In this week's Northwest Florida Fishing Report, host Joe Baya takes a deeper look at the growing snook population along the northern Gulf Coast with Zoey Hendrickson, a PhD student with the University of South Alabama's Estuarine Ecology Lab. The conversation covers why snook are appearing more frequently in Alabama and Northwest Florida, how they are surviving winter cold snaps, and what their continued range expansion could mean for local anglers.
Zoey explains that warming winters, fewer prolonged cold periods, and the ability of snook to find thermal refuge in deeper rivers and other temperature-stable areas are helping the species establish farther north. Researchers are now seeing snook throughout the year, including juveniles that appear to be surviving multiple winters and gradually growing into larger fish. Similar patterns occurred around Cedar Key before that area developed into an established snook fishery.
The discussion also covers how adult snook move between rivers, jetties, grass flats, oyster reefs, and other estuarine habitat as water temperatures change. Zoey explains that snook are adaptable predators capable of tolerating everything from freshwater to full saltwater, giving them an advantage as they expand into new habitat. She also discusses research into tagging, habitat use, genetics, and whether these "novel native" fish could eventually compete with established species such as speckled trout.
Joe and Zoey wrap up with conservation considerations for this developing fishery. Larger snook play an important role in reproduction, and with the northern Gulf population still relatively small, releasing fish can help give the population an opportunity to become established. Anglers who catch snook are encouraged to handle them carefully, report sightings to the Estuarine Ecology Lab, and report any tagged fish so researchers can continue tracking their growth and movements.
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