Snook (Sphyraena novaehollandiae) are elongate predators that are found over seagrass beds and kelp reefs in inshore and offshore waters. They prey on pelagic and demersal teleost fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. The species is distributed across southern Australia from Perth to Sydney, including Tasmania as well as New Zealand. There is little information available on stock structure of Snook throughout this broad Australasian distribution. A study in northern Gulf St. Vincent and Spencer Gulf during 2002 found that the largest fish was 820 mm TL, although most were from 300 to 500 mm TL. The modal age was 2+ years and the oldest fish were 12 years of age. Males and females demonstrated similar growth patterns, with strong biases in the sex ratio towards females. Snook were reproductively active during late spring-summer. Snook are multiple batch spawners with indeterminate fecundity. The size at first maturity (L50) is 391 mm and 403 mm for males and females, respectively, at two years of age.

Source:  Assessment of the South Australian Marine Scalefish Fishery in 2018.  Report by PIRSA

Provenance

Typically found in healthy seagrass, production begins in upper Spencer Gulf with the West Coast and Lower Spencer and Gulf St Vincent providing late season production.

Sustainability

South Australia – Sustainable

Source:  FRDC

SEAsonality

Another schooling species which exhibits good all year round availability, peaking over Spring time as the inshore waters warm. Key months include September and November with April to June the lowest. This fast-growing prevalent species ensures consistent production.