Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: Sept. 4, 2014

BRADENTON – See or catch a lionfish? Report it. That’s what many lionfish hunters have been doing, thanks to the new Report Florida Lionfish app. Released to the public May 28, the app has been downloaded by more than 2,500 people. The first 250 to successfully report their lionfish catch or sighting received an interactive Lionfish Control Team T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life on your smartphone.

• Limited harvest starts Sept. 1 for snook, a premier Florida fish
  The recreational harvest season for Florida’s premier game fish, snook, opens Sept. 1 statewide. Unique to the region, snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World.While the fishery is already more than 90 percent catch-and-release, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to continue to use moderation when determining whether or not to take a snook home. Gulf snook populations were negatively impacted by a 2010 cold kill.
• Gulf snook numbers currently exceed FWC management goals but are still rebuilding to pre-cold-kill levels, which is one of the reasons why it is important to handle fish with care in this region and use moderation when determining whether or not to harvest one. When releasing a snook, proper handling methods can help ensure the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about catch-and-release and the best way to handle a fish, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater” then “Recreational Regulations.”

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.”
  

FWC tarpon researchers seek data from north Florida anglers

• The strength, stamina and fighting ability of a “silver king” make tarpon one of Florida’s most popular game fish. Experience the thrill! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants people to reel one in to the side of their boat and help us with the Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study.
• Tarpon DNA helps scientists learn more about the fish’s rich life history, from its anatomy to its catch history. Each year, willing anglers supply the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute with DNA “fingerprint” data from tarpon and then release them to jump and challenge anglers another day. The FWRI especially needs DNA samples from fish larger than 30 inches hooked in northeast and northwest Florida.

Lionfish-reporting app successful, plus 250 users sporting new lionfish shirts

• See or catch a lionfish? Report it. That’s what many lionfish hunters have been doing, thanks to the new Report Florida Lionfish app. Released to the public May 28, the app has been downloaded by more than 2,500 people. The first 250 to successfully report their lionfish catch or sighting received an interactive Lionfish Control Team T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life on your smartphone.
• In addition to the app, data can also be submitted online at MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Report Lionfish.”
• Lionfish are an invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s reefs and wildlife.

Fishing Forecast

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Thursday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming south around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.
2014/09/04 Thu 02:06 AM 1.48 L
2014/09/04 Thu 08:17 AM 2.49 H
2014/09/04 Thu 04:53 PM 0.3 L
2014/09/04 Thu 11:33 PM 1.67 H

Friday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Friday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.
2014/09/05 Fri 03:38 AM 1.43 L
2014/09/05 Fri 09:37 AM 2.57 H
2014/09/05 Fri 05:49 PM 0.22 L

Saturday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms.
2014/09/06 Sat 12:07 AM 1.74 H
2014/09/06 Sat 04:53 AM 1.29 L
2014/09/06 Sat 10:47 AM 2.65 H
2014/09/06 Sat 06:37 PM 0.22 L

Sunday
South winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms.
2014/09/07 Sun 12:35 AM 1.82 H
2014/09/07 Sun 05:54 AM 1.09 L
2014/09/07 Sun 11:49 AM 2.69 H
2014/09/07 Sun 07:18 PM 0.3 L

Solunar Forecast