Merab-Michal Favorite
BRADENTON – Gray triggerfish and greater amberjack will open for recreational harvest in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters Aug. 1. The commercial harvest of gray triggerfish will also reopen Aug. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters. Have you ever seen a dancing baby stingray? It is cuter than you think!
Fishing Updates
Dancing Baby Rays -- check out this youtube video
- Gray triggerfish and greater amberjack will open for recreational harvest in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters Aug. 1. The commercial harvest of gray triggerfish will also reopen Aug. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters.
- The gray triggerfish season closed on June 10 this year, when new management measures went into effect. In future years, it will close June 1 in state and federal waters. Recreational harvest of greater amberjack also closes June 1 in state and federal waters.
- When the gray triggerfish season reopens, new bag and trip limits will also be in effect in Gulf state and federal waters. The recreational bag limit will be two fish per person, per day, and the commercial limit will be 12 fish per trip.
- Gray triggerfish have a unique spawning behavior that makes them vulnerable during the peak spawning season, usually during June and July. Male triggerfish coax females to nesting areas, where they all care for and guard their eggs after spawning. Closing gray triggerfish during their peak spawning time and implementing a recreational bag limit and a commercial trip limit should help rebuild the gray triggerfish population.
- Traps can be placed back in the water in this area starting on July 20.
- 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 was 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.
- 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
Westerly winds will remain in place across the waters through the weekend...with both wind speeds and seas expected to remain below cautionary or advisory levels.
Thursday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the morning then isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring set winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.
2013/07/25Thu03:45 AM1.69H
2013/07/25Thu09:15 AM0.91L
2013/07/25Thu03:02 PM2.4H
2013/07/25Thu10:27 PM0.28L
Friday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Friday night will bring west winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.
2013/07/26Fri04:12 AM1.82H
2013/07/26Fri10:17 AM0.83L
2013/07/26Fri03:55 PM2.13H
2013/07/26Fri10:59 PM0.51L
Saturday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring west winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2013/07/27Sat04:43 AM1.96H
2013/07/27Sat11:23 AM0.76L
2013/07/27Sat04:55 PM1.85H
2013/07/27Sat11:30 PM0.72L
Sunday
Southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Sunday night will bring west winds around 5 knots then becoming south after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2013/07/28Sun05:19 AM2.07H
2013/07/28Sun12:36 PM0.7L
2013/07/28Sun06:07 PM1.6H
Solunar Forecast