Fishing: State to consider extending snook closures

PENSACOLA — Florida wildlife commissioners will decide Thursday whether the snook, one of Florida’s most prized and climate-sensitive sport fish, has recovered enough from last winter’s cold snap to lift a temporary ban on catching them.

Thousands of snook died in January when overnight temperatures hovered around freezing for about two weeks, dropping water temperatures into the 50s. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved an emergency snook fishing closure to help the species rebuild.

Some fishermen argue that the population has rebounded enough to allow limited capture of the fish, but others say the population needs more time to recover. Snook typically weigh between 3 and 15 pounds, but can grow to 30 pounds or more and are beloved by fishermen for their fight. They are normally found in the Gulf and Atlantic and in inlets from Daytona Beach and Holmes Beach south.

The commission will consider several options at its meeting in Pensacola Beach, including continuing the ban or adopting different snook seasons for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, said Lee Schlesinger, commission spokesman.

Brian Richardson, a longtime Everglades National Park fishing guide, likened the January cold snap to throwing a running hair dryer into a bathtub full of fish.

“I think 70 percent of our stock was wiped out. Snook start getting crazy in about 62 degree water and got into the 50s for about week. There were areas in the back country where it stunk so bad because all of the dead snook that it was hard not to gag,” he said.

Richardson has seen very few snook this spring and favors continued snook fishing closures in his region.

Linda Friar, spokeswoman for Everglades National Park, agrees. The park has written to the commission supporting continued snook closures.

“We had an extremely significant snook die off due to the length of the cold in January and we just are not seeing the recovery we like to see among the juvenile fish, she said.

On the Atlantic Coast off Fort Pierce, charter Capt. Joe Ward also saw thousands of snook floating in inlets after the snap. But Ward said the species recovered quickly.

“We had a lot of snook lost over here but I’m still catching as many as I did last year and I’m catching bigger ones. I am catching as many this year as I have in any other year,” he said.

Even under normal circumstances, snook are one of the state’s most heavily regulated fish species because they are so popular both for sport and eating. More than 90 percent of Florida’s snook fishing is limited to catch and release.

Normally, snook on the Atlantic coast can only be taken if they are between 28 and 32 inches and not between Dec. 15 and Jan. 31 or between June and August. On the Gulf and in the Keys, they can be taken if they are between 28 and 33 inches. The closed seasons are December to February and May to August. Only one can be taken per fishermen per day during open seasons.