Photo courtesy of Capt. Scott Fisher, Hooked On Charters.
If you catch a snook, let it go. Recreational harvest of Florida’s favorite inshore species is closed in state and federal waters.
These seasonal closures are designed to protect snook during vulnerable times, such as cold weather. Anglers may still catch and release snook during the season closure.
On the east side of the state, snook harvest closed on Dec. 15 in Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. The seasonal closure ends on Feb. 1, when anglers will again be allowed to keep snook.
In state and federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park, harvest was closed on Dec. 1 and will reopen to harvest March 1.
Snook remains catch-and-release only in state waters from the Hernando/Pasco county line through Gordon Pass in Collier County (includes Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County) through May 31, in response to the impacts of red tide.
Snook also has a regular season closure that runs May 1 through Aug. 31. At its February meeting, FWC anticipates discussing whether to reopen snook harvest in this area on March 1.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.” Report your catch on the Angler Action Foundation iAngler app at AnglerActionFoundation.com.