Florida Fishing: Snook Season Set for Its Fall Opener

Our weekly roundup of hunting and fishing regulation changes and other news from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (compiled from FWC news releases):

Snook Season Opens Sept. 1

The recreational harvest of Florida snook opens Sept. 1 in all east coast (Southeast, Indian River Lagoon and Northeast) and most west coast (Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay) management regions. This includes all Florida state and inland waters within each management region. The harvest season in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay management regions will remain open through Nov. 30. The season in the Southeast, Indian River Lagoon and Northeast management regions will remain open through Dec. 14. Here’s a look:

Panhandle

• Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.
• Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of February and May 1 – Aug. 31.
• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.
• Slot limit: 28–33 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The western boundary is the Florida-Alabama border and the region extends to the eastern coastal boundary at 84°20.800ꞌ west longitude in Franklin County near Alligator Point. Does not include all waters of the Ochlockonee Bay, the Ochlockonee River and its tributaries.

Big Bend

• Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.
• Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of February and May 1 – Aug. 31.
• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

• Slot limit: 28–33 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The western coastal boundary is 84°20.800ꞌ west longitude in Franklin County near Alligator Point. The region extends east and south to Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties. Includes all waters of the Ochlockonee, Withlacoochee and Anclote rivers and their tributaries.

Tampa Bay

• Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.
• Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of February and May 1 – Aug. 31

• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.
• Slot limit: 28–33 inches total length.

• Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is Fred Howard Park, near the border of Pasco and Pinellas counties and the region extends south to State Road 64 in Manatee County. Includes all waters of the Alafia, Braden, Manatee and Hillsborough rivers and their tributaries. Does not include the waters of Palma Sola Bay and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Sarasota Bay

• Open season:  March 1 – April 30 and Sept. 1 – Nov. 30.
• Closed season: Dec. 1 – end of February and May 1 – Aug. 31.
• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.
• Slot limit: 28–33 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is State Road 64 in Manatee County and the region extends south to 27°04.727’ north latitude, near the Venice Municipal Airport. Includes all waters of Palma Sola Bay, Phillippi Creek, Cow Pen Slough Canal and Curry Creek. Does not include the waters of the Braden and Manatee rivers.

Southeast

• Open season:  Feb. 1 – May 31 and Sept. 1 – Dec. 14.
• Closed season: Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 and June 1 – Aug. 31.

• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.
• Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The northern boundary is the Martin-Palm Beach county line and the region extends south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line. Includes all waters of Hillsboro Canal, Miami Canal, North New River Canal, and West Palm Beach Canal, and the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries. Does not include Lake Okeechobee and Everglades National Park.

Indian River Lagoon

• Open season:  Feb. 1 – May 31 and Sept. 1 – Dec. 14.
• Closed season: Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 and June 1 – Aug. 31.

• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.
• Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary is Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach and the region extends south to the Martin-Palm Beach county line. Includes all waters of the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee. Does not include the waters of Loxahatchee and St. Johns rivers and their tributaries.

Northeast

• Open season:  Feb. 1 – May 31 and Sept. 1 – Dec. 14.
• Closed season: Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 and June 1 – Aug. 31.
• Bag limit: One fish per person per day.

• Slot limit: 28–32 inches total length.
• Boundaries: The northern coastal boundary the Florida-Georgia border and the region extends south to the Lytle Avenue/South Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. Includes all waters of the St. Johns River and its tributaries. Does not include the waters of the Withlacoochee and Kissimmee rivers, Cypress Lake, and lakes Hatchineha and Kissimmee.

To learn more about snook fishing in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Snook.

• Florida Fishing Forecasts: Weekly updates from captains all across Florida.

Gulf Red Snapper Opens

Florida’s 2025 Gulf private recreational red snapper fall season opens Sept. 1 for those fishing from private recreational vessels or state-permitted charter vessels that do not have a federal reef fish permit. State-permitted charter vessels without a federal reef fish permit will be limited to harvesting in Florida Gulf state waters only. The fall season will include the following dates:

• September 1-14, 19-12, 26-28
• October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31-Nov. 2
• November 7-9, 11 (Veterans Day), 14-16, 21-23, 27-30
• December 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, 25-28

Anyone fishing for red snapper from a private recreational vessel — in state or federal waters — must be registered as a State Reef Fish Angler (with annual renewal), even if exempt from fishing license requirements. This free designation is in addition to your fishing license. Registration is available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. For more on recreational snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine.

---