Florida votes to keep snook harvest closed in Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic Ocean will be reopened

State wildlife regulators Thursday extended the restrictions on snook fishing on Florida's west coast and in Everglades National Park and Monroe County after thousands of the climate-sensitive sport fish died during January's cold weather.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously at a meeting in Pensacola Beach to extend the snook-harvest closure for Gulf of Mexico waters until Sept. 1, 2011, but to open the east coast from Sept. 17 to Dec. 14. The Atlantic Ocean waters will then be closed until Sept. 1. Catch-and-release will be allowed during the closure.

"I think they did what was best for the fishery," said Jon Brett, Snook Foundation gulf coast coordinator. "It was a good decision."

State biologists estimate that tens of thousands of snook died in January when overnight temperatures hovered around freezing for about two weeks, dropping water temperatures into the 50s. It was one of the worst fish kills in decades, so the commission temporarily extended the closed snook season statewide until Sept. 1. That was subsequently extended through Sept. 16 to give fishery managers time to address the issue at this week's commission meetings.

Biologists say the gulf snook population was hardest hit and has been slow to recover. They speculated that Atlantic snook may have retreated to pockets of warmer, deeper water offshore.

"The snook are just not here," said David Markett, a Tampa charter boat captain who has worked local waters for more than 20 years. "We probably lost 70 to 80 percent of the population, and it is going to take time for the fish to recover."

Snook, one of the most popular and tightly regulated game fish in Florida, have made a comeback in recent years because of fishery management and changing angler attitudes toward catch-and-release. Even during harvest seasons, size limits and one-fish bag limits were in effect.

Whether to open snook season again has been a topic of debate among guides and anglers.

"This is definitely a step in the right direction," said Eric Bachnik of Largo's L&S Bait Co., which makes MirrOlures, a popular artificial snook bait. "When the snook fishery stabilizes, they can open it back up. But for now, anglers can just practice catch-and-release."

But Van Hubbard, a fishing guide from Englewood, said he believes the commission may have overreacted. He said plenty of snook are south of Boca Grande. "The facts, logic and reason are just not there," he said.

Bill Miller, host of the locally produced cable TV show Hooked on Fishing, said closing the gulf waters while keeping the Atlantic open may do more harm than good. "People are just going to go over there to fish," he said.

Jerry McBride, a kayak fisherman from Stuart, anticipates crowds: "Everybody is going to converge on this part of Florida. They should have left the whole state closed."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.