The recreational harvest season for snook opens Sept. 1 in Florida’s Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. The season remains closed in all Gulf of Mexico waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County, through Aug. 31, 2013. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to keep the recreational harvest of snook in Gulf of Mexico waters closed through to offer the species additional protection after a 2010 cold kill detrimentally affected the population.
Anglers may report their catch on the Snook Gamefish Foundation’s website at Snookfoundation.org by clicking on “Angler Action.” This information is important to the FWC in completing stock assessments on species such as snook.
Anglers may catch and release snook during the Gulf closure. The FWC encourages everyone to handle these fish carefully to help ensure their survival upon release.
In the Atlantic, anglers may keep one snook between 28 and 32 inches total length per day. The Atlantic season will close Dec. 15.
Fishermen targeting snook must have a snook permit as well as a saltwater license unless they are exempt from having a license. Using snatch hooks and spears is prohibited.
It is illegal to buy or sell snook.
This Gulf closure went into effect Dec. 15, 2010, after the population was impacted by prolonged cold weather. The closure will give the Gulf snook population time to rebound.
Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing” and “Recreational Regulations” for more information on snook.
