Common Snook vs Red Drum
Centropomus undecimalis compared with Sciaenops ocellatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Common Snook | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropomus undecimalis | Sciaenops ocellatus |
| Order | Carangaria/misc | Perciformes |
| Family | Centropomidae | Sciaenidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Common Snook | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 140.0 cm | 155.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 24.3 kg | 45.0 kg |
| Color | Pale golden-olive to grayish-brown back with silvery flanks; a bold black lateral stripe runs from the operculum to the tail; belly pale yellow-white; fins are yellowish with a dusky posterior dorsal fin. | Coppery-bronze to reddish-orange flanks with a characteristic black eyespot at the upper tail base; back is darker bronze-olive; belly pale to silvery; fins match body tone with dusky margins. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Common Snook | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater & Saltwater | Freshwater & Saltwater |
| Depth Range | ?-22m | 10-?m |
| Geographic Range | Western Atlantic from South Carolina south through the Gulf of Mexico, entire Caribbean, and along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America to Brazil. … | Western North Atlantic from Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Adults favor open nearshore reefs and coastal surf zones while juveniles inhabit … |
| Habitat | Neritic, estuaries | Estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Common Snook | Red Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | Yes | Yes |
| Fight Rating | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Common Snook
Sweet, firm white flesh with a mild, clean flavor; low fat and large flakes. Highly regarded as table fare in Florida and the Caribbean; excellent grilled, blackened, or pan-seared.
Red Drum
Firm, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and moderate fat; smaller fish (under 27 inches) are the best table size. Famous as 'blackened redfish' — a Louisiana Cajun culinary classic.
Species Overview
Common Snook
The common snook is a prized inshore game fish found in tropical western Atlantic waters. It is highly sensitive to cold water and cannot survive temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius. Its lateral line is distinctive — a bold black stripe.
Red Drum
The red drum, or redfish, is an iconic inshore game fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Identified by the distinctive black spot at the base of its tail, it feeds by tipping head-down in shallow water, exposing its copper-colored tail.