Time to celebrate the New Year.

Devoted South Florida trout fans have reason to rejoice this Saturday: the season reopens for 10 months in Florida’s designated South Zone. That area includes all Florida counties south of Fred Howard Park on the west coast, and anywhere south of the Flagler-Volusia county line on the east coast.

If you live north of there in Florida, you’re still facing a one-month trout closure in February. That seems to be okay with North Florida fishermen; the weather can be tough, visitors to the coast are at low ebb, and the fish can use a break anyway to regroup, which seems to insure fast action every March.

Limits remain the same, four trout per angler in the South Zone, and five fish in the North Zone. The slot size is 15 to 20 inches, with one fish per angler allowed over 20 inches. Anglers are reminded that following a trout season opening, action can be fast and furious, and it can be easy to bag a few trout over the 20-inch maximum, thus exceeding the limit on bigger fish. The Marine Patrol will appreciate your consideration.

Also, use care in releasing trout. If someone in the boat is better at releasing fish than others, ask them to help out. Guides are quick and adept at releasing trout, so let them help, and watch how they handle the fish. Keep a measuring product on a handy, flat surface in the boat. If wading, make two marks on your rod for 15 and 20 inches.