Snook

Regulations

Snook is managed by two regions in Florida: Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Regulations apply in state and adjacent federal waters. No commercial harvest or sale of snook is permitted.

License Requirements: Snook permit and recreational fishing license

Allowable Gear: Hook and line only

	Atlantic (state and adjacent federal waters)	Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, and Everglades National Park (state and adjacent federal waters)
Closed Harvest Season	Dec. 15 - Jan. 31; June 1 - Aug. 31	Catch and release only through August 31, 2012
Size Limit	Not less than 28" total length (TL) or more than 32" TL	Catch and release only
Bag Limit	1 per harvester per day	Catch and release only

Recent Snook Management

At the June 2011 Commission Meeting, Commissioners received a staff report with the most recent information on the status of the snook population, which suggests that snook on Florida's Atlantic coast were less severely impacted by cold weather than Gulf coast snook. Based on this information, Commissioners ruled to reopen snook harvest season September 1, 2011, in Atlantic waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. The regular daily bag limit of one snook per harvester per day will apply, as will the 28"-32" total length slot limit.

The current harvest prohibition of snook in all of Florida's Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County state and federal waters will remain in effect until August 31, 2012, to allow the snook population additional time to rebound and provide time to complete a full stock assessment. Catch and release of Gulf coast snook is still permitted at this time.

Links for more information

Research and Biology

To learn more about snook biology and research projects conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, visit their snook page.