BigBendFishing.Net

I've heard that the February closure is designed to protect the fish when they are most likely to stack up in rivers and are easiest to catch in large numbers. I think mortality is pretty high with these fish compared to others so even catch and release could hurt their numbers.

Not sure where I heard this or whether it's accurate so take it for what it's worth.

THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL SEE TROUT POPULATIONS INCREASE IS TO NOT ALLOW TROUT TO BE SOLD BY COMMERCIAL OR ANYBODY ELSE. YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE NO SALE OF REDFISH HAS BEEN IN EFFECT, MORE REDFISH IN THIS AREA THAN TROUT. WE NEED TO START A PROGRAM LIKE TEXAS OF STOCKING, AND PROHIBIT THE NETTING OF TROUT, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY WAY SEA TROUT WILL MAKE A COME BACK IN THIS AREA. I HAVE BEEN FISHING THE GULF AND ATLANTIC COAST OF FLA. FOR OVER75 YEARS, I KNOW WHAT MAKES A GREAT FISHERY GO TO HELL IN A BREADBASKET, THAT IS NETTING BY COMMERCIALS AND IN THE PAST BY INDIVIDUALS. TROUT AND REDFISH AS WELL AS NONE MIGRATORY SPECIES SUCH AS
GROUPA AND SNAPPER SHOULD NOT BE NETTED OR LONG-LINED. WE ALSO NEED TO ELIMINATE SPECIES THAT CONSUME TONS AND TONS OF EDIBLE FISH EVERY YEAR. I MAKE THESE STATEMENTS FROM PAST KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
PA THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

Lots of good points made for sure!

I wonder how much input sportsmen really have into such matters?
I do think we're seeing more quality trout in our little piece of heaven.
One in four fish this year over 20" was an average. Of course there's always the days you get into a school of small fish. I'd like to see
the fish protected in the wintertime by a closed season Dec-Feb.
I do think an increase of minimum to 16 or 17 inches would be a plus.
I see no problem in increasing the red limit to two per day.
Quality beats quantity hands down....unless kids are involved.

Here is a greeat read from the FWC in PDF format.

Trout Fishing Article