Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: Dec. 4, 2014

BRADENTON – An area of high pressure will build toward the eastern seaboard Thursday and Friday. NOAA is predicting east-northeast winds in the 10-15 knot range will continue with seas remaining 3 feet or less. Snook season ended Dec. 1 and FWC is seeking input on proposed zones for western Pinellas County. 

Snook harvest seasonal closure in Gulf starts Dec. 1

• • The recreational harvest season for snook closes Dec. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park, and will remain closed through Feb. 28, 2015, reopening to harvest March 1, 2015. Snook can continue to be caught and released during the closed season.

  • This and other regular season closures are designed to help protect the species during vulnerable times such as cold weather. Atlantic state and federal waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, will close Dec. 15 this year through Jan. 31, 2015, reopening to harvest Feb. 1, 2015.

  • FWC seeks input on proposed manatee zones for western Pinellas
    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), at its Nov. 20 meeting in Key Largo, approved publication of a draft rule for new manatee protection zones for inshore waters of western Pinellas County.

    FWC staff will seek further public input on these proposed zones through a public comment period that will include at least one additional public meeting in Pinellas County. Written comments will also be accepted and can be submitted by mail or email.

  • Red grouper conservation measures approved
    At its meeting in Key Largo on Nov. 20, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved lowering of the red grouper recreational bag limit from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state waters, excluding Monroe County.

    The Commission hopes that this change will mean an increase in the length of the recreational red grouper season in federal waters, which closed early this year because the recreational catch limit was exceeded in 2013.

Fishing Forecast

An area of high pressure will build toward the eastern seaboard Thursday and Friday. East northeast winds in the 10-15 knot range will continue with seas remaining 3 feet or less.

Thursday


Northeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Thursday night
will bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2014/12/04 Thu 05:52 AM -0.35 L
2014/12/04 Thu 12:22 PM 1.39 H
2014/12/04 Thu 04:36 PM 1.03 L
2014/12/04 Thu 10:19 PM 2.35 H

Friday


Northeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Friday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/12/05 Fri 06:34 AM -0.46 L
2014/12/05 Fri 01:12 PM 1.36 H
2014/12/05 Fri 05:10 PM 1.08 L
2014/12/05 Fri 10:53 PM 2.39 H

Saturday


East winds around 10 knots then becoming northeast around 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Saturday night will bring north winds around 10 knots diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/12/06 Sat 07:14 AM -0.49 L
2014/12/06 Sat 01:55 PM 1.33 H
2014/12/06 Sat 05:43 PM 1.09 L
2014/12/06 Sat 11:27 PM 2.37 H

Sunday


North winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Sunday night will bring north winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/12/07 Sun 07:51 AM -0.47 L
2014/12/07 Sun 02:33 PM 1.31 H
2014/12/07 Sun 06:19 PM 1.08 L

Solunar Forecast