Snook Season Reopening in Gulf Waters After Three-Year Ban

Anglers have been limited to catch-and-release only, but that will change on the following date.

Posted Thu, Jun 13, 2013 at 1:53 pm ET|Updated Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 1:51 am ET

Snook season will re-open on Sept. 1, 2013, off Florida's Gulf coast.

The Ledger reports that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted on Wednesday to re-open the season.

Snook have been limited to catch-and-release, after an unusually cold winter in 2010 killed 15 percent of the population in Florida.

Now scientists are saying that Gulf snook have replenished to sufficient levels to allow for anglers to keep their catch.

The commission also decided that bonefish and tarpon will be limited to catch-and-release. That rule takes effect on Sept. 1.

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