The State of Snook Fishing in Florida

• Steve Dougherty is Managing Editor of Florida Sportsman magazine.

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In Florida, many gamefish populations are safeguarded through conservation policies such as seasonal closures, bag limits, or size restrictions, with particular species seeing enhanced protection in different regions across the state. The importance of protection is evident, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has done an excellent job with snook. However, the proactive engagement of guides and recreational anglers also plays a pivotal role in the responsible stock management and ultimately the future of this beloved species.

Over time, snook regulations have undergone significant changes. Previously, the Spawning Percentage Ratio (SPR) solely gauged the statewide health of the snook fishery by comparing the eggs produced by a fished population to an unfished one. Since 2011, the Atlantic region has consistently maintained a SPR above the management target. In the Gulf of Mexico, the SPR has exceeded the management target since 2009.

In a groundbreaking move for 2024, effective January 1, the FWC implemented a comprehensive nine-region management plan to address concerns regarding water quality, habitat loss, and increased fishing pressure.

This initiative resulted from a year-long process involving 12 public in-person workshops, two virtual workshops, and angler satisfaction surveys. Additionally, fishery-dependent and fishery-independent research methods provided data for crafting the new approach.

The FWC is now committed to annual reviews of snook fisheries, introducing long-overdue metrics across the new management regions. These include stakeholder feedback, fishing effort, habitat trends, algae blooms, relative abundance, and air temperature. While retaining broad assessments based on landings and fish surveys to estimate SPR, the incorporation of these additional metrics aims to provide a more comprehensive view of fishery health.

“Through innovative management strategies like this, which allow us to be agile in our response to concerns, we are ensuring that Florida’s future generations of anglers will have access to this iconic fishery,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.

It is no secret that snook are heavily pressured in Sunshine State waters. Consider the 1.4 million licensed saltwater anglers in Florida—more than 540,000 hold a $10 snook stamp. Yet, there are fewer than 900 sworn FWC officers to enforce state fish and wildlife laws across more than 8,400 miles of coastline and 34 million acres of private land, wildlife management areas, state parks and forests. Quite the challenge, indeed.

“A huge issue that I see is that there is no law enforcement on the water,” said Captain Ray Markham, a south Tampa Bay guide who is the West Central Field Editor for Florida Sportsman. “You might see one occasionally at a boat ramp taking a survey, but I have been checked three times in 27 years on the water in Manatee County and once in Pinellas County. In my mind, there must be a lot of poaching by both hook-and-line anglers and netters.”

With limited FWC officers on the water, Florida may very well be a poacher’s paradise, but for law-abiding anglers ignorance is not an excuse, and avoiding fishery violations is entirely achievable. Regardless of published data and new management zones, the shared objective is clear: cultivating healthy snook stocks across the state, but in our opinion rather than consistently restricting harvest, the emphasis lies on addressing core issues such as habitat improvement, enhanced water quality, and increased FWC on-the-water presence.

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SOUTHEAST

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

Survey responses reveal that a majority of participants described their recent snook fishing experiences as either “good” or “fair.” The northern part of the region has seen a noteworthy expansion in the extent of mangrove swamps, showcasing positive ecological developments. However, there has been a discernible decline in fishing effort and releases during 2021 and 2022, following a period of higher-than-average levels seen from 2014 to 2020. In the Lake Worth Lagoon, there has been a reduction in the extent of seagrass, signaling potential challenges to the health of the local ecosystem. Moreover, the presence of knowledge gaps is evident due to limited long-term habitat data collection, and the absence of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fishery-independent monitoring for snook within this region further complicates our understanding.

From the Field: “I think there’s been a shift in our fish population,” said Brenton Roberts, Florida Sportsman Southeast Florida Field Editor. “Mainly bigger breeding females heading to the nearshore reefs and wrecks and staying there for the rest of their life. A study conducted by FWC at a snook symposium back a handful of years ago pointed to this. Many guides say the summertime breeder fish are a mere speck of what those big inlet schools used to be.”

