove points on a falling tide.
BigJoe's tip: Fish the outflow of a river mouth just after dark on the falling tide.
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, flaky meat; superb grilled, fried or in ceviche.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp gill-cover edge; crocodiles live in many Pacific river mouths and lagoons in Central America.
Regulations: Countries set minimum sizes and bag limits; some river mouths are in protected areas. 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 females; they are the best breeders.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits