A quick heads up to those who may have forgotten; recreational Gulf red snapper and South Region spotted seatrout seasons close Nov. 1. With the recent flurry of size-limit changes for some of Florida’s gamefish, a lapse in memory is understandable. The closures occur yearly to protect seatrout and red snapper stocks from overfishing.

The possession of red snapper by sport fishermen in all Gulf waters (Federal and State) is prohibited beginning Nov. 1. There has not been a reopening date for next year’s Gulf red snapper season because new regulations are being developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and federal fisheries managers. The FWC expects the regulations to be finalized by February 2008.

Spotted seatrout season closes Nov. 1, and reopens Jan. 1 in the South region. This area includes all waters south of the Flagler/Volusia county line on the Atlantic and about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas/Pasco county line (Fred Howard Park) in the Gulf.