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Is it true snook season is closed for all of 2010 due to the freeze kill we had?

 

 

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Tex

Tex,

The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) has decided to close seasons for bonefish, and tarpon till April and they are extending the closed season for snook till September. These species are still open for Catch & Release. The species were hit hard with this last cold blast. Reports are piles of fish on the banks from Indian River Lagoon to Key West.

Definitely important that if you catch a snook make sure you get her back in the water ASAP. Lets hope they have a good spawn this year and numbers can return soon. Check out the links below for more info.

-Jared E.

http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_ColdWeatherSaltFishKills1.htm

http://www.myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/10/statewide/News_10_X_ColdWeatherSaltFishKills2.htm

True.. It's sad to say that a closure may not be required...A lot of both the current breeder stock and the next generation were wiped out during the cold snap. I fished last week in the Indian River to the North of Vero. The first area had a lot of Hard Head Cats and Mullet dead on the bottom. The next area I counted at least 20 under slot Snook belly up. In this group there was a 10 pound Snook belly up. Moved back into one of the canal areas, no Snook in this area, but a lot of dead bait fish. Next it was back to an area that holds both Snook and Tarpon. I do not target Snook, but the carnage in this area made me feel a little sorry for the people that do. There were at least 20 Snook up to 15 pounds belly up. While I worked this area 2 more slot Snook rolled up and started to die. There were still several big Snook holding tight to the bottom, could not tell what their condition was. In the rest of the areas, Lady fish, Jacks and Spade fish were either dead on the bottom or floating belly up.
There is hope, Spotted 3 Button Trout, Several Black Drum, a small pocket of Sheep Head and a large school of fry. The only fish that would play were the Red Finned Mullet(Rat Reds). The small reds were right in with the mullet. The only way to spot them was by the Red fins. For the sake of the fishing industry I hope that the recovery is swift, not the three years like the last time.