Have you seen this Snook? Say Hi to "Barney"
This Common Snook (see pics below) with barnacles growing above both gill plates was caught by Capt Brook Wallace and photographed by friend Pete Mersch. The snook was 33 inches long and lives under a dock in Bradenton, Florida. This rare double sided 'barnacled snook' was live released with barnacles intact and could possibly be caught again.
Snook Research Biologist (from Mote Marine Laboratory) Ron Taylor said, over the course of a lifetime working with snook, he has seen just a handful of snook with barnacles. Nate Brennan, senior snook scientist at Mote Marine, who has personally handled more 40,000 snook, primarily in Sarasota county, Florida, said he had not seen any. The charter captain's father, Don Wallace, had caught a 35 inch snook recently with barnacles on one side only. The second catch was within a half mile of the first one, daytime flats fishing. The cluster was knocked off with a pair of needle nose pliers and the fish was live released.
One might speculate whether this anomaly is related to the individual snook's diet, health, water quality, other environmental factors, or the fish having been handled in a particular way. Parasites and fouling organisms are not commonly found on snook, whose protective slime coat not only increases their underwater speed but also helps prevent such organisms from taking hold.
Captain Brook said "The barnacle clusters I've seen only grow above the razor sharp gill plate area. They're about the size of a silver dollar in circumference, and look like Mickey Mouse ears."
We thank Capt Brook Wallace of FullBoat Charters in Bradenton for bringing this snook to light.
If you see a barnacled snook, please send in your report. When you have an unusual catch, let us know! Email your report to info@Snookfoundation.org , or call 877 621 1010.
to book a fishing charter with Capt. Brook see contact info below:
Capt. Brook Wallace / Full Boat Charters - Bradenton, FL
www.floridainshoreguide.com
captainbrook@tampabay.rr.com
941-725-0798