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
For more details, visit MyFWC.com/Snook.