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

Survey participants overwhelmingly shared positive experiences in snook fishing within the Indian River Lagoon. The trajectory of fishing activity and releases in the Indian River Lagoon has exhibited a consistent upward trend since 2013. This surge in activity has been paralleled by an increase in landings since 2014, reaching estimates in 2022 that surpass the long-term average. Consequently, the Indian River Lagoon now stands as the leader in landings among all regions in Florida. Despite the overall positive trends, there are concerning aspects related to snook populations in the southern Indian River Lagoon. The abundance of sub-adult/adult snook has experienced a steady decline since 2016. Furthermore, there has been a significant and alarming reduction in seagrass acreage throughout the region since 2010, representing the most substantial loss in comparison to other areas in Florida. This decline in seagrass acreage emphasizes the importance of targeted conservation initiatives to address the root causes and promote the recovery of this critical component of the ecosystem.

From the Field: Captain Glyn Austin reports that snook fishing, “Is still pretty darn good,” in the Melbourne to Sebastian area. Austin has been catching a lot of fish around mangroves, but the spoil islands—especially if there is bait on a particular island—you will find snook there. In Sebastian Inlet, Austin tells us there are more sharks and goliath grouper than in years past and he has noticed a significant increase in the number of guides—most of whom are struggling to nicely share the limited space afforded by the inlet’s productive north jetty. But, despite a minor fish kill in the Indian River Lagoon this summer, and the anecdotal increased angling pressure, “There’s still plenty of snook around,” Austin said.

REGULATIONS

• Regions: Southeast, Indian River Lagoon, Northeast
• Open Season: February–May; September–December 14
• Bag Limit: 1 fish
• Slot Limit: 28-32 inches

NORTHEAST

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

One notable advantage of this region is the infrequency of red tide occurrences, setting it apart from other areas of the state. Like the rest of the state, Northeast Florida has experienced a gradual warming of the lowest annual air temperature, leading to fewer cold events and potential fish kills. An interesting ecological development in the Northeast region is the northward expansion of mangrove acreage, but urbanization is likely responsible for the decline in saltwater marsh acreage in the region. The expansion of the snook in recent years has coincided with increased fishing effort since 2017 but remains relatively low compared to other regions. Releases declined in 2022 after peaking in 2021.

From the Field: “Snook are thriving,” said Rick Ryals, Florida Sportsman Northeast Florida Field Editor. “There have been more caught here than any other year and we’ve had the first report of a good fish caught on Jekyll Island, Georgia, by Captain Tim Cutting.”

CHARLOTTE HARBOR

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

Notably, the abundance of sub-adult/adult snook increased from 2010 to 2017, maintaining a generally higher level with intermittent declines during red tide events. Fishing effort and release levels experienced a decline in 2022 following a peak between 2020 and 2021. Despite the red tide bloom duration being below average in 2022, an unusual red tide event impacted the region in early 2023, introducing additional complexities. The lasting effects of Hurricane Ian on the habitat and fish populations in this area are yet to be fully understood and are currently undergoing evaluation. Meanwhile, seagrass acreage in the northern parts of the region have been decreasing since 2020, falling below levels observed in 1988.

From the Field: “Snook fishing has been up and down,” said Captain Greg Stamper, Florida Sportsman Southwest Florida online Field Reporter. “Water quality issues impact some areas harder than others. The bad red tide we had three years back destroyed populations of snook from Fort Myers to Captiva. The large fish that were common on the nearshore wrecks around Sanibel disappeared until recently. Likewise, those fishing them on wrecks in the southern part of the region did okay. Overall, the snook fishing is not as it was even 15 years ago. We did catch junior-size fish often in the back bays this year (12 to 20 inches), but not fish over 30 inches with a few exceptions. Water quality issues affect the bait they eat first. Without good populations of glass minnows and whitebait we will not see as many of the predators that eat them.”

REGULATIONS

• Regions: Charlotte Harbor, Southwest
• Open Season: March–April; October–November
• Bag Limit: 1 fish
• Slot Limit: 28-33 inches

SOUTHWEST

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

Survey participants generally conveyed contentment with their recent snook fishing experiences, often categorizing them as “fair” or “good.” However, certain knowledge gaps persist due to limited long-term habitat data collection and the absence of FWC fishery-independent monitoring for snook. This lack of comprehensive data complicates the overall understanding of the ecological dynamics in the region. The snook fishing landscape in the Southwest region has demonstrated variability over time, with a significant surge in releases noted in 2020. This spike is thought to be linked to anglers seeking alternative areas during temporary closures. The enduring impact of Hurricane Ian on the region’s habitat and fish populations remains uncertain, prompting ongoing evaluation. Red tide occurrences are a regular phenomenon in certain parts of this region, and an unusual winter red tide event was documented in early 2023, adding a layer of complexity to the environmental conditions.

