Common Snook

Photo: jmoulton44 · CC BY-NC

Snook are ambush predators perfectly suited to the dim mangrove channels, hovering mid-water or beneath overhangs waiting for prey to pass. They are highly sensitive to salinity gradients and their concentration in the Caroni reflects the estuary's mix of fresh and salt water, which produces the invertebrate diversity they depend on. Snook are a priority species for local conservation since they are heavily fished in open water but protected within Caroni Swamp.