Snook season is drawing to a close. The last of the spawners are moving from area inlets to warm-water envelopes for winter. It’s time to catch and keep that last slot snook of the year.

The west coast snook closure starts Dec. 1 in Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County waters. All Florida waters are closed to snook harvest beginning Dec. 15. Atlantic coast snook fishermen can once again keep a slot snook (28 to 32 inches) starting Feb. 1; Gulf snook fishermen have to wait until March 1 to keep slot snook (28 to 33 inches).

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, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.