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Outdoors

Snook closure

Snook season closes Dec. 15, which means there only are a few days remaining to catch and keep the popular game fish. The closed season runs through Jan. 31, statewide. During the closed period, it is illegal to possess snook of any size. When the season is open, only snook between 26 and 34 inches may be kept, and the bag limit is one snook per person, per boat.

The six-week closure exists because of late December and January cold fronts. Snook don't like cold water, preferring temperatures of 74 to 76 degrees. If the water dips below 65 degrees, snook become sluggish; if it drops another 10 degrees, they die.

Tampa Bay lies at the northern terminus of the species' range. If the bay area gets hit with a hard cold front, snook die in large numbers, or at least, temporarily stunned and become easy picking for poachers.

Lobster season changes

State fishery managers are concerned that spiny lobster harvest rates by commercial and recreational divers are rising even though fewer commercial lobster traps are being used in the fishery as a conservation measure.

At a recent meeting in the Florida Keys, the Marine Fisheries Commission learned that the commercial catch rose 10 percent in the past six years and the recreational catch rose 4.5 percent in the past three years.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering several measures, including changing the regular-season daily recreational bag limit, establishing a maximum daily boat limit, as well as creating a fee-based special two-day sport season permit for Monroe County.

Take a hike

With things cooling off, there is no better time to hit the state's hiking trails. Brooker Creek Preserve in north Pinellas offers guided hikes every Saturday. Call )727) 943-4003. Weedon Island Preserve, just north of St. Petersburg, also has weekend hikes. Call (727) 217-7208.

If you want something more adventurous, the Florida Trail Association will explore the Croom Section of Withlacoochee State Forest on Dec. 19 (call 813-935-6260) and Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve on Dec. 26 (call 813-985-7938).

Tournament planner

Mark your calendars. The 2003 tournament season is just around the corner.

Randy Keys will kick off the kingfish season with a tournament in Tierra Verde on March 27-29. Call 542-3900.

Treasure Island Charities will host kingfish tournaments on April 4-5 in Bradenton, on April 10-13 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Clearwater and on May 2-4 and Nov. 7-9 in Treasure Island. Call (727) 363-0071.

The Old Salt Fishing Club has set its dates for the The King of the Beach tournaments: April 24-26 and Nov. 13-15. Call (727) 328-7699. Billy Moore will bring back his Spring Mack Attack on May 16-17. Call (727) 542-3900.

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