Due to the recent cold weather and lower than normal temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission has issued an emergency order to extend the current winter closure of Snook harvest until September 1st.

The non-migratory tropical snook is at the northernmost part of its range in south Florida. Low water temperatures cause snook to essentially shut down until their organ systems fail. The recent record cold temperatures killed several thousand snook in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

Closing their harvest until September 1st will allow these fish to recover.

• October Fishing on Sanibel is GREAT