New Snook Regulations in Effect Feb 1

Florida's snook season reopens Feb. 1, and anglers are advised that a new daily one-fish bag limit is now in effect for snook caught along the Gulf Coast and in the Florida Keys. In addition, the snook harvest season will now close beginning in May in those areas.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the new rule provisions last November to reduce fishing pressure on Gulf Coast snook in order to increase the abundance of legal-size fish.

FWC biologists have determined that Florida's Atlantic and Gulf snook populations are genetically distinct and considered separate stocks, differing in their movement patterns and growth rates. Excessive and growing fishing pressure on the Gulf Coast results in higher snook mortality there than on the Atlantic coast, necessitating the change to Gulf coast snook regulations only at this time.

The new rule allows a daily bag limit of one snook per person in all waters of Monroe County, the Gulf of Mexico and Everglades National Park during the open season. Taking snook is not allowed in those areas Dec. 15 - Jan. 31 or during May, June, July and August.

A two-snook per person daily bag limit during the open season remains in effect in all waters of the Atlantic Ocean north and east of the Dade-Monroe county line. Persons harvesting snook in these areas may not land or possess them in waters of Monroe County, the Gulf of Mexico, and Everglades National Park. The Atlantic closed-harvest season for snook is Dec. 15 -Jan. 31 and through June, July and August.

While snook live mostly in saltwater, they are occasionally found well inland in freshwater areas. Fishermen should follow the one-snook limit and May closed season rules in all waters that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The two-snook limit and May open season rules apply in all waters that empty into the Atlantic Ocean and in Lake Okeechobee.

The legal slot limit for snook remains at 26-34 inches total length statewide, and all snook must be landed in a whole condition. All anglers fishing under a recreational license must also possess a $2 snook permit. Use of any multiple-pronged hook with live or dead natural bait to harvest snook is prohibited. It is illegal to buy or sell snook in Florida.