Snook
Snook (Sphyraena novaehollandiae) — not to be confused with the American snook — is a southern Australian species more closely related to barracuda than anything in Florida.
Found from Jurien Bay in WA around the southern coast to Tasmania and into Victorian waters, they're a light-tackle target that turns up as bycatch and as a deliberate pursuit around jetties, seagrass beds, and reefs.
Scientific Name: Sphyraena novaehollandiae
Also known as pike, shortfin pike, sea pike, short-finned sea pike, short fin barracuda
- Long, slender body with a greenish-yellow back fading to silver on the belly — the greenish tail fin is a reliable field mark.
- Two short dorsal fins positioned directly above the ventral and anal fins; this placement distinguishes them from barracouta at a glance.
- Large mouth with sharp canine teeth; the jaw is relatively soft, so handle carefully if releasing.
- Commonly caught to around 60–70 cm; can exceed a metre, though fish that size are uncommon inshore.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to southern Australia — distributed from Jurien Bay, WA, east around the southern coast through SA, Victoria, and Tasmania, with negligible presence in NSW.
- Primarily an inshore species, living over seagrass beds and kelp reefs in water up to about 20 m deep.
- Also found around structure — jetty pylons, reef edges, and wharves — wherever small baitfish concentrate.
- Stocks in WA, SA, Victoria, and Tasmania are all assessed as sustainable by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.
Key Locations
- Port Phillip Bay, Victoria — snook turn up regularly around the bay's jetties and seagrass flats, often as bycatch when fishing for snapper and flathead.
- South Australian jetties — jetty fishing for snook is a well-established pursuit along the SA coast, with fish holding around pylons and structure.
- Tasmanian inshore waters — an open-season target in Tassie, with seagrass beds and reef edges producing fish throughout the year.
- Jurien Bay to the south-west WA coast — the western edge of the species' range, with sustainable stocks assessed by WA fisheries.
Specific Spots
- Seagrass beds: snook lie within the fronds during daylight, using the cover to hold position before rising toward the surface at dusk to feed.
- Jetty and wharf pylons: the structure attracts baitfish schools, and snook sit just below or alongside them waiting for an easy meal.
- Reef edges and kelp margins: current edges along reef structure concentrate prey and give snook a clear sightline for a run at baitfish.
- Surface and upper water column at low light: their large swim bladder lets them adjust depth efficiently, so they push up toward the surface as evening approaches.
Snook FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Snook?
Small to medium minnow-style hard-body lures that resemble local baitfish are the go-to, deep-diving versions trolled or cast during the day, surface or shallow-running lures at dusk when fish are up in the column. Topwater lures can produce well in the evening.
When is the best time to fish for Snook?
Open all year in Tasmania with no closed season. Spring and summer (September–February) see the highest activity across Victoria and SA as water temperatures rise and baitfish schools become more abundant inshore. Dawn and dusk are the most reliable feeding windows regardless of season, plan sessions around low light.
How do you catch Snook?
Shore-based jetty fishing is the most accessible approach, casting lures or bait around pylons and retrieving slowly. Boat anglers troll deep-diving lures over seagrass and reef edges during the day, then switch to surface or shallow lures as evening approaches and fish rise in the water column.
What do Snook eat?
Small baitfish are the core of their diet, whitebait, anchovies, and whatever local forage species are present. Match your lure size and profile to what's actually schooling locally; a lure that's too large will get ignored.
Where do Snook live?
Native to southern Australia, distributed from Jurien Bay, WA, east around the southern coast through SA, Victoria, and Tasmania, with negligible presence in NSW. Primarily an inshore species, living over seagrass beds and kelp reefs in water up to about 20 m deep.
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