Merab-Michal Favorite
BRADENTON – The 32nd Annual Suncoast Boat Show will be held at Marina Jack's in Sarasota this weekend. FWC approved new a sea cucumber and lionfish management plan. Red snapper season has been set for May 24 through July 15. High pressure builds back over the state and remain in place through the upcoming weekend with tranquil winds and seas expected over the Gulf waters.
Fishing Updates
The annual Suncoast Boat Show of Downtown Sarasota
- The show takes place April 25-27, 2014, at Marina Jack’s, #2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, FL 34236.
- Enjoy the great outdoors while pricing and comparing hundreds of boats from the Gulfcoast's leading boat dealers at the all new Suncoast Boat Show of Downtown Sarasota. There is no better place to shop for a boat than a boat show. See various types and styles all in one place. Also on display will be a full range of marine electronics, products and accessories. Food and beverages on site. Plenty of downtown parking. There is no better time than right now for a new boat!
FWC approves sea cucumber management changes
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its April meeting near Tallahassee established a commercial daily trip and vessel limit of 200 sea cucumbers in both state and federal waters.
- This change will go into effect June 1. The Commission chose this limit today after considering potential management options. The change was requested by the existing commercial fishery as a proactive conservation measure.
Gulf recreational red snapper season set
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the Gulf recreational red snapper season in state waters April 16 at a meeting near Tallahassee. The season will be a total of 52 days in 2014 and will start the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 24 this year) and remain open through July 14, closing July 15.
- Starting the season the Saturday before Memorial Day will provide recreational red snapper fishing through an important holiday weekend, helping attract more visitors and bringing economic benefits to our coastal communities.
FWC moves forward with creation of a Gulf Reef Fish Data Reporting System
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its April 16 meeting in Tallahassee moved forward with a proposal to create a Gulf Reef Fish Data Reporting System that would help improve recreational reef fish data collection in Florida Gulf waters. This new system would help determine how many anglers are targeting reef fish in the Gulf. A sample of these anglers would be surveyed to provide more accurate catch and effort data for reef fish trips.
- This proposal will be brought back before the Commission at its June meeting in Fort Myers for a final public hearing.
- If approved, private recreational anglers fishing from a boat in Gulf state waters (excluding Monroe County), including those 65 and older, would be required to take part in the Gulf Reef Fish Data Reporting System to harvest or possess any of the following reef fish: red and vermilion snapper; gag, black and red grouper; gray triggerfish; greater and lesser amberjack; banded rudderfish; and almaco jack.
- Anglers, captain and crew aboard for-hire vessels would not be required to partake in the data-collection system because they already have their own survey. Anglers under 16 years of age and those fishing from a vessel with a vessel recreational fishing license would also be exempt.
Lionfish invasion: FWC moves forward with management changes
- The lionfish is an invasive species that threatens Florida’s native wildlife and habitat. With that in mind, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on April 16 moved forward with steps to combat the spread of invasive lionfish.
- Changes proposed by FWC staff at today’s meeting near Tallahassee will be brought back before the Commission at its June meeting in Fort Myers for final approval. Changes include:
- Prohibiting the importation of live lionfish;
- Prohibiting the development of aquaculture of lionfish;
- Allowing the harvest of lionfish when diving with a rebreather, a device that recycles air and allows divers to remain in the water for longer periods of time; and
- Increasing opportunities that will allow participants in approved tournaments and other organized events to spear lionfish or other invasive species in areas where spearfishing is not allowed. This will be done through a permitting system..
Fishing Forecast
Weak high pressure over the area will keep winds and seas light through the start of next week. Daily sea breezes will enhance onshore winds each afternoon.
Thursday
North winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming west 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Thursday night will bring north winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming west around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2014/04/24Thu04:18 AM0.12L
2014/04/24Thu10:41 AM1.66H
2014/04/24Thu04:41 PM0.81L
2014/04/24Thu10:08 PM1.76H
Friday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Friday night will bring west winds around 10 knots diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/04/25Fri05:04 AM0.27L
2014/04/25Fri11:07 AM1.82H
2014/04/25Fri05:44 PM0.5L
2014/04/25Fri11:22 PM1.73H
Saturday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Saturday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots then becoming northeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/04/26Sat05:44 AM0.43L
2014/04/26Sat11:33 AM1.99H
2014/04/26Sat06:36 PM0.21L
Sunday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Sunday night will bring south winds around 10 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/04/27Sun12:24 AM1.67H
2014/04/27Sun06:17 AM0.6L
2014/04/27Sun11:58 AM2.14H
2014/04/27Sun07:21 PM-0.01L
Solunar Forecast