New regulations for snook in state waters, including inland waters, and adjacent federal waters began Jan. 1, 2024.

These regulation changes:

• Established nine snook management regions.
• Established closed seasons as well as bag and slot limits for each management region, which are detailed below.

To harvest snook recreationally in Florida state, adjacent federal and inland waters, a snook permit and recreational saltwater fishing license are required.

The regions are part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) holistic management approach for Florida's most popular inshore fisheries. Through this approach, seven metrics are used to evaluate the fishery by region, adding a holistic perspective to management decisions and allowing the FWC to be more responsive to regional concerns.

 

Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay

Closed season: December 1 to end of February and May 1 to August 31

Open season: March 1 to April 30 and September 1 to November 30

Bag limit: one fish

Slot limit: 28–33 inches

 

Charlotte Harbor, Southwest

Closed season: December 1 to end of February and May 1 to September 30

Open season: March 1 to April 30 and October 1 to November 30

Bag limit: one fish

Slot limit: 28–33 inches

 

Southeast, Indian River Lagoon, Northeast

Closed season: December 15 to January 31 and June 1 to August 31

Open season: February 1 to May 31 and September 1 to December 14

Bag limit: one fish

Slot limit: 28–32 inches

 

• Indian River Lagoon Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Southeast Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Panhandle Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Northeast Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Sarasota Bay Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Tampa Bay Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Big Bend Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Charlotte Harbor Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf
• Southwest Region - FWC Snook Regulations.pdf

 

For more details, visit MyFWC.com/Snook.

Recreational harvest of Atlantic greater amberjack closes April 1

The recreational harvest of greater amberjack in Atlantic state waters will close on April 1 and remain closed through April 30.

Last year, the FWC Commission approved a rule to establish an April recreational spawning season closure consistent with the current commercial closure. The new rule went into effect in late 2023, following the implementation of consistent regulations for adjacent Atlantic federal waters.

Cooperative greater amberjack management between Atlantic state and federal waters helps to provide additional harvest opportunities, conservation benefits and help ensure the stock remains sustainable for the future.

For current recreational amberjack regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations”, then select “Reef Fish” and “Amberjack.”

QUESTIONS? Contact the FWC

Recreational harvest of snook for Florida’s West Coast will open March 1 

The recreational harvest of snook in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Southwest management regions will open March 1, and remain open through April 30. This includes all Florida state and inland waters as well as adjacent federal waters within each management region. 

These regions and regulations are part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) holistic management approach for Florida's most popular inshore fisheries. Through this approach, seven metrics are used to evaluate the fishery by region, adding a holistic perspective to management decisions and allowing the FWC to address regional concerns. To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Snook. 

Panhandle

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Aug. 31.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The western boundary is the Florida-Alabama border and the region extends to the eastern coastal boundary at 84°20.800ꞌ West Longitude in Franklin County near Alligator Point. Includes all inland waters of the counties named and colored yellow on the map. Does not include all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River and its tributaries.

Big Bend

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Aug. 31.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The western coastal boundary is 84°20.800ꞌ West Longitude in Franklin County near Alligator Point. The region extends east and south to Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties. Includes all waters of the Ochlockonee, Withlacoochee and Anclote rivers and their tributaries. This region also includes all inland waters of the counties named and colored yellow on the map.

Tampa Bay

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Aug. 31.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties and the region extends south to State Road 64 in Manatee County. Includes all inland waters of the area colored yellow on the map. Includes all waters of the Alafia, Braden, Manatee, and Hillsborough rivers and their tributaries. Does not include the waters of Palma Sola Bay and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries. 

Sarasota Bay

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Aug. 31.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south to 27°04.727’ North Latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport. Includes all waters of Palma Sola Bay, Phillippi Creek, Cow Pen Slough Canal and Curry Creek. Includes all inland waters of the are colored yellow on the map. Does not include the waters of the Braden and Manatee rivers.

Charlotte Harbor

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Oct. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Sept. 30.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is 27°04.727’ North Latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport, and the region extends south to 26°15.227’ North Latitude, near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County. Includes all inland waters of the area colored yellow on the map. Includes all waters of the Caloosahatchee, Myakka and Peace rivers and their tributaries. Does not include Lake Okeechobee.

Southwest

Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Oct. 1 – Nov. 30.

Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of Feb. and May 1 – Sept. 30.

Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.

Boundaries: The northern boundary is 26°15.227’ North Latitude, near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County, and the region extends through the Florida Keys to the Monroe/Miami-Dade county line. Includes all inland waters of the area colored yellow on the map and all waters of Everglades National Park.

For more information on recreational snook regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Snook. This page includes the snook annual reviews that provide summaries of key findings from the annual evaluation of management metrics for each region.

