Centropomus poeyi
The dark snook of the Gulf of Mexico, from Tampico to Belize. It lives in lagoons, estuaries and coastal rivers, and has a closed season from July 1 to August 15 on the Mexican Gulf coast.
Also called: robalo-prieto, Mexican snook
Snook of the central-western Atlantic, from Tampico (Mexico) to Belize. It lives in coastal waters, estuaries and lagoons and goes up freshwater rivers; it spawns in fresh or slightly brackish water. It eats fish and crustaceans. It reaches 90 cm and 9 kg, with a common size near 45 cm. On the Mexican Gulf coast it is fished together with the robalo flecha (robalo blanco) and the robalo peva (chucumite), in one of the most traditional artisanal fisheries in the region; since 2025 all three have a spawning closure in summer. In sport fishing it is sought at river mouths, lagoons and mangroves, with mid-water and surface lures and live bait, like other snook.
Elongated body, concave head profile, protruding lower jaw and a black lateral line reaching the tip of the tail; dark back, gray to nearly black, hence the name prieto (dark). It looks very similar to the robalo flecha and robalo peva: a reliable separation uses scale and ray counts and gill rakers (Rivas, 1986). When in doubt, follow the most restrictive rule for snook.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Not found in Brazil. Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean, from Tampico (Tamaulipas, Mexico) to Belize, in lagoons, estuaries and coastal rivers of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche and the Yucatán peninsula.
Habitat: Coastal lagoons, estuaries, mangroves and lower stretches of rivers, near logs, roots and current breaks.
Warm months are best, but on the Mexican Gulf coast fishing is closed from July 1 to August 15. Cold northerly winds in winter reduce activity.
Night and twilight. Hunts more at dawn, dusk and night, during tide changes and at spots with current.
Winter cold fronts (the nortes) shut down activity for days.
Stable pressure favors; the arrival of a norte ends the fishery.
Full-moon and new-moon tides move water at lagoon mouths.
Rising river with muddy water scatters the fish; clearing water afterward is good.
Falling river concentrates snook at mouths and channels.
Very sensitive to noise and shade on the water; approach by paddle or electric motor.
Strong wind hinders precise casting into the mangrove roots.
Falling tide at lagoon and river mouths is best.
From 0.5 to 5 m near logs, roots and current breaks.
lures
natural baits
accessories
Cast tight to the roots on the falling tide and retrieve with pauses: the snook strikes the lure that comes out of the shade carried by the current.
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
In federal waters off the coast of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche, catching prieto snook, fleche snook (robalo blanco) and peva snook (chucumite) is prohibited from July 1 to August 15 each year, during spawning. The sport fishing rule prohibits fishing in closed areas and seasons, so the rule also applies to recreational anglers.
In recreational sport fishing in Mexican federal waters, each angler may keep up to 10 saltwater fish per day, no more than 5 of the same species. The dark snook (robalo prieto) is not among the species reserved for sport fishing under art. 68 of the General Law of Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture, and has no quota of its own. Fish over the limit must be returned alive to the water, and sport-caught fish may not be sold. Anglers fishing from a boat need a Conapesca permit.
Hold it by the mouth with a fish grip, support its belly and watch the sharp edge of the gill cover. Release it facing the current, only when it swims off on its own.
Firm white flesh, highly valued in the Gulf of Mexico; fried, roasted or ceviche.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, b = 3.15; FishBase). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
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