Common snook centropomus undecimalis are an ecologically and economically important species that once supported commercial and recreational fisheries in texas however commercial landings declined…

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received a $151,725 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (CFDA 15.634) effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. This award supports a life history research initiative focused on quantifying migratory patterns and reproductive characteristics of common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) populations in Texas. The project addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding habitat utilization and population dynamics of this ecologically and economically important species, which has experienced significant recovery following decades of population decline and strict harvest regulations. The research directly aligns with the SWG Program's priority to support conservation planning and implementation for species of greatest conservation need identified in state Wildlife Action Plans.

The grant funds the analysis of otolith (fish ear bone) chemistry from archived specimens collected by TPWD between 2006 and 2018. The project delivers three primary products: (1) elemental composition analysis of snook otoliths to establish chemical signatures; (2) identification of lifetime migration patterns across freshwater and saltwater habitats through chemical transect analysis; and (3) determination of potential otolith chemical indicators associated with sex change events in this protandrous hermaphroditic species. TPWD has subawarded a portion of funding to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to execute the technical research components. These findings will inform future population models incorporating sex ratios and reproductive potential to support continued snook recovery and sustainable fisheries management in Texas.

Common snook centropomus undecimalis are an ecologically and economically important species that once supported commercial and recreational fisheries in texas however commercial landings declined after the 1920S due to overfishing and cold weather events that led to large scale population declines commercial landings ceased in 1961 and only a small snook population persisted into the early 200S harvest has since been heavily regulated and recent population assessments have documented increased snook abundance and range expansions northward along the texas coast to support the recovery of this species knowledge gaps about the habitat requirements of snook must be filled snook are migratory and cross major salinity gradients during their lifetimes but the relative frequency duration and magnitude of their residence in freshwater habitats must be quantified in texas populations snook are also protandrous hermaphrodites and understanding the variation in the timing of male to female change points will help future population models that incorporate SEX ratios and reproductive potential to predict future population growth this project will capitalize on an existing archive of snook otoliths that were retained from specimens sampled by texas parks wildlife department personnel between 20062018 otolith chemistry will be analyzed from these archived otoliths to obtain transects of lifetime variation in elemental proxies that can indicate age specific movements across major salinity gradients as well as potentially reveal physiological events such as male to female change points the specific objectives of the project are to 1 analyze elemental compositions of archived snook otoliths 2 use chemical transects from snook otoliths to identify lifetime movements across salinity gradients and 3 assess potential otolith chemical indicators of male to female change points this project will directly address a key state wildlife grant priority for life history studies of snook including movement and distribution of snook along the texas coast snook are designated as a species of greatest conservation need vulnerable category S3 in the 2023 state wildlife action plan for texas and the proposed work supports priority action 31 species management managing specific plant and animal populations of concern