ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s recreational snook harvest season opens Sept. 1 across the state’s East Coast and in most West Coast management regions.
The opening applies to the Northeast, Indian River Lagoon, Southeast, Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay regions, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The rules apply to state and inland waters, as well as adjacent federal waters, within each management region.
For Central Florida anglers, the Northeast and Indian River Lagoon seasons will remain open through Dec. 14. The daily bag limit is one snook per person, and harvested fish must measure between 28 and 32 inches in total length.
The Northeast region stretches from the Florida-Georgia line south to Lytle Avenue and South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. It includes the St. Johns River and its tributaries, along with inland waters across Orange, Seminole, Lake, Marion, Flagler, St. Johns and several other counties.
The Indian River Lagoon region runs from New Smyrna Beach south to the Martin-Palm Beach county line. It includes inland waters in Brevard, Osceola, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties, as well as the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee.
The Southeast region also remains open through Dec. 14 with the same one-fish daily bag limit and 28-to-32-inch slot limit.
On the West Coast, the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay seasons remain open through Nov. 30. Those regions have a daily bag limit of one fish per person and a slot limit of 28 to 33 inches.
The Charlotte Harbor and Southwest regions will remain closed to recreational snook harvest until Oct. 1.
Anglers must have a recreational saltwater fishing license and snook permit unless exempt. Snook may only be harvested using hook and line and must remain whole until brought ashore. Captains and crew members may not keep a bag limit while on a for-hire trip.
FWC uses separate management regions to account for differences in Florida’s snook fisheries and respond to localized environmental conditions and concerns.
Anglers can review regional boundaries and current regulations at MyFWC.com/Snook.
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