Slot Size For Snook
| Because local regulations governing the taking of saltwater products may exist, you should contact the Florida Marine Patrol (FMP) Field office nearest the location where you will be engaging in these fishing activities. This is a brief summary of regulations governing the taking of saltwater species in Florida for personal use. It is not intended or designed to provide specific information on commercial harvesting of these species. The failure to include complete laws, rules, and regulations in this summary does not relieve persons from abiding by those laws, rules, or regulations. All measurements will be considered total length unless otherwise specified. Total length definition shall apply to the particular species being measured. Definition of total length varies from species to species. |
| Species | Size Limit | Closed Season | Daily Recreational Bag Limit | Remarks |
| Greater Amberjack | 28' fork | 1 per person per day | ||
| Lesser Amberjack Banded Rudderfish | Not less than 14' or more than 20' fork | 5 Aggregate of lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish | ||
| Billfish | Sailfish 63' | 1 per person per day Aggregate bag limit | Measured tip of lower jaw to fork. Federal regulations apply in state waters. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours 800-894-5528 | |
| Black Drum | Not less than 14' or more than 24' | 5 per person per day | May posses one over 24' | |
| Bluefish | 12' fork | 10 per person per day | ||
| Bonefish | 18' | 1 per person per day | Illegal to buy and sell. Possession limit one | |
| Clams-Hard | 1' thick across hinge | May not harvest half hour after official sunset until half hour before official sunrise | one 5 gal. bucket per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less per day | Illegal to harvest from closed areas. Go towww.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas |
| Cobia (ling) | 33' fork | 1 per person or 6 per vessel per day whichever is less | A saltwater products license and a restricted species endorsement are needed to sell cobia or exceed the one-fish daily bag limit | |
| Crab-Blue | Sept. 20 - Oct. 4 Traps only. NW of Suwannee River and beyond 3 miles | 10 gallons whole per person per day | 5 Traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. | |
| Crab-Stone | 2 3/4' claw | May 16 to Oct. 14 | 1 gal. Stone Crab Claws per person or 2 gal. per vessel, whichever is less. | 5 Traps maximum. Trap requirements apply. Illegal to possess whole crab. Harvest of egg-bearing crabs prohibited. |
| Crawfish (Spiny Lobster) | Larger than 3' carapace measured in the water. | April 1 - Aug. 5 Exception: Sports season - last consecutive Wed. & Thur. of July each year | 6 per person per day | Recreational trapping prohibited. Crawfish permit required when license required. Special bag limit for 2-day Sport season Call DLE for current information on sport season |
| Dolphin | 20” fork Atlantic | 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide | A saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal commercial vessel permit are needed to sell dolphin, exceed the 10-fish bag limit, or exceed 60 per vessel per day statewide | |
| Flounder | 12' | 10 per person per day | May be harvested by spearing. | |
| Grouper - Black & Gag | 24” Atlantic & Monroe County 22” Gulf (excluding Monroe County) | 2 per person per day Atlantic & Monroe County 5 per person per day Gulf (excluding Monroe Co.) | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | |
| Grouper-Red | 20' | 2 per person per day- Gulf | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | |
| Grouper- Yellowfin &Yellowmouth | 20' | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | ||
| Grouper-Scamp | 20” Atlantic & Monroe County 16” Gulf (excluding Monroe County) | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | ||
| Grouper-Warsaw Speckled Hind | 1 per vessel per day of each species | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | ||
| Grouper-all others | Included within 5 per person per day Grouper aggregate bag limit | Includes: Coney, Graysby, Misty, Red Hind, Rock Hind, Snowy, Tiger, Yellowedge | ||
| Hogfish | 12' fork | 5 per person per day | ||
| Mackerel-King | 24' fork | 2 per person per day | Bag limit in Gulf-Atlantic fishery reduced to 1 when federal waters are closed to all harvest. Call DLE for details | |
| Mackerel-Spanish | 12' Fork | 15 per person per day | Transfer of Spanish Mackerel to other vessels at sea is prohibited. | |
| Mullet-Striped (Black) & Silver | Feb. 1 - Aug. 31, 50 per person per day, aggregate of striped & silver mullet maximum 100 aggregate per vessel | Sept. 1 - Jan. 31, 50 per person or per vessel. Contact DLE for additional restrictions in Pinellas & Charlotte counties. | ||
| Oysters | 3' | June, July, Aug. in Dixie, Wakula, Levy counties. July, Aug. Sept. in all other areas. | 2 bags per person or vessel, whichever is less per day. 1 Bag = 60 lbs. or two 5 gal. buckets (whole in shell). | Apalachicola Bay has summer & winter seasons/areas. Harvest from approved shellfish areas only. Go to www.floridaaquaculture.com for allowable harvesting areas |
| Permit & Pompano | Not less than 11' or more than 20' | 6 per person per day aggregate of Permit and Pompano. | May possess one over 20” of either Permit or Pompano Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited | |
