Florida Bass Fishing Forum
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Why is there an extra fee to catch snook for Florida Fishing permit?

I was just researching it and it looks like to keep snook you have to have an extra permit. Is this really necessary? i mean, how often or ever have you been checked for your license or fish. Ive been out a handful of times and never been checked. So should i bother getting the snook permit or just the regular recreational permit?

Public Comments

1. The Snook stamp helps Snook populations through study and habitat building. It also helps protect the Snook for the reasons your outlining- "general fishermen" must have a stamp to KEEP a Snook.

This helps Snook populations because most people don't splurge and purchase the Snook Stamp- SOOOOO, if they catch one they have to release it.

It's a clever ruse by Florida to help protect an otherwise slowly disappearing fish species.

Snook is one of the better tasting fish that resides in Fla and was (at one time) on the brink of going the way of the Dodo Bird.

Of course, Florida Legislature also get to line their pockets with more of our hard-earned money.

I must admit, one more "stamp" or season closer for Snapper/Grouper so that the "netters" can get first dibs on the fish is just plain old "outright larceny".

In any case, follow the law- get the stamp if you plan to keep a Snook. If you have my luck the moment your out of regulations will be the day you get checked! (lol)

Hope this helps explain?

2. Yeah I've never been stopped either but better to buy the stamp its only $2 a year than pay a lot more for getting caught with a snook without the stamp. But remember if you are on the gulf it is still closed. They only opened it up on the atlantic :(