FWC approves Pasco Zone bay scallop season change 

At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a change to the bay scallop season for the Pasco Zone management region. This regulation change, which goes into effect this year, sets a 40-day season for the Pasco Zone that starts on July 10 and will run through Aug. 18 annually. The long-term season dates were informed by the 2023 post-season monitoring results by FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute as well as input received from stakeholders at virtual public workshops, in-person meetings and public comments.  

“Along with moving away from the Independence Day holiday, the longer season will increase both the public’s safety and access to one of our state’s most fun family resources,” said FWC Commissioner Preston Farrior. “There will be many positive impacts for the local communities.” 

The Pasco Zone bay scallop region includes all state waters between the Hernando – Pasco county line and the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River. 

For more information, including the February 2024 Commission meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.” 

For current recreational bay scallops regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Scallops.

Recreational regulation changes for Atlantic snowy grouper begin Feb. 25 

Starting Feb. 25, the snowy grouper recreational season will close in Atlantic state waters, including all state waters of Monroe County. The modified recreational season is May 1 through June 30, with a new reduced possession limit of one fish per vessel per day. These changes are consistent with regulations in adjacent Atlantic federal waters. 

Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved recreational management changes for snowy grouper and several other reef fish to be consistent with recent federal changes. Consistent regulations between state and federal waters can help improve the stock status of these fisheries, prevent federal closures while allowing harvest opportunities coast-wide and aid in enforcement. 

For current recreational snowy grouper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations,” “Reef Fish” and then “Grouper,” or download the Fish Rules App.

FWC to meet Feb. 21-22 in Tallahassee

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet in person Feb. 21-22 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, Meeting Room A, 505 W. Pensacola St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32301. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. ET each day and is open to the public.

The FWC is committed to providing opportunities for public input. There are several opportunities prior to the Commission meeting to provide comments. Also, time is allotted for public speakers at the Commission meeting.

Public speaking is organized using a speaker registration process and time limits. To accommodate as much input as possible from those attending, the Chairman reserves the right to designate the amount of time given to each topic and speaker. To ensure adequate time to address the business needs of the Commission, there will be no more than two hours of public comment on items not on the agenda at this meeting. Public comment on items not on the agenda will be heard at the end of the second day, Feb. 22. The deadline for registration to speak on items not on the agenda is 10 a.m. on Feb. 22. 

For the full Feb. 21-22 agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.” Those who cannot attend can follow coverage at Twitter.com/MyFWC (@MyFWC) and sign up for news updates at MyFWC.com. Check the Florida Channel for possible live video coverage at TheFloridaChannel.org. 

SUPPORT THE LAKES ACT  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is one of the nation's largest federal outdoor recreation providers, managing nearly 257,000 facilities across 43 states. Visitors to these sites can enjoy recreational activities like fishing, boating, hiking, camping and hunting. Surprisingly, unlike National Park and U.S. Forest Service sites, local USACE site managers cannot retain revenue from fees collected onsite. In other words, fees collected at a given site do not necessarily support the operations and maintenance of that site. Fortunately, a bill called the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong Act (LAKES Act) has been introduced in Congress to correct this. The LAKES Act would allow the USACE to retain 80% of recreation fees collected onsite and includes other benefits that should improve access to fishing opportunities and infrastructure like boat ramps and other facilities. Tell your Members of Congress to support the LAKES Act today!

1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 501, Alexandria, VA 22314 American Sportfishing Association © 2018 All rights reserved.

A Record-Breaking Success!
Thank you to everyone who participated in purchasing a license during Governor Ron DeSantis Great Outdoors Initiative, providing 50% discounts on Gold Sportsman licenses and state park annual passes!

FWC sold more than 75,000 sportsman licenses; that is over a 400% increase in sales compared to this same period last year. We can’t wait to see what activities you choose to experience Florida’s great outdoors to the fullest!

Now that you have your license, how will you be enjoying our state’s natural resources?
#Floridians

Helping cold-stunned sea turtles

The FWC staff have been working diligently with FWC-authorized partners to respond to sea turtles affected by our recent low water and air temperatures in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County, with the team and FWC officers in the region rescuing a total of 66 cold-stunned green turtles.

When water temps drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below, sea turtles may become cold-stunned, where they become weak and unable to swim. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float listlessly in the water on or near shore. Although these turtles may appear to be dead, they are often still alive.

If you see injured, distressed or dead sea turtles, please report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Learn more about how cold-stunning affects turtles: https://bit.ly/3StNrP0

Snook Season Starting Soon!

The recreational harvest of snook in the Northeast, Indian River Lagoon and Southeast management regions will open February 1 and remain open through May 31. This includes all Florida state and inland waters as well as adjacent federal waters within each management region.

Find out more details including region boundaries, bag limit, slot limit, and season dates: MyFWC.com/Snook

Full Story: https://bit.ly/3SwHEZ9

Recreational harvest of snook in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Southwest management regions will open Mar. 1 and remain open through Apr. 30.

View our Social Media Policy: https://bit.ly/3qsncNb