Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast Feb. 14, 2013

BRADENTON -- The first of the month marked the close of gulf grouper season and the opening of snook season on the Atlantic Coast, which runs through May 1. Snook season will remained closed in the Gulf. The FWCC is considering a proposal that would designate certain fish as game fish or sport fish at their meeting on Feb. 13. Our contributing Capt. Rick Grassett said the best action over the weekend should be with trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. He recommends looking for reds around docks, in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low, or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high.

Fishing Updates

Cortez Fishing Festival Feb. 16 -17

• The 31st annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival in the Village of Cortez — possibly Bradenton's most popular festival — takes place Feb. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• The two-day festival is rich in local history, live music, nautical arts and crafts, children’s activities, environmental exhibits and, of course, more fresh seafood than imaginable. This year's theme is "Better Fish to Fry."
• The annual event held in the village of Cortez on the Gulf Coast of Mexico regularly draws more than 25,000 attendees. Admission is $3 for adults, children under 12 are free. Food and drinks are available for purchase.  
• Remote parking with shuttle service is available at G.T. Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. W. for $2 round trip. Shuttle service is also available from Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island. Limited parking is available just east of the village off of Cortez Road.

Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Feb. 15-17

• The Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta series opens its 2013 season Feb. 15-17, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club near downtown St. Petersburg, Fla (11 Central Ave.). More than 1,000 sailors will hit the water for three days of competitive sailboat racing in conjunction with the largest and most popular sailboat racing series in North America.  
• Top sailors from around the world will compete against local skippers for the overall prize; a trip to the British Virgin Islands to race in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Championship Regatta.
• Races will be held on Tampa Bay, east of the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier. Boats will be launched from the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
• Private boats for spectators allowed, limited viewing is available – best seen from the St. Pete Municipal Pier. There is no charge to view the races.
• Visit www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas for more information.

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School Feb. 16

• CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Orvis Outfitter of the Year for 2011 (1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key) will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Feb. 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 schools, which will run from 9 AM to 3 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

Weekend Forecast

A cold front crosses the waters tonight..with a wind shift to the north in its wake and becomes stalled across South Florida waters through the end of the week. High pressure slowly builds in over the Gulf Coast region for the weekend.

Thursday

North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of showers in the morning...then showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring north winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/02/14Thu02:56 a.m.1.32H

2013/02/14Thu09:13 a.m.0.24L

2013/02/14Thu02:57 p.m.1.73H

2013/02/14Thu10:20 p.m.0.05L

Friday

North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of showers. Friday night will bring north winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/02/15Fri03:52 a.m.1.11H

2013/02/15Fri09:38 a.m.0.42L

2013/02/15Fri03:29 p.m.1.78H

2013/02/15Fri11:22 p.m.0.03L

Saturday

North winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming northwest around 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Saturday night will bring northwest winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2013/02/16Sat05:04 a.m.0.92H

2013/02/16Sat10:02 a.m.0.59L

2013/02/16Sat04:06 p,m,1.79H

Sunday

North winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Sunday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/02/17Sun12:34 a.m.0.0L

2013/02/17Sun07:01 a.m.0.82H

2013/02/17Sun10:23 a.m.0.74L

2013/02/17Sun04:53 p.m.1.76H

Solunar Forecast