| Pompano-African | Not less than 24' | 2 fish per person per vessal/day whichever is less. | Hook & line gear only. | |
| Red Drum (Redfish) | Not less than 18' or more than 27' | 1 per person per day | Gigging, spearing, snatching prohibited. | |
| Red Porgy | 14' on Atlantic Coast | 5 per person per day | ||
| Scallops-Bay | Sept. 11 - June 30 | 2 gallons whole or 1 pint meat per person, no more than 10 gallons whole 1/2 gallon meat per vessel anytime | Restricted harvest areas apply to certain state waters. Call FMP for current information. | |
| Sea Bass | 8' | Size limit applies to all Sea Basses (Centropristis) except Black Sea Bass. | ||
| Sea Bass - Black | 10' | 20 per person per day - Atlantic | ||
| Shad | 10 Aggregate per person per day | American, Alabama, and Hickory are part ofaggregate limit. Hook and line gear only | ||
| Shark | 1 per person or 2 per vessel, whichever is less | Protected species. Practice of finning and filleting at sea prohibited. No harvest of Sawfish, Basking and Whale Shark or Spotted Eagle Rays. | ||
| Sheepshead | 12' | 15 per person per day | ||
| Shrimp | April & May closed to Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler & Clay Counties | 5 gallons (head on) per person or per vessal per day | Must be landed in a whole condition. Contact FMP for closed areas. | |
| Snapper-Cubera | Not less than 12' or more than 30' | 10 per person per day. Under 30' included in aggregate bag limit. | No more than two 30' or larger per person or vessel, whichever is less. 30' or larger not included in aggregate. | |
| Snapper-Gray (Mangrove) | 10' | 5 per person per day aggregate bag limit | No more than 10 snappers aggregate of all snappers with a bag limit. | |
| Snapper-Lane | 8' | 10 bag limit applies toward aggregate of all snappers if harvested in Atlantic. | Lane Snapper harvested in Gulf of Mexico not subject to aggregate bag limit. | |
| Snapper-Mutton | 16' | 10 per person per day, with a bag limit | No more than 10 snappers aggregate of all snappers | |
| Snapper-Red | 16' Gulf 20' Atlantic | Closed when adjacent Federal water closed. | 2 Atlantic 4 Gulf of Mexico per day | No more than 10 snappers aggregate of all snappers with a bag limit. |
| Snapper- Schoolmaster | 10' | 10 per person per day aggregate bag limit. | No more than 10 snappers aggregate of all snappers with a bag limit. | |
| Snapper- Vermilion | 10' | No bag limit in Gulf. 10 (Atlantic) per day. | Not counted in Snapper aggregate bag limit | |
| Snapper- Other | 12' | 10 aggregate of all snappers with bag limit | Includes Blackfin, Cubera under 30', Dog, Mahogany Queen, Silk and Yellowtail | |
| Snook | Not less than 28” or more than 34” | Dec. 15-Jan. 31 statewide; June, July, Aug. – Atlantic; May, June, July, Aug. – Gulf, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park | 2 per person per day-Atlantic; 1 per person per day-Gulf, Monroe County, Everglades Nat. Park | Snook permit required when saltwater license required. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook. |
| Spotted Sea Trout | S regions: not less than 15' - not more than 20' NW Region: not less than 15' - not more than 24' NE Region: not less than 15' - not more than 20'. | Regions Closed: S - Nov. & Dec. NW - Feb. NE - Dec., Jan. & Feb. | S: 5 fish per person per day. NW: 7 fish per person per day NE: 5 fish per person per day | May possess one fish over the maximum size limit. S. region is defined as all state waters lying between the Volusia/Flagler county line on the Atlantic extending to Pinellas/Pasco line on the Gulf. N.W. region is defined as all state waters north and west of Pinellas/Pasco. N.E. region is defined as all state waters north of Volusia/Flagler line. |
| Tarpon | 2 possession limit | Requires $50 tarpon tag to possess or kill. | ||
| Tripletail | 15' | 2 per person per day | Hook and line gear only. | |
| Weakfish | 12' | 4 per person per day |
Saltwater 28' Slot Size Snook. Not trying to be a dick just wanted to give a heads up so we can all appreciate those beautiful snook! Season: Year-Round. Temporarily closed to harvest through May 31, 2021. Bag Limit: One fish per person, per day on Florida’s gulf coast when open for harvest. Slot Size: 28 – 33 inches.
Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore, (heads and tails intact).
Gear restrictions apply. Contact nearest FMP
Length for these species is defined as the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.
Protected Species
It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species:Nassau Grouper, Jewfish, Sawfish, Sawshark, Basking shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon.
Florida Marine Patrol (FMP)
| Division of Law Enforcement Florida Marine Patrol (Tallahassee) | (850) 488-5600 |
| Jacksonville Beach | (904) 270-2500 |
| Titusville | (407) 383-2740 |
| Jupiter | (561) 624-6935 |
| Miami | (305) 795-2145 |
| Marathon | (305) 289-2320 |
| Fort Myers | (941) 332-6971 |
| Tampa | (813) 272-2516 |
| Crystal River | (352) 447-1633 |
| Panama City | (850) 233-5150 |
| Pensacola | (850) 444-8978 |
| Carrabelle | (850) 697-3741 |
For Emergencies call 1-800-DIAL-FMP (1-800-342-5367)
Cellular phone users throughout the state, call *FMP.
On you Marine radio: VHF - Channel 16
Back to Fishing Articles
Travel Marketplace Weather Jump Aboard Feedback
Fishing Links Forum Search Home
Fl Snook Regulations
Copyright © 1997-1999, CyberAnglerSnook Fishing Season In Florida
Questions and comments: Please use our Contact Form.