Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: July 10, 2014

BRADENTON –  A ridge of high pressure is forecast to remain over the waters through Friday producing light winds less than 10 knots and light seas. This high will move northward on Saturday causing the winds to shift to an east southeast direction but will still remain below 15 knots. Catch and release snook in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. You should find reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more.

Gag grouper recreational harvest opening in most Gulf waters, closing in 4-county region

• Gag grouper will open for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters and all Gulf federal waters July 1. The same day, the season will close in state waters off the coast of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. The FWC manages marine fish from the shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The gag grouper recreational harvest season in Gulf of Mexico state waters, not including Franklin, Jefferson, Wakulla and Taylor counties, will remain open through Dec. 3, closing Dec. 4.

FWC moves to simplify saltwater rules in 3 counties

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a measure at its June 18 meeting in Fort Myers that will remove several outdated or redundant localized regulations in Gilchrist, Indian River and Manatee counties. These changes will go into effect as soon as possible.
• The FWC has been working to streamline and clarify saltwater fishing rules since 2009 as part of a marine fisheries rule clean-up process. This includes reviewing existing localized rules known as Special Acts of Local Application and working with county governments to remove them if warranted. Many Special Acts were put in place before the Marine Fisheries Commission, one of the FWC’s predecessor agencies, was created, and are now no longer necessary due to more current, statewide fishing management.
• The governments from all three counties have been working with the FWC on these changes. The FWC will be working with other counties in the future to help streamline and reduce regulations throughout the state, increasing transparency and consistency while standardizing FWC saltwater fishing management and making it easier for fishermen to access and participate in Florida fishing. The repeal of the Special Acts for these three counties is not expected to have any negative effects on Florida’s fisheries.
• In Manatee County, seven Special Acts are slated to be removed, including ones that limit the types of gear that can be used within the waters of the county, set aggregate bag limits for saltwater fish on the Manatee River, and authorize Manatee County to regulate the harvest of finfish within the county. Current statewide regulations now address the use of gear and give the FWC the authority to regulate the harvest of saltwater fish. Repealing these conflicting and redundant rules will help clarify and simplify regulations in Manatee County.
• To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and “Commission Meetings.”

Fishing Forecast

A ridge of high pressure is forecast to remain over the waters through Friday...producing light winds less than 10 knots and light seas. This high will move northward on Saturday causing the winds to shift to an east southeast direction...but will still remain below 15 knots. Afternoon sea breezes near the coast will set up each day though the end of the week and into the weekend. The only expected hazards will be gusty winds and higher seas in the vicinity of thunderstorms over the coastal waters along with a few waterspouts.

Thursday

Northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/10 Thu 01:12 AM 1.41 H

2014/07/10 Thu 04:44 AM 1.23 L

2014/07/10 Thu 10:54 AM 2.66 H

2014/07/10 Thu 07:23 PM -0.25 L

Friday

Southeast winds around 5 knots becoming south around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning...then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Friday night will bring south winds around 5 knots becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/11 Fri 02:01 AM 1.43 H

2014/07/11 Fri 05:35 AM 1.24 L

2014/07/11 Fri 11:44 AM 2.77 H

2014/07/11 Fri 08:10 PM -0.33 L

Saturday

Southeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday night will bring southeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/12 Sat 02:40 AM 1.45 H

2014/07/12 Sat 06:29 AM 1.2 L

2014/07/12 Sat 12:35 PM 2.82 H

2014/07/12 Sat 08:54 PM -0.34 L

Sunday

South winds around 5 knots becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

2014/07/13 Sun 03:14 AM 1.48 H

2014/07/13 Sun 07:24 AM 1.14 L

2014/07/13 Sun 01:26 PM 2.79 H

2014/07/13 Sun 09:36 PM -0.26 L