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Also known as Shortfin Pike, Snook is distributed around southern Australia. The status of stocks in SA, TAS, VIC and WA is considered to be sustainable. Catches of Snook in NSW are considered to be negligible.

Snook, also known as Shortfin Pike, is distributed around southern Australia from Jurien Bay in Western Australia to southern Queensland, including Tasmania. Snook are found over seagrass beds and kelp reefs near the surface both in inshore and offshore waters of up to 20 m depth [Bertoni 1995; Edgar 2008; Gormon et al. 2008]. There is no information available on the stock structure of Snook in Australian waters. Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

Victoria

In Victoria, commercial landings of Snook (Shortfin Pike) and Longfin Pike (Dinolestes lewini) have been frequently combined, or misreported, particularly in early years. Longfin Pike are typically discarded so the combined landings of both species are likely to be a relatively reliable representation of Snook landings.

Snook landings have mostly varied between around 20 and 50 t from 1978–79 to 2015–16 when they reduced dramatically as a result of the reduction, and ultimate closure, of net fishing methods in Port Phillip Bay, where the majority of the catch had historically come from. Landings in recent years have been 10–20 t and predominantly from Corner Inlet-Nooramunga [Bell et al. 2023]. Snook are rarely targeted by recreational anglers but are occasionally caught and landed. While current landings are unknown, they are likely to be small and thus not a major source of mortality.

The catch rate of Snook in Corner Inlet-Nooramunga has remained relatively consistent from 1978–79 to 2019–20, albeit with some interannual variability, before increasing to historic highs in the last two years [Bell et al. 2023]. This interannual variability may be a result of natural variation in the population or because Snook represent a relatively minor by-product of this fishery (i.e. not targeted and hence caught in relatively low quantities). 

With stable, and more recently increasing, catch rates there is no evidence that Snook abundance has declined in Corner Inlet-Nooramunga over the last 45 years and reduced landings from Port Phillip Bay further reduce mortality on the state-wide Snook management unit. Thus, the available information indicates that the biomass is not depleted and recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. The current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to lead to recruitment impairment.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Snook in Victoria is classified as a sustainable stock.

Snook biology [Bertoni 1995; Edgar 2008; Gormon et al. 2008]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Snook

Western Australia – Recreational (catch). Western Australia boat-based recreational catch from 1 September 2020–30 August 2021 [Ryan et al 2022]. Shore based catches are largely unknown.

Western Australia – Recreational (Management Methods). In Western Australia, a recreational fishing from boat licence is required to take finfish from a powered vessel.

Victoria – Commercial (Catch). Snook is not differentiated from Longfin Pike caught in Victorian commercial fisheries.

Victoria – Indigenous (Management Methods). A person who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is exempt from the need to obtain a Victorian recreational fishing licence, provided they comply with all other rules that apply to recreational fishers, including rules on equipment, catch limits, size limits and restricted areas. Traditional (non-commercial) fishing activities that are carried out by members of a traditional owner group entity under an agreement pursuant to Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 are also exempt from the need to hold a recreational fishing licence, subject to any conditions outlined in the agreement. Native title holders are also exempt from the need to obtain a recreational fishing licence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

Tasmania – Recreational (Management Methods). In Tasmania, a recreational licence is required for fishers using dropline or longline gear, along with nets, such as gillnet or beach seine.

Tasmania – Commercial (Catch). Catches reported for the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery are for the period 1 July to 30 June the following year. The most recent assessment available is for 2018-19.

Tasmania – Indigenous (Management Methods). In Tasmania, Indigenous persons engaged in traditional fishing activities in marine waters are exempt from holding recreational fishing licences but must comply with all other fisheries rules as if they were licensed. For details, see the policy document 'Recognition of Aboriginal Fishing Activities” (https://fishing.tas.gov.au/Documents/Policy%20for%20Aboriginal%20tags%20and%20alloting%20an%20UIC.pdf).

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch). Murphy et al. [2022].

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

Commercial catch of Snook - note confidential catch not shown

1. Beckmann, CL, Durante, LM, Graba-Landry, A, Stark, KE and Tracey, SR 2023, Survey of recreational fishing in South Australia 2021–22, Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2022/000385-1, SARDI Research Report Series No. 1161, 185pp.
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14. Webb 2017, Snook (Sphyraena novaehollandiae): growth, mortality and reproductive biology in north-western Tasmania. MSc thesis, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania.