Anglers along Florida’s west coast are reminded that the recreational harvest of snook will close on Thursday, May 1st. This closure affects the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Southwest management regions, encompassing all Florida state and inland waters within these areas, as well as adjacent federal waters.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) implements these seasonal closures as part of its comprehensive management strategy for one of Florida’s most popular inshore sport fish.
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This holistic approach utilizes seven key metrics to evaluate the health of the snook fishery on a regional basis, allowing for more tailored and responsive management decisions.
While the closure begins May 1st, the reopening dates vary by region:
- Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, and Sarasota Bay: Recreational snook harvest will reopen on September 1st.
- Charlotte Harbor and Southwest: Recreational snook harvest will reopen on October 1st.
It’s important for anglers to be aware of the specific regulations within each management zone, including the open and closed seasons, bag limits (one fish per person per day), and the slot limit (28–33 inches total length).
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The FWC provides detailed boundary information for each region:
- Panhandle: West of the Florida-Alabama border to 84°20.800ꞌ west longitude in Franklin County (near Alligator Point). Does not include all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River, and its tributaries.
- Big Bend: From 84°20.800ꞌ west longitude in Franklin County (near Alligator Point) south to Fred Howard Park (near the Pasco/Pinellas county line). Includes all waters of the Ochlockonee, Withlacoochee, and Anclote rivers and their tributaries.
- Tampa Bay: From Fred Howard Park (near the Pasco/Pinellas county line) south to State Road 64 in Manatee County. 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: From State Road 64 in Manatee County 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. Does not include the waters of the Braden and Manatee rivers.
- Charlotte Harbor: From 27°04.727’ north latitude (near the Venice Municipal Airport) south to 26°15.227’ north latitude (near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County). Includes all waters of the Caloosahatchee, Myakka, and Peace rivers and their tributaries. Does not include Lake Okeechobee.
- Southwest: From 26°15.227’ north latitude (near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County) south through the Florida Keys to the Monroe/Miami-Dade county line. Includes all waters of Everglades National Park.
Anglers are encouraged to visit MyFWC.com/Snook for comprehensive information on recreational snook regulations, including detailed maps of the management regions and annual review summaries. These reviews offer insights into the data and analysis that inform the FWC’s management decisions.
The FWC’s regional management approach aims to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of Florida’s valuable snook populations, balancing the needs of the ecosystem with the interests of recreational anglers.
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