Merab-Michal Favorite
BRADENTON – July 15 marks the end of red snapper recrational season in the Gulf. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is considering a supplemental recreational season for later this year in federal waters. If approved, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider a supplemental season for Gulf state waters at a future Commission meeting. The weather looks clear for the weekend so get your boats ready and get out on the water!
Fishing Updates
- Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in state waters from the Palm Beach-Broward county line to the Pasco-Hernando county line must be removed from the water before July 10, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.
- Traps can be placed back in the water in this area starting on July 20. Until then, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.
- Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters on the water.
- The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures that will occur in 2013 on the Gulf coast of Florida. While state waters extend to 9 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf, the blue crab trap closures include only state waters extending to 3 nautical miles offshore. Coastal waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, will close to traps July 20-29 (see map). There are six regional closures total: three in even-numbered years on the east coast and three in odd-numbered years on the west coast.
5th Annual "Hooked on Habitat" Redfish Tournament July 20 Punta Gorda
- The 5th Annual “Hooked on Habitat” Redfish Tournament run by Flatsmasters is July 20th with an incredible seafood captain’s dinner by Peace River Seafood on the 19th. Cash prizes and raffles! Come fish for a great cause! $300 per boat (max. 3 anglers). For details, call CC Habitat for Humanity at 941-639-3162 or visit www.charlottecountyhfh.org.
- Contact: Ellen Cardillo, events@charlottecountyhfh.org, 941-639-3162.
- The 2013 Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper season in state waters closes July 15, with the last day of harvest on July 14.
- This year’s state season was 44 days long. The Gulf federal season was 28 days long and ran from June 1 through June 28.
- State waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles in Gulf waters; federal waters extend beyond that line to 200 nautical miles.
- The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is considering a supplemental recreational season for later this year in federal waters. If approved, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider a supplemental season for Gulf state waters at a future Commission meeting.
- More information about red snapper fishing is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and then “Gulf Red Snapper.”
Fishing Forecast
A strong ridge of high pressure will remain north of the area into Thursday keeping a breezy easterly flow across the waters. The high will then drift southeast into the western Atlantic for Friday through the weekend which will help to diminish winds.
Thursday
Southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the morning...then numerous thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring outheast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening...then isolated thunderstorms after midnight.
2013/07/18Thu02:13 AM1.15L
2013/07/18Thu08:35 AM2.47H
2013/07/18Thu05:14 PM0.08L
Friday
South winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Friday night will bring south winds around 10 knots then becoming southeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2013/07/19Fri12:00 AM1.37H
2013/07/19Fri03:07 AM1.26L
2013/07/19Fri09:34 AM2.61H
2013/07/19Fri06:15 PM-0.11L
Saturday
South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning...then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Saturday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms.
2013/07/20Sat01:08 AM1.42H
2013/07/20Sat04:10 AM1.3L
2013/07/20Sat10:34 AM2.73H
2013/07/20Sat07:09 PM-0.25L
Sunday
Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Sunday night will bring west winds around 5 knots in the evening then becoming variable less than 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms.
2013/07/21Sun01:53 AM1.45H
2013/07/21Sun05:14 AM1.28L
2013/07/21Sun11:31 AM2.82H
2013/07/21Sun07:56 PM-0.29L
Solunar Forecast
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