FWC: Some game fish regulations back to normal

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reinstating normal regulation for snook, redfish and spotted seatrout in all state waters in Pasco and Pinellas counties, Tampa Bay and part of Manatee County starting on June 1.

The return to normal comes after the FWC made snook, redfish and spotted seatrout catch-and-release only after severe red tide between 2017-19 impacted the fisheries, according to an FWC press release.

In Manatee County, normal regulations will resume in state waters north of State Road 64 plus the Braden River but not in Palma Sola Bay.

From south of SR 64 through Gordon Pass in Collier County, snook and redfish will remain catch-and-release through May 31, 2022.

Spotted seatrout harvest in the area will resume with a six-fish recreational vessel limit. Commercial harvesters will also be held to the recreational three-fish bag and six-fish vessel limits.

For information about the regulations for these species visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations.”