Florida fishing: Flounder are back on the keeper list; Dolphin are on the rip

• Snook harvest closes Dec. 15

Flounder are back on the harvest list Dec. 1. Dolphin and blackfin tuna will be on the catch list, too.

Pompano have been caught in the Indian River Lagoon in Wabasso and Vero Beach and on Sailfish Point Flats, but the bulk of their numbers are still well north of the Space Coast. Don't worry, they're coming.

Remember, this is the time of year when several species go from the keep list to the release list. Right now it's spotted seatrout until Jan. 1, gag grouper and hogfish until May 1, 2024, redfish indefinitely, and beginning Dec. 15 it's snook.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

• Flounder: Harvest re-opens Dec. 1. Size limit: 14 inches. Bag limit: 5 fish per person.
• Snook: Harvest closes Dec. 15. Catch and release until Feb. 1, 2024.
• Spotted seatrout: Harvest re-opens Jan. 1, 2024.
• Hogfish: Harvest closed from Nov. 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. Season re-opens for harvest May 1, 2024.
• Gag grouper: Harvest closed for both recreational and commercial sectors on Oct. 23. Re-opens May 1, 2024.
• Blueline tilefish: Harvest closed Sept. 1 in Atlantic state and federal waters. Season re-opens for harvest May 1, 2024.
• Golden tilefish: Harvest closed July 17. Harvest opens Jan. 1, 2024.
• Lobster: Regular season opened Aug. 6-March 31, 2024. No egg bearers, 3-inch minimum carapace length. Lobster stamp required.
• Alligator: Hunt season opened Aug. 15-Nov. 1. Permits required.
• Grouper: Harvest opened May 1. Includes gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1.
• Cobia: New bag and size limits for state waters. Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length.
• Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.
• Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. These fishing regulations began on May 1, 2022, for state waters.
• Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake will soon become all catch-and-release.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

Santa's Wonderland

Stop by Bass Pro Shops, 2250 Gatlin Blvd., Port St. Lucie for a free 4 x 6 photo with Santa until Dec. 24. Special deals on numerous favorite fishing, hunting, boating and camping products, free kids activities, Santa's Wonderland and more will be available during store hours for the entire month. Go to Basspro.com for more information.

Snook Nook annual sale Dec. 16

Snook Nook, 3595 N.E. Indian River Dr., Jensen Beach, an iconic Martin County institution since 1949, is having its annual tent sale from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 16. Get bargain prices and special deals on a huge variety of rods and reels, lures, cast nets, beach carts, tools, accessories, clothing and more.

Indian River County

Offshore: Mangrove snapper, lane snapper and a few mutton snapper will be on the reefs in 40-80 feet of water. Try using clipped pinfish, cut grunts or chunks of squid. Drift live pogies, sardines or mullet in 20-40 feet for shots at kingfish, Spanish mackerel and sharks. Fish with diamond jigs off Vero Cove for fast action on Spanish mackerel.

Inshore: Andy Steinbergs and Jack Diehl caught a few pompano in the lagoon in Vero Beach using yellow and pink jigs. Spotted seatrout can be caught around the spoil islands using topwater plugs or live mullet.

Freshwater: Crappie fishing has been improving for anglers using 1/32-ounce jigs and live minnows. Fish over submerged structure like cypress knees or brush piles. Bass will be moving off the beds. Anglers can catch them using crank baits.

St. Lucie County

Offshore: Try trolling ballyhoo for dolphin and blackfin tuna along current edges. The dolphin won't be too big, nothing close to 30 or 40 pounds, but the numbers should suffice. Anglers can catch a few 10-12 pounders as the dolphin head south where they winter. Blackfin tuna will also be on the small side, but make a good meal.

Inshore: Try wade fishing for shots at snook, trout and flounder. Fish the ends of docks, around causeways and bridges, or along rocky jetties with a naked jig rigged with a live shrimp, mullet or mud minnow.

Surf: Are the pompano here yet? That is the million dollar question for surf anglers. There are sand fleas, finally, after a two-year (or was it three?) absence. There are whiting, croaker, catfish, blue runners, bluefish and some Spanish mackerel. Fish for the later using fast-reeled jigs.

Martin County

Offshore: The mutton snapper, mangrove snapper and lane snapper bites has held up nicely, according to Capt. Rocky Carbia, owner and operator of the Safari I party boat out of Pirates Cove Resort in Port Salerno. Dolphin, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish can also be caught by trolling in 120 to 150 feet of water.

Inshore: Fish along channel edges of the Sailfish Flats for a chance to catch pompano, jacks, bonefish and more. Drift with Doc's Goofy Jigs in pink or chartreuse. Use shrimp-tipped jigs to catch croaker, black drum, sheepshead, redfish, flounder and more.

Lake Okeechobee

Crappie fishing picked up when the temperatures cooled down early in the week. Try fishing Tin House Cove, King's Bar and Horse Island to catch bass as they move off the beds following the full moon.

Ed Killer is the fishing writer for TCPalm. Email him your fishing reports and photos to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.