From the Field: “In my experiences, it appears as though the traditional seasonal patterns associated with larger snook have shifted,” said Lou Volpe, Florida Sportsman 10,000 Islands Field Editor. “The numbers of juvenile snook seem to be steady; however, consistent encounters with slot and overslot snook during the traditional times of year are not as predictable. Many locals attribute this to rising water temperatures, which have altered the bait migrations and, in turn, the patterns of snook.”

TAMPA BAY

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

In Florida’s largest open-water estuary, positive environmental developments include an increase in seagrass in western Pinellas County, surpassing estimates from 1999. Both fishing effort and releases have generally shown an upward trend since 2010. However, this upward trajectory is countered by the decline in saltwater marsh acreage, a consequence of urbanization. Regrettably, there has been a significant decrease in the abundance of sub-adult/adult snook since 2020, reminiscent of levels observed following the 2010 cold kill. This decline raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the snook population in the region. The Tampa Bay region experienced an atypical winter red tide event in early 2023, and despite having greater seagrass extent than in 1988, the recent loss is among the greatest documented in Florida.

From the Field: “The problem that I see is the lack of multiple-year classes,” said Captain Ray Markham, Florida Sportsman West Central Florida Field Editor. “While you might catch some big snook, 40 inches or greater, on the nearshore artificial reefs, and in some of the passes during spawning season, we aren’t catching them inside the bays like we used to. If I catch one slot snook out of 200 snook that I catch, that’s a lot. I used to catch maybe 1 out of 50 in the slot. It’s as if as soon as a snook reaches the slot, it’s taken home.”

REGULATIONS

• Regions: Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Big Bend, Panhandle
• Open Season: March–April; September–November
• Bag Limit: 1 fish
• Slot Limit: 28-33 inches

SARASOTA BAY

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

The consensus among for-hire guides and recreational anglers is generally positive regarding their recent snook fishing experiences in Sarasota Bay, with the majority rating them as either “good” or “fair.” The dynamics of effort and releases have displayed variability without a discernible trend until 2021, reaching record highs in 2022. It’s worth noting that despite the increased activity, the harvest represents less than 1 percent of the total catch. Data on sub-adult/adult snook abundance, available since 2010, has shown fluctuations around the long-term average.

From the Field: “In Sarasota Bay, smaller fish in the 18- to 24-inch range are encountered frequently,” said Captain Geoff Page. “But the slot and overslot fish— we’re just not seeing as many. Guys like Scott Moore and his son Justin are telling me the same thing. An idea we had was to lower the slot to 26 to 30 inches, giving those fish in that upper slot range the chance to go ahead and spawn a few times. With all that being said, I am impressed at how many fish we still have with all the water quality issues, all the seine netters, and all the fishing pressure.”

BIG BEND, PANHANDLE

FWC 2023 Snook Review Summary

For-hire survey respondents mostly rated their recent snook fishing experiences as “good” or “very good,” while private recreational anglers reported them as either “good” or “fair.” Fishing effort and releases have more than doubled since the early 2000s. Recent years have seen an increase in mangrove acreage due to northward expansion resulting from reduced severe freezes. Abundance indices have been on the rise since 2016, attributed to snook range expansion facilitated by warmer winters, although a decline in 2022 may be linked to the cold winter in 2021. There have been both recent and long-term declines in seagrass extent within the “Southern Big Bend” monitoring zone.

From the Field: “In 2023, we had the most snook sightings I’ve ever heard of,” said Gabrielle Barnes, Florida Sportsman Panhandle Florida Field Editor. Reports from social media include catches from Choctawhatchee Bay, and also a baby snook in a castnet in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

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• This article was featured in the February 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Subscribe here