Sea fish
Snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Get to know the species, pick your region, find your spot.
Other names: Common snook
- Habitat
- Nehir ağzı · iskele · yapay yapı · mangrov · kumsal
Best times of day
When in the day it bites best, month by month.
- Active at night
- Good at night
In October
-
Dawn 75
1 h before sunrise → 2 h after
-
Midday 25
1 h before midday → 2 h after
-
Dusk 80
1.5 h before sunset → 1 h after
-
Night Best 95
0.5 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise
Moon phase
Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.
- New moon 85
- First quarter 70
- Full moon 70
- Last quarter 70
Best phase: New moon
Windows across 12 months
| Best times of day | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn | 65 | 65 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 65 |
| Midday | 45 | 45 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 45 | ||||
| Dusk | 75 | 75 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 80 | 75 |
| Night | 80 | 80 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 95 | 95 | 80 |
Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.
4 sources · confidence high
Habitat
Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.
Depth
0–22 m
mostly 0–10 m
Water temperature
17–32.4 °C
ideal 26–28 °C
Salinity
Migrates between fresh and salt water
0–36 ‰
Shore types
- Sandy beach
- Delta / alluvial shore
- Cove / inner bay
- Breakwater / jetty
- Pier / quay
- Around marinas
- River / stream mouth
- Lagoon / weir mouth
- Channel / strait link
- Harbour mouth
Bottom
Lives close to the bottom
- Rock
- Seagrass
Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.
Confidence: shore type high, temperature medium
Bait and tackle suggestions
Recorded baits and fishing techniques.
Bait by month
Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.
In October
By water clarity
Inshore / reef predator — Semi-pelagic; ambushes and chases. Good eyesight and a strong lateral line; takes both kinds of bait.
- Clear Visibility: over 8 m
- Lure first, natural also works First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or a live small fish; thin leader; dawn, dusk and night first. First lure: Hard minnow · Very suitable Usually in this water: Natural-coloured soft shad/minnow, LRF, slim hard lure; slow and natural. Colour: Clear
- Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
- Lure First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, fresh sardine pieces. First lure: Topwater lure · Very suitable Usually in this water: Hard minnow, jighead + shad, stickbait. Colour: Clear
- Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Shrimp · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live shrimp or worm, or a piece of oily fish; one size bigger. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Paddle-tail shad, vibe, spinner; vibration first. Colour: White, Fluorescent, Gold
- Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
- Natural first, lures also work First natural bait: Shrimp · Suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, crab, cut bait; on the bottom or at mid-depth; chum. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Very suitable Usually in this water: Rattling vibe, scented soft plastic; near the bottom, slow. Colour: Dark silhouette, Red, Fluorescent
- Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
- Natural bait First natural bait: Shrimp · Weak Usually in this water: The strongest scent: fish guts, cut mackerel or sardine, mussel; big pieces. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented and rattling. Colour: Dark silhouette
12-month bait calendar
- January
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Pilchard Lures: Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Jighead + soft swimbait
- February
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Pilchard Lures: Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Jighead + soft swimbait
- March
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- April
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- May
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Shrimp, Herring Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- June
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Herring, Mullet, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- July
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Herring, Mullet, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- August
- Natural baits: Pilchard, Herring, Mullet, Shrimp Lures: Jighead + soft swimbait, Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Topwater lure
- September
- Natural baits: Mullet, Pilchard, Herring, Shrimp Lures: Topwater lure, Jighead + soft swimbait, Hard minnow, Feathered spoon
- October
- Natural baits: Mullet, Pilchard, Herring, Shrimp Lures: Topwater lure, Jighead + soft swimbait, Hard minnow, Feathered spoon
- November
- Natural baits: Mullet, Pilchard, Herring, Shrimp Lures: Topwater lure, Jighead + soft swimbait, Hard minnow, Feathered spoon
- December
- Natural baits: Shrimp, Pilchard Lures: Soft shrimp, Hard minnow, Jighead + soft swimbait
This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural high, lures high. Colour and presentation guide
Fishing rules
The regulation holds no separate minimum size or closed season entry for this species. The provisions for Türkiye as a whole apply.
Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.
Species profile
- Scientific name
- Centropomus undecimalis
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Other names
- Common snook
