Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: Sept. 18, 2014

BRADENTON –A front has caused a lot of rain the past few days, but conditions are set to improve tomorrow afternoon. Snook season opened statewide.  FWC researchers have reported that transplanted, nursery-raised corral has spawning for the fist time off of Marathon Key. 

Nonnative fish provide exotic fishing alternatives; most have no bag limits!

• Florida freshwater anglers target at least 25 species of native fishes. Most are within a 45-minute drive of anyone wanting to wet a line. In addition to those, the free Florida Big Catch angler recognition program (BigCatchFlorida.com) features six species of exotic fishes from other countries and several fish species that expanded their ranges from farther north.
• Of those nonnative fishes, only butterfly peacock bass were stocked intentionally by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) predecessor, during the early 1980s. At the time, expansion of numerous nonnative fish species in south Florida was causing concern. Walking catfish and several types of tilapia were well established. Species, such as piranha, electric eels and freshwater stingray had the potential to be imported by the aquarium industry and posed a threat to native species and a concern to people. Accidental introductions were largely attributed to the aquaculture industry or to individual aquarists.

• FWC, partners see ultimate coral reef-building success
  Researchers at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) observed transplanted nursery-raised staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) spawning for the first time this month at Tropical Rocks, just over 4 miles offshore of Marathon.
• These corals were supplied by the Coral Restoration Foundation and Mote Marine Lab nurseries and outplanted by the FWC. The project was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via The Nature Conservancy.
• The FWC, in collaboration with the Conservancy and other American Recovery and Reinvestment Act partners, began construction on the Middle Keys coral nursery in late 2009 but suffered setbacks due to a coldwater kill and, later, a warm-water bleaching event.
• The goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project was to expand the current nurseries, develop new nurseries and outplant high numbers of nursery-grown corals throughout the Florida reef tract and the U.S. Virgin Islands.“This is the first time that we have seen staghorn coral spawning at the reef tract that included corals grown as part of our nursery program,” said Caitlin Lustic, coral recovery coordinator for the Conservancy in Florida. “This spawning event shows that outplanted corals have the ability to reproduce just like a natural colony and furthers our goal of creating breeding colonies of coral that can repopulate reefs on their own.”
  

Fishing Forecast

The frontal boundary has pushed south over the southern coastal waters. Winds will decrease overnight and veer to a northwest through northeast direction. Scattered thunderstorms and rain showers associated with this front will continue through the night over the central and southern waters. Conditions will improve on Thursday with decreasing north northwest winds...then veering around to the east on Friday. A more typical summertime pattern will setup for the weekend with afternoon and evening storms over the coastal waters.

Thursday
Northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms. Scattered showers in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring north winds around 5 knots then becoming east after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening...then a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
2014/09/18 Thu 3:09 a.m. 1.53 L
2014/09/18 Thu 8:54 a.m. 2.2 H
2014/09/18 Thu 4:56 p.m. 0.53 L
2014/09/18 Thu 11:29 p.m. 1.82 H

Friday
East winds around 5 knots then becoming northeast around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Friday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Showers likely in the evening. A chance of thunderstorms.
2014/09/19 Fri 4:27 a.m. 1.4 L
2014/09/19 Fri 10:07 a.m. 2.24 H
2014/09/19 Fri 5:41 p.m. 0.54 L
2014/09/19 Fri 11:54 p.m. 1.88 H

Saturday
East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring east winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms.
2014/09/20 Sat 05:22 a.m. 1.24 L
2014/09/20 Sat 11:04 a.m. 2.29 H
2014/09/20 Sat 06:18 p.m. 0.58 L

Sunday
East winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Sunday night will bring east winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2014/09/21 Sun 12:15 a.m. 1.93 H
2014/09/21 Sun 06:05 a.m. 1.07 L
2014/09/21 Sun 11:51 a.m. 2.31 H
2014/09/21 Sun 06:50 p.m. 0.65 L

Solunar Forecast