Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: August 7, 2014

BRADENTON –  A flat pressure pattern will keep winds and seas light and allow for a weak onshore flow for the next several days. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionis hosting a Gulf of Mexico red snapper workshop Aug. 11 in St. Petersburg for recreational stakeholders to discuss state and federal management of recreational red snapper.

Gulf red snapper recreational fishing workshop slated for St. Pete on Aug. 11

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting a Gulf of Mexico red snapper workshop Aug. 11 in St. Petersburg for recreational stakeholders to discuss state and federal management of recreational red snapper. The workshop will also explore potential future approaches to managing this fishery in an effort to ensure optimal access for Florida’s resident and visiting anglers.
• Anglers who would like to share their ideas and help improve management are encouraged to attend.
• The meeting is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 3rd floor conference room, 100 Eighth Ave. SE, St. Petersburg.

Amberjack, gray triggerfish reopen Aug.1 in Gulf state waters

• The recreational harvest of greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) reopened Aug. 1.
• In Gulf federal waters, greater amberjack also opened Aug. 1, but gray triggerfish will remain closed through Dec. 31.

In both state and federal Gulf waters, greater amberjack must be larger than 30 inches when measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail to be harvested when the season is open. There is a daily bag limit of one fish per person.

• Gray triggerfish must be larger than 14 inches when measured from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail to be taken in state and federal Gulf waters when the season is open. There is a two-fish daily bag limit per person.
• Seasonal harvest closures, as well as size and bag limits, help conserve Florida’s valuable greater amberjack and gray triggerfish populations and improve opportunities in these fisheries for the future.

Fishing Forecast

Broad weak high pressure will keep winds and seas light and allow for a weak onshore flow for the next several days. A sea breeze will develop each afternoon and slightly increase winds along the coastal areas. Winds and seas will be higher in isolated to scattered thunderstorms.

Thursday

Southwest winds around 5 knots in the evening then becoming variable less than 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/08/07Thu12:02 AM1.48H

2014/08/07Thu03:28 AM1.34L

2014/08/07Thu09:44 AM2.59H

2014/08/07Thu06:15 PM0.03L

Friday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Friday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.

2014/08/08Fri12:51 AM1.54H

2014/08/08Fri04:38 AM1.32L

2014/08/08Fri10:46 AM2.71H

2014/08/08Fri07:05 PM-0.07L

Saturday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening...then isolated thunderstorms after midnight.

2014/08/09Sat01:26 AM1.58H

2014/08/09Sat05:41 AM1.24L

2014/08/09Sat11:44 AM2.79H

2014/08/09Sat07:49 PM-0.08L

Sunday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms. Sunday night will bring west winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2014/08/10Sun01:55 AM1.63H

2014/08/10Sun06:39 AM1.11L

2014/08/10Sun12:39 PM2.81H

2014/08/10Sun08:30 PM-0.01L