Snook Season Closes Midnight Tonight

By CAPT. MEL BERMAN, 970-WFLA

There are two snook harvest seasons closing in December. The first snook closure starts on Dec. 1 in all of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County coastal and inland waters. The harvest season for snook will remain closed until March 1 in these areas.

The closed harvest seasons protect Florida’s valuable snook populations during the colder months, when snook are most vulnerable, and help sustain and improve the fishery for the future.

After an earlier four month summer closure on Florida's west coast (Gulf of Mexico waters including Monroe County,) snook season reopened on September 1st. And from all indications, the management measures put in place have made for some excellent snooking during these fall months. But now comes the winter closure is in effect  -- and will remain closed until February 1st.

Anglers are allowed to catch and release snook during the closure, but must do so with great care so as not to injure the linesiders. And remember, during the very cold weather snook, a sub-tropical species, tend to become stunned by the chilly water temperatures. When you see them lying on the surface of the water, these snook could very well be alive and shouldn't be disturbed. Most will recover on the first warm day.

Yet, many will catch and carefully release snook during these periods. But even that has not been without controversy. A some years back, the then Florida Marine Patrol elected to ticket anglers who were catching and releasing snook during the closure. Then after considerable public hyperbole, discussion and state adjudication, it became legal to hook and put ‘em back during the closed seasons.

Though a very hardy species, snook should certainly be handled with the utmost care when catching and releasing. See Dr. Ron Taylor’s excellent suggestions on this web site for the best ways to do so.

One thing that Dr. Taylor emphasized when he appeared on my 970-WFLA-radio show was that it’s not necessary to work the fish back and forth through the water before releasing. He said, when you catch a snook you should always try to keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Perhaps lift it out of the water for a few quick photos. Most experience anglers grab the linesider by the lower lip (like a largemouth bass) where very little harm can be done. Then release by simply putting the fish gently back in the water and let it swim off when it’s ready.

Bear in mind that it is absolutely illegal to net, capture or grab any snook during the closure -- alive or dead.  As a matter of fact, many Florida anglers avoid targeting snook during the winter closure. The catch and release process during the cold winter can do great harm and stress to this very popular Florida species.

Anglers can continue to find other more hardy fish like redfish, sheepshead, seatrout, cobia and other species available for their fishing activities.

Remember, these closures are not meant to make life miserable for anglers, tackle store owners or lure manufacturers. It’s sole purpose is to maintain a vibrant snook biomass that will flourish in our waters for generations to come.