Snook 68B-21.0015 Definitions. -- (1) "Harvest" means the catching or taking of a fish by any means whatsoever, followed by a reduction of such fish to possession. Fish that are caught but immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed are not harvested. In addition, temporary possession of a fish for the purpose of measuring it to determine compliance with the minimum size requirement of this chapter shall not construe harvesting such fish, provided that it is measured immediately after taking, and immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed if undersize. (2) "Snook" means unless the context requires otherwise, any fish of the genus Centropomus, or any part thereof. (3) "Spearing" means the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking). Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-9-87. Amended 1-1-98, Formerly 46-21.0015. 68B-21.002 Designation of Snook as a Protected Species.-- The snook, species Centropomus undecimalis, is hereby declared and designated a protected species. The purposes of designation as a protected species are to increase public awareness of the need for extensive conservation action in order to prevent this resource from becoming endangered; and to encourage voluntary conservation practices, including catch-and-release practices for all snook caught unless they are needed for food. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85, Formerly 46-21.002. 68B-21.003 Prohibition of Sale of Snook.-- (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to buy, sell, trade, barter or exchange snook in any form or manner, or to receive anything of value for any snook with or without changing possession thereof. (2) it is unlawful for any wholesale or retail seafood dealer or restaurant to possess, buy, sell or store any snook or part thereof, or permit any snook or part thereof to be possessed, bought, sold or stored on, in, or about the premises or vehicles where such wholesale or retail seafood business or restaurant is carried on or conducted; provided, however, that snook which have been lawfully harvested, or parts thereof, may be kept on the premises of a restaurant for the limited purpose of preparing such snook for consumption by the angler who harvested them, so long as such snook or parts thereof are packaged or on strings with tags bearing the name and address of the owner clearly written thereon. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85, Formerly 46-21.003. 68B-21.004 Seasons.-- No person, firm or corporation shall kill, harvest or have in its possession, regardless of where taken, any snook during the period beginning December 15 of each year and continuing through January 31 of the following year and during the months of June, July or August, except by special permit issued by the Commission pursuant to Section 370.10(2), Florida Statutes, for experimental, scientific, or exhibitional purposes. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85, Amended 7-9-87, 3-1-94, Formerly 46-21.004. 68B-21.005 Size Limits.-- (1) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to kill, harvest or possess any snook that measures less than 26 inches or greater than 34 inches in total length (measured from the most forward point of the lower jaw to the tip of the tail). (2) All snook harvested from Florida waters shall be landed in a whole condition. The possession, while on state waters, of snook that have been deheaded, sliced, divided, filleted, ground, skinned, scaled, or deboned is prohibited. Mere evisceration or "gutting" of snook, or mere removal of gills from snook, before landing is not prohibited. Preparation of snook for immediate consumption on board the vessel from which the fish were caught is not prohibited. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85, Amended 7-9-87, 12-31-98, Formerly 46-21.005. 68B-21.006 Bag and Possession Limits.-- No person, firm or corporation shall kill or harvest more than two snook per day during the open season, nor possess more than two snook at any time during the open season. On any vessel licensed to carry customers wherein a fee is paid, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of taking or attempting to take marine fish, the bag and possession limit specified in this rule shall not extend to the operator of such vessel or any person employed as a crewman of such vessel. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85, Amended 3-1-94, 12-31-98, Formerly 46-21.006. 68B-21.007 Restrictions on Gear and Methods Used to Take Snook.-- (1) The taking or attempted taking of snook within or without state waters is prohibited except by use of hook and line gear. For purposes of this chapter, the phrase "hook and line gear" includes any rod and reel or any pole to which such hook and line are attached, as well as any bob, float, weight, lure, plug, spoon and/or standard bait attached thereto. However, the harvest of snook within or without state waters by or with the use of any treble hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited. (2) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take snook by use of any net, seine or trap, or by use of any gang hook, multiple hooks, snatch hooks, or by spearing, or by any device designed or intended to impale or hook the fish by any part of its body other than its mouth, or by use of any other device not specifically permitted in subsection (1) of this section. What is commonly called snook snatching is prohibited within or without the waters of this state. (3) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation while fishing, using, transporting or possessing any net, seine, trap or other fishing device not specifically permitted in subsection (1) of this rule to have in its possession any snook. This prohibition shall not apply to possession aboard a vessel of a single cast net if it is secured and stored off the deck of the vessel. Any snook accidentally taken by any trap, net or seine shall not be deemed to be possessed in violation of this rule if such snook is immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed. Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History - New 7-23-85. Amended 7-9-87, 3-1-94, 1-1-98, 6-29-00, Formerly 46-21.007.