Slot Size Snook
- Contents
It may have suffered a dive in popularity now that we have a 32-inch maximum size on snook on this coast, but plenty of slot-size fish still fall to the 1⁄2- to 2-ounce sizes.
Valid Sep. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021.
Slot Size For Snook, more bank slots wow, poker terminology hud, casino 2.0. Slot size Snook are within 28-33 inches. 1 per harvester per day. Due to the red tide that affected Florida during the summer of 2018. Snook are catch and release until August 31, 2020. Trophy Snook Fishing Tips: How to Supersize. Florida experts reveal the best techniques and locations for snook fishing. October 14, 2016. A pinched tail measurement is exactly what it means. When you place that fishes snout right at the zero mark on your ruler and pinch the tail to its maximum length, that’s the true size of your fish. This can help you on the low end of the slot 28″ and this can cost you a bunch of money and hassle on the top end of the slot 33″.
Notice: Red Snapper season in federal waters closed August 3, 2020.
Bag and length limits apply to listed saltwater species. There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game or nongame fish, except as listed in this guide. See definitions of daily bag and possession limits.
For freshwater finfish species caught in the public salt waters of this state, statewide freshwater limits apply.
Amberjack, greater
- Daily Bag:
- 1
- Min length:
- 38 inches
- Max length:
- No limit
Bass
Striped, its hybrids and subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 5 (in any combination)
- Min Length:
- 18 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Catfish
Channel and blue, their hybrids and subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 25 (in any combination)
- Min Length:
- 12 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Flathead
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Min Length:
- 18 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Gafftopsail
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 14 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Cobia
- Daily Bag:
- 2
- Min Length:
- 40 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Drum
Black drum
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Min Length:
- 14 inches
- Max Length:
- 30 inches
No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.
Red drum
- Daily Bag:
- 3
- Min Length:
- 20 inches
- Max Length:
- 28 inches
During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affixed with a properly completed Bonus Red Drum Tag. Any fish retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.
Flounder
All species, their hybrids and subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 5/2 (in any combination)
- Min Length:
- 15 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Daily bag is 5 fish except from Nov. 1 – 30, when it is 2 fish (flounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from Dec. 1 – 14, when it is 2 fish (flounder may be taken by any legal means, including gigging). Possession limit = the daily bag.
Gar, alligator
- Daily Bag:
- 1
- Min Length:
- No limit
- Max Length:
- No limit
Grouper
Black grouper
- Daily Bag:
- 4
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Gag grouper
- Daily Bag:
- 2
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Goliath grouper (formerly called Jewfish)
- Daily Bag:
- 0 (catch and release only)
Nassau grouper
- Daily Bag:
- 0 (catch and release only)
Mackerel
King
- Daily Bag:
- 3
- Min Length:
- 27 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Spanish
- Daily Bag:
- 15
- Min Length:
- 14 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Marlin
Blue marlin
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 131 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
White marlin
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 86 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Mullet
All species, their hybrids and subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- No limit
- Max Length:
- 12 inches (see below)
- Clarification
- May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October, November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months.
Sailfish
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 84 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Seatrout - spotted
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Min Length:
- 15 inches
- Max Length:
- 25 inches
- Clarification: No more than one spotted seatrout over the stated maximum length may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit.
Sharks
- Daily Bag:
- 1 (in any allowable combination) - Special regulation: The daily bag limit is one fish for all allowable shark species including Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead.
Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks MUST be used when fishing for sharks in state waters.
See Shark Limits and Identification for identification tips.
Atlantic sharpnose
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Blacktip
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Bonnethead
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Snook Slot Size Gulf
Hammerhead (smooth, great, scalloped)
- Min Length:
- 99 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Other allowable shark species
- Min Length:
- 64 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Prohibited shark species
Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Oceanic Whitetip, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.
- Daily Bag:
- 0 (catch and release only)
Non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks MUST be used when fishing for sharks in state waters.
See Shark Limits and Identification for identification tips.
Sheepshead
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Min Length:
- 15 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Snapper
Lane
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 8 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Red
- Daily Bag:
- 4
- Min Length:
- 15 - No limit
Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait.
