Atlantic vermilion snapper, South Fla. spotted seatrout seasons close Nov. 1

For immediate release: October 31, 2011
Contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-487-0554

Atlantic vermilion snapper, South Fla. spotted seatrout seasons close Nov. 1

The recreational harvest seasons for vermilion snapper in the Atlantic Ocean and spotted seatrout in South Florida will close on Nov. 1. These closures are intended to reduce overfishing and increase the population of vermilion snapper in the Atlantic and help maintain the abundance of spotted seatrout in Florida waters.

The recreational harvest and possession of vermilion snapper are prohibited beginning Nov. 1 in all Atlantic waters off Florida. Recreational harvest of Atlantic vermilion snapper will reopen on April 1.

For spotted seatrout, all harvest and possession is prohibited from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 in all waters south of the Flagler-Volusia county line in the Atlantic. In the Gulf of Mexico, the boundary is south of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway, which is about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas-Pasco county line.

In northeast and northwest Florida waters, the recreational harvest of spotted seatrout will remain open until February 2012 unless the Commission adopts proposed management changes at its Nov. 16 meeting in Key Largo. If the proposed measures are adopted, there will be no recreational closure for spotted seatrout across the state. These proposed changes would take effect by Feb. 1, 2012.

Learn more about the upcoming commission meeting by visiting MyFWC.com/Commission. More information regarding Florida recreational saltwater fishing regulations is available at MyFWC.com/Fishing.