Snook
Contents

It may have suffered a dive in popularity now that we have a 32-inch maximum size on snook on this coast, but plenty of slot-size fish still fall to the 1⁄2- to 2-ounce sizes. Once there, he started learning about the tides and working docks and lights for smaller and slot snook in the Jupiter area. He tangoed with some trophy-size snook a couple times while learning the area and quickly realized he wanted that to be his fulltime fishing endeavor. It’s a popular question that we have all asked one time or another. Hook size is very important, not only for good hookup ratios but to protect the fish. Of course as with all things, everyone has an opinion and they are entitled to their opinions but I will share what has worked for me. I’m not bias and I’m not sponsored by my recommendations in this article, so don’t think that there. Catch-and-release only measures for snook have been extended through May 31, 2021, from the Hernando/Pasco county line south through Gordon Pass in Collier County, including all waters in Hillsborough County. Since snook is closed annually from May 1-Aug. 31, this fishery will reopen to harvest Sept.

Valid Sep. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021.

Notice: Red Snapper season in federal waters closed August 3, 2020.

Bag and length limits apply to listed saltwater species. There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or nongame fish, except as listed in this guide. See definitions of daily bag and possession limits.

For freshwater finfish species caught in the public salt waters of this state, statewide freshwater limits apply.

Amberjack, greater

Daily Bag:
1
Min length:
38 inches
Max length:
No limit

Florida Snook Slot Size

Bass

Striped, its hybrids and subspecies

Daily Bag:
5 (in any combination)
Min Length:
18 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Catfish

Channel and blue, their hybrids and subspecies

Daily Bag:
25 (in any combination)
Min Length:
12 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Snook Slot Size Gulf

Slot Size Snook

Flathead

Daily Bag:
5
Min Length:
18 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Gafftopsail

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
14 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Cobia

Daily Bag:
2
Min Length:
40 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Drum

Black drum

Daily Bag:
5
Min Length:
14 inches
Max Length:
30 inches

No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.

Red drum

Daily Bag:
3
Min Length:
20 inches
Max Length:
28 inches

During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fish retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.

Flounder

All species, their hybrids and subspecies

Daily Bag:
5/2 (in any combination)
Min Length:
15 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Daily bag is 5 fish except from Nov. 1 – 30, when it is 2 fish (flounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from Dec. 1 – 14, when it is 2 fish (flounder may be taken by any legal means, including gigging). Possession limit = the daily bag.

Gar, alligator

Daily Bag:
1
Min Length:
No limit
Max Length:
No limit

Grouper

Black grouper

Daily Bag:
4
Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Gag grouper

Daily Bag:
2
Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Goliath grouper (formerly called Jewfish)

Daily Bag:
0 (catch and release only)

Nassau grouper

Daily Bag:
0 (catch and release only)

Mackerel

King

Daily Bag:
3
Min Length:
27 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Spanish

Daily Bag:
15
Min Length:
14 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Marlin

Blue marlin

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
131 inches
Max Length:
No limit

White marlin

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
86 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Mullet

All species, their hybrids and subspecies

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
No limit
Max Length:
12 inches (see below)
Clarification
May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October, November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months.

Sailfish

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
84 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Seatrout - spotted

Daily Bag:
5
Min Length:
15 inches
Max Length:
25 inches
Clarification:
No more than one spotted seatrout over the stated maximum length may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit.

Sharks

Daily Bag:
1 (in any allowable combination) - Special regulation: The daily bag limit is one fish for all allowable shark species including Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead.

Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks MUST be used when fishing for sharks in state waters.

See Shark Limits and Identification for identification tips.

Atlantic sharpnose

Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Blacktip

Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Bonnethead

Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Hammerhead (smooth, great, scalloped)

Min Length:
99 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Other allowable shark species

Min Length:
64 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Prohibited shark species

Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Oceanic Whitetip, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.

Daily Bag:
0 (catch and release only)
Slot Size Snook

Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks MUST be used when fishing for sharks in state waters.

See Shark Limits and Identification for identification tips.

Sheepshead

Daily Bag:
5
Min Length:
15 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Snapper

Lane

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
8 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Red

Daily Bag:
4
Min Length:
15 - No limit

Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait.

Snook Size Limit Florida

Vermilion

Snook Slot Size 2019

Daily Bag:
No limit
Min Length:
10 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Snook

Daily Bag:
1
Min Length:
24 inches
Max Length:
28 inches

Tarpon

Daily Bag:
1
Min Length:
85 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Slot Size For Snook

Triggerfish, gray

Daily Bag:
20
Min Length:
16 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Florida Snook Slot Size

Tripletail

Daily Bag:
3
Min Length:
17 inches
Max Length:
No limit

Fl Snook Regulations

Well the time has come and West coast snook season is upon us. It will be Important to every angler to review exactly what our local FWC will be expecting upon your return to the ramp. A pinched tail measurement is exactly what it means. When you place that fishes snout right at the zero mark on your ruler and pinch the tail to its maximum length, that’s the true size of your fish. This can help you on the low end of the slot 28″ and this can cost you a bunch of money and hassle on the top end of the slot 33″. There are lots of slot fish out there currently, and there will be lots of fisherman catching plenty of slot size fish. Remember though the rule is a law and a mistake of a quarter inch may cost you an absorbent amount financially. Tight lines Capt G