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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.

Tasmania

The fishery for Snook in Tasmania is small and generally concentrated in northern areas of the state. Snook is commonly landed as a byproduct species, but also known to be targeted by some fishers. Snook is caught by using troll or small mesh net fishing gear (targeted operations) and by beach seine and gillnetting operations (by-product) [Sharples et al. 2023]. Prior to 2000, commercial landings of Snook averaged about 15 t per year, before declining to 5–10 t. Catches in the last four years have been below 5 t [Sharples et al. 2023]. 

While Snook are not an important target species for recreational fishers, the most recent estimate of landed individuals for the 2017–18 season was 9000 individuals, which translates to approximately 9 t. This latest recreational catch estimate is twice as high as the previous estimate for the 2012–13 season, but almost identical to an earlier estimate for the 2000–01 season [Lyle et al. 2019]. Given simultaneous recent declines in commercial catches, the latest recreational catch estimate is 2–3 times higher than the recent commercial catch. However, the latest recreational catch estimate was associated with notably high uncertainty (a large standard error) [Lyle et al. 2019].

Commercial trolling and mesh net effort for Snook have been variable. Catch rates have also been variable for both methods, but do not indicate any long-term decline. A catch-curve analysis based on fishery-dependent sampling in northern state waters suggests that fishing mortality (F) is low, with F estimated to be about one quarter of natural mortality (M) (F=0.06 yr^-1, M=0.24 yr^-1) [Webb 2017]. More recent C_MSY analyses estimate B/B_MSY to be at 41%, however this estimate has a high level of uncertainty (lower 95% CI of 24.5%) [Sharples et al. 2023].

The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. Furthermore, the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired. On this basis, Snook in Tasmania 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.