FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

During a recent meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved new management regions and regulations for snook in state waters following the final rule hearing.

“Through innovative management strategies like this, which allow us to be agile in our response to concerns, we are ensuring that Florida’s future generations of anglers will have access to this iconic fishery,” FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said.

Effective Jan. 1, the regulations will:

– Establish nine snook management regions.

– Establish open seasons as well as bag and slot limits for each region.

The seasons and limits for each region are as follows:

– Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay

Open season: March through April and September through November

Bag limit: One fish

Slot limit: 28-33 inches

– Charlotte Harbor and Southwest

Open season: March through April and October through November

Bag limit: One fish

Slot limit: 28-33 inches

– Southeast, Indian River Lagoon and Northeast

Open season: February through May and September through Dec. 14

Bag limit: One fish

Slot limit: 28-32 inches

As part of the new management approach, FWC staff intends to monitor and evaluate the regulations annually. To see the latest snook annual reviews, which provide a summary of the snook fishery status in each management region, visit MyFWC.com/Snook.