Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: April 11, 2013

BRADENTON – If you catch a lionfish, send the pic to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and they will send you a free T-shirt! Our contributing captain Rick Grassett is hosting a fly fishing school on April 13; then on April 19-20, the Sarasota Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association will host their 18th annual photo all-release challenge.

'Lionfish Control Month' to kick off with Twitter chat, photo contest

• The lionfish have invaded, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants the public to join its Lionfish Control Team for the month of April. This nonnative, invasive species has infiltrated state waters and has great potential to negatively impact Florida’s reefs and wildlife.
• These fish not only prey on native species, they also compete for food with economically important species such as grouper and snapper, and they can disrupt the balance of native populations, ultimately causing a cascade effect that can alter habitats. Have you caught a lionfish? Photographed one? Want to know more about the lionfish problem? Join the FWC’s live Twitter chat from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28.
• To participate, sign in to Twitter and follow @MyFWClife or #FWCLionfish. The chat will feature experts, including FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management biological scientist Mason Smith and public information specialist Amanda Nalley. During the chat, the FWC will unveil its “Lionfish Control Team” photo contest. Tune in Thursday to find what your reward will be for submitting a photo. Learn more about lionfish at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives; click on “Marine Life.”

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School-Apr 13, 2013

• CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Orvis Outfitter of the Year for 2011, 1249 Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, FL will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Apr. 13, 2013. Located on Siesta Key, named Best Beach in America for 2011, the schools will cover fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett, will also cover leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques.
• The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basics but also work with intermediate casters on correcting faults and improving casting skills. Cost for the school, which will run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, a textbook and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations. 

18th Annual CCA Sarasota “Photo All‐Release Challenge” April 19-20

• The Sarasota chapter of Coastal Conservation Association will host their 18th annual “Photo All‐Release Challenge” fishing tournament on April 19 and 20, 2013. This year’s tournament headquarters will be at the Potter Building at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds. There will be a mandatory angler meeting on Friday evening, April 19th at the Potter Building.
• The tournament features a catch‐photo‐release format for snook, redfish and trout with anglers using identical boxes of lures or flies that are provided. Fishing begins Saturday morning and all anglers must turn in their photos at New Pass Grill & Bait Shop by 3:00 pm.
• Anglers will photograph their catch with their own digital cameras, which must have a removable memory card. Divisions include Grand Slam (largest snook, redfish and trout), Angler (most inches per species), Largest Fish (each species), Lady Angler (largest fish, each species), Fly Rod and Youth. The tournament, which raises money for CCA’s conservation projects, also features an upscale raffle, a silent auction and an awards dinner on Saturday evening. Cost is $95 per angler and $30 for youth anglers (12 years old and younger). Anglers must register in advance. Applications will be available at fishing tackle shops, marinas and boating stores in Sarasota and Manatee counties and online at www.ccaflorida.org/chapters/sarasota.html.
• Contact Adam Miller at (941) 270‐0895 or Capt. Bruce Burkhart at (941) 922‐3675 for more information.

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Fishing Forecast 

High pressure will continue to ridge across the area through Thursday. Winds and seas will increase Thursday afternoon and Thursday night as a cold front approaches from the northwest. The front will slowly move into the area Friday and stall out over central and southern Florida over the weekend with winds and seas diminishing.

Thursday

Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming south around 20 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters choppy. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring south winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers.

2013/04/11Thu02:29 a.m.1.49H

2013/04/11Thu07:47 a.m.0.75L

2013/04/11Thu01:21 p.m.2.22H

2013/04/11Thu09:07 p.m.-0.16L

Friday

Southwest winds around 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. A chance of thunderstorms. Friday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/04/12Fri03:09 a.m.1.4H

2013/04/12Fri08:09 a.m.0.84L

2013/04/12Fri01:46 p.m.2.28H

2013/04/12Fri09:45 p.m.-0.18L

Saturday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming north after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

2013/04/13Sat03:51 a.m.1.33H

2013/04/13Sat08:31 a.m.0.91L

2013/04/13Sat02:14 p.m.2.3H

2013/04/13Sat10:26 p.m.-0.16L

Sunday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Sunday night

Southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

2013/04/14Sun04:39 a.m.1.26H

2013/04/14Sun08:55 a.m.0.98L

2013/04/14Sun02:47 p.m.2.27H

2013/04/14Sun11:12 p.m.-0.11L

Solunar Forecast