FWC approves changes for snook in state waters effective Jan. 1, 2024
At its October meeting, held Oct. 4 and 5, 2023 in Jensen Beach, Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new management regions and regulations for snook in state waters following the final rule hearing.
These regulations, which go into effect Jan. 1, 2024, will:
• Establish 9 snook management regions.
• Establish open seasons, as well as bag and slot limits, for each region, which are detailed below.
Regions with Bag and Slot Limits:
Panhandle
Big Bend
Tampa Bay
Sarasota Bay
Open season: March – April, September – November
Bag limit: 1 fish
Slot limit: 28-33 inches
Charlotte Harbor
Southwest
Open season: March – April, October – November
Bag limit: 1 fish
Slot limit: 28-33 inches
Southeast
Indian River Lagoon
Northeast
Open season: February – May, September – Dec. 14
Bag limit: 1 fish
Slot limit: 28-32 inches
As part of this new management approach, FWC staff intends to monitor and evaluate these 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.
“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,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
For more information, including the October 2023 Commission meeting presentation, visit
myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/october-2023.