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Editorial
Protecting the snook
Article published on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 |
At this time of the year, it’s hard not to appreciate one of the major amenities of this area – our outdoor resources.
Each year when daylight saving time kicks into gear we are fortunate to have days that stretch into the early evening, which afford us the rich opportunity of outdoor recreation for an extended period of time.
For sport fishermen this often equates into extra time to drop a line off a bridge or pier, or maybe some surf fishing off one of the area’s many beautiful beaches.
Fishing in Florida is not only a commercial enterprise but also one of our finest recreational avenues – especially here in Pinellas County. And perhaps no species of fish in the area is as popular as snook.
While no figures are available from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the snook population along the Gulf Coast and other areas of the state is considered to be just fine. But, like anything else, it could be better.
At least that’s the word from a 22-member snook working group – a consulting body of guides, sport fishermen, researchers and outdoor writers organized by the Commission to design a blueprint for Florida’s future snook population.
Their recommendations will be considered by commissioners April 11-12 when the board meets in Tallahassee to consider a number of proposals on the table.
A draft rule amendment concerning snook is probably one of the most important for this area’s recreational fishermen and has a lot of merit.
The thrust of the proposal centers around narrowing the slot limits on snook and cut the length of the season by six weeks.
Currently, fishermen are allowed to keep snook measuring 26 to 34 inches. Under the proposed rule changes, it would be 28 to 33 inches.
The season would be shortened to March 1 to April 30 and Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, eliminating a month on the front end and cutting two weeks off the back end.
Daily limits of one fish per day per person along the Gulf Coast would remain in effect.
Although these measures are only advisory in nature, we believe they are good ideas and something commissioners should invoke this month or at their next meeting in June in Melbourne.
Anything that improves an already vibrant snook population is a plus for all fishermen statewide.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 11, 2007
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