2026 regulation year
Florida Snook 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Centropomus undecimalis
Last updated
Snook are Florida's iconic inshore game fish. Harvest is tightly seasonal and zoned — Atlantic and Gulf each have their own open windows. A snook stamp on the saltwater licence is required to retain a fish.
Season
Atlantic: open Feb 1 – May 31 and Sep 1 – Dec 14. Gulf: open Mar 1 – Apr 30 and Sep 1 – Nov 30. Catch-and-release outside those windows.
– Atlantic
– Gulf
– Atlantic
– Gulf
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 1 / day
- Possession
- 1 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- Atlantic 28–32 in slot; Gulf 28–33 in slot
- Slot
- Atlantic 28–32 in; Gulf 28–33 in
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line only — no snatch-hooking, no spearing, no multi-hook bait rigs
- Snook stamp required on saltwater licence for harvest
- Live or natural bait permitted; circle hooks recommended
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Florida waters:
Mosquito Lagoon (Indian River system)
Catch-and-release only in NE zone; standard slot does not allow harvest
Boca Grande Pass
Hook-and-line only, no breakaway weights — tarpon-pass rule extends to snook
Sebastian Inlet
Atlantic-zone rule applies; heavy seasonal pressure
Tampa Bay system
Gulf-zone rule applies; size and slot enforced at point of landing
Official source
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission publishes the authoritative 2026 Floridafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.