Vermilion
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Min Length:
- 10 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Snook
- Daily Bag:
- 1
- Min Length:
- 24 inches
- Max Length:
- 28 inches
Tarpon
- Daily Bag:
- 1
- Min Length:
- 85 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Triggerfish, gray
- Daily Bag:
- 20
- Min Length:
- 16 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
Tripletail
- Daily Bag:
- 3
- Min Length:
- 17 inches
- Max Length:
- No limit
SNOOK
Snook Size Florida
Regulations
Slot limit of not less than 24' or more than 34'; closed seasons are December 15-January 31and June, July and August of each year; limit of 2 fish per person per day with one fishallowed to be greater 34'; snook permit required in addition to saltwater fishing license;
General Information
Snook may be the perfect gamefish. It is a tremendous fighter, requires skill to land and is oneof the best eating fish you'll ever taste. Primarily inshore fish, snook don't travel the vastdistance that other species are noted for. Most snook, often referred to as linesiders, spawnfrom April to October in the offshore waters near passes and inlets. The juvenile fish thatsurvive those first few weeks of life in the open water eventually move into the estuarieswhere the fish most their lives. The fish can tolerate fresh water for extended periods of timeand it is not unheard of for anglers fishing in fresh water areas that eventually connect to thecoastal waters to catch snook when fishing for largemouth bass.
There are four species of snook but anglers don't need to worry about distinguishing onespecies from another. Three species, the fat snook, swordspine snook, and tarpon snook, neverget larger than 18 inches so if caught, would have to be immediately released due to their size. Angler are after the common snook, a fish that can grow to the size of a small log and weighover 30 pounds.
Distribution
Snook are warm water fish This limits their distribution to the waters south of Tampa Bayalong the west coast and south of Cape Canaveral along the east coast. When the watertemperatures drop below about 60 degrees, snook head for warmer waters. This is the reasonfor the December and January closed seasons. The fish become very lethargic when the wateris cold and can easily be exploited by unethical anglers. At the northern range of the fish,some individuals die if they cannot find a warm water refuge. Snook are most commonlycaught in protected waters and passes. They prefer to hang around overhanging mangroves,dock pilings, and any submerged structure. Some fish are caught in the nearshore waters overreefs and other structure.
Tackle and Techniques
A medium weight spinning or bait-casting rod and reel with 8 to 20 pound test line is a goodidea. Snook are strong fighters. When fishing in areas where there is an abundance of cover,stick to tackle at the heavier end of this range. This fish is noted for its ability to run towardssubmerged structures and cut you off. It is also essential that you use a heavy monofilamentleader, in the 40 to 80 pound range, to reduce break-offs caused by the fish cutting the linewith their sharp gill covers.
Snook like to rest in an eddy and wait for the moving water to bring them food. For thisreason, you will find anglers fishing for snook where the tidal flow is strong and there areeddies for the fish to use.
Bait
Snook will eat anything that looks good to them and is in range when they are hungry. Theirfavorite food is a small live fish, but live shrimp and small crabs are seldom turned down. Anglers should learn to use cast nets if they don't already know so that they can net their ownbait. Usually you can freeline a bait fish and let it drift with the current. Occasionally a splitshot is added to the line in areas where the current is especially strong.
Artificial lures are also popular baits for snook. Both soft and hard bodied lures shaped likebaitfish, jigs tipped with shrimp and gold or silver spoons are traditional favorites. MirrOluresand Zara Spooks are two of the more popular brand names that you hear many when talkingabout catching snook. Ask at a local bait and tackle store which size, style and colorscombination is working best at the moment.
When fishing for snook, cast your bait as close to the structure or shoreline as possible. Snookoften will pass up a good looking meal if it doesn't pass right in front of its nose. Top snookanglers have good casting skills and can skip a bait underneath an overhanging mangrovebranch without getting hung up.
Secrets to Success
* Fish at night for snook. Look for lights on docks and along seawalls that are close to thewater. Snook will lurk in the shadows and dart out into the light when they see a meal swimby. Since small bait fish are attracted to the light and they are the snook's favorite meal yourchances of finding snook around any light are pretty good.
* Anglers fishing from a seawall, dock or bridge that don't have a light, can dangle a Colemanlantern just above the water's surface. Once the light attracts the baitfish, the snook won't befar behind.
* When the water temperature drops into the 60s snook may move far up small tidal creeksand canals. Tolerant of freshwater they will move into these regions for brief periods. Look forthem to be in the deepest holes you can find and hope they are hungry.