ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: May 11, 2015

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, caught and released this tarpon on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON — The Crosthwait Fishing Tournament takes place next weekend, May 15-17, at the Bradenton Yacht Club. NOAA is predicting windy conditions for the rest of the week with possible afternoon thunderstorms. FWC officials changed the red grouper bag limit from four to two fish, effective immediately. The FWC has dubbed the Saturday following Mother's Day as lionfish removal day. 

Entry forms now available for the 32nd Annual Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament!
Anglers wishing to participate in this year's tournament May 15-17 can send their completed entries to info@crosthwaitfishing.com and pay their registration fee online. They may also mail their checks and entry to the address on the form. The earlier the better!

Celebrate Florida’s first annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day May 16 with FWC and partners
Are you ready to find out how many lionfish can be removed from Florida waters in one weekend?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is celebrating its first annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day by hosting and promoting a weekend of exciting events across the state, starting Saturday, May 16, including a festival in Pensacola.

Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (established to be the first Saturday after Mother’s Day each year) was created by FWC Commissioners to help draw attention to the lionfish issue. Lionfish are a nonnative, invasive species that have a potential negative impact on native species and habitat.

Red grouper bag limit changes to 2 in Gulf state and federal waters

The red grouper recreational bag limit changed from four to two fish per person in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, excluding Monroe County, on May 7.

This change was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its November 2014 meeting.

The Commission hopes that this change will allow for a longer recreational red grouper season in federal waters, which closed early in 2014 because the recreational catch limit was exceeded in 2013. The two-fish bag limit was initially requested by Florida anglers and for-hire captains to help maximize fishing opportunities for red grouper, especially during late fall.

To learn more about red grouper catches, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”

Fishing Forecast

A surface high pressure will remain in place through the next several days with winds and seas expected to remain below headlines. Winds will come onshore at the coast each afternoon as the sea breeze circulation develops.

Monday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday nightfall bring northwest winds around 10 knots then becoming east after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.
2015/05/11 Mon 01:59 AM -0.02 L
2015/05/11 Mon 08:53 AM 1.53 H
2015/05/11 Mon 01:41 PM 1.2 L
2015/05/11 Mon 06:51 PM 1.9 H

Tuesday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming west around 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring north winds around 10 knots then becoming east after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.
2015/05/12 Tue 02:58 AM 0.11 L
2015/05/12 Tue 09:32 AM 1.67 H
2015/05/12 Tue 03:23 PM 0.99 L
2015/05/12 Tue 08:33 PM 1.75 H

Wednesday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming west around 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 5 knots then becoming east around 10 knots after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.
2015/05/13 Wed 03:52 AM 0.27 L
2015/05/13 Wed 10:06 AM 1.83 H
2015/05/13 Wed 04:41 PM 0.68 L
2015/05/13 Wed 10:06 PM 1.68 H

Thursday
Southeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring northeast winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming east 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Isolated thunderstorms.
2015/05/14 Thu 04:39 AM 0.44 L
2015/05/14 Thu 10:37 AM 2.01 H
2015/05/14 Thu 05:42 PM 0.35 L
2015/05/14 Thu 11:25 PM 1.64 H

Friday
Southeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.
2015/05/15 Fri 05:20 AM 0.62 L
2015/05/15 Fri 11:08 AM 2.19 H
2015/05/15 Fri 06:36 PM 0.06 L

Solunar Forecast