If you have been waiting to take home a snook for dinner, it is time to check your gear. Starting February 1, the recreational harvest season for snook opens up along most of Florida’s east coast. This opening applies to the Northeast, Indian River Lagoon, and Southeast management regions, giving anglers a chance to keep their catch through May 31.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, also known as FWC, is sticking with a management style they call a “holistic approach.”
Basically, this means they aren’t just looking at the fish numbers alone. They are looking at environmental conditions, what anglers are experiencing on the water, and how different areas handle pressure. By breaking the state down into smaller regions, they can make rules that fit specific local needs rather than applying a blanket rule for everyone.
For anglers planning to head out, the rules are fairly consistent across these three East Coast regions. The daily bag limit is strictly one fish per person. You also need to measure that fish carefully because the slot limit is tight. The snook must be between 28 and 32 inches in total length to be legal. If it is smaller or larger than that, it has to go back in the water.
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The Northeast region covers the coast from the Florida-Georgia border down to New Smyrna Beach. This includes inland waters in counties like Duval, St. Johns, and parts of Volusia, as well as the St. Johns River. If you are fishing further south, the Indian River Lagoon region picks up at New Smyrna Beach and runs down to the Martin-Palm Beach county line. This covers a lot of water, including Brevard and St. Lucie counties, plus Lake Okeechobee.
Moving down to the Southeast region, the area spans from the Martin-Palm Beach county line all the way south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line. This includes the canals and inland waters of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade. However, if you plan on fishing in Biscayne National Park, you should double-check their specific rules at the FWC website, as they can differ.
This season runs until May 31, and it will open up again in the fall from September 1 through December 14. Outside of these dates, harvest is closed.
Since boundaries can be tricky—especially regarding which rivers and lakes are included—it is always a smart move to look at the official maps on MyFWC.com/Snook before you cast a line.
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