ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: April 16, 2015

BRADENTON –  NOAA is predicting less than 10 knots of wind over the weekend, with waves no more than two feet tall. A chance of thunderstorms will occur Thursday through Saturday. The Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament is only a few weeks away. Our contributing captain Rick Grassett says to look for trout, blues, pompano or flounder on deep grass flats, particularly close to passes.

Signing up to participate in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey becomes mandatory April 1

• Attention Gulf reef fish anglers: You’ve asked for better data and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has listened and taken action. Now the FWC needs your help.
• Signing up to participate in the Gulf Reef Fish Survey becomes mandatory April 1, so sign up today. The easy, no-cost process will help the FWC paint a clearer picture of how many people are targeting Gulf reef fish, like red snapper and gag grouper, and what anglers are seeing on the water.
• The Gulf Reef Fish Survey is for anglers (including those 65 and older) fishing in the Gulf of Mexico (excluding Monroe County) from a private boat, who plan to harvest, possess or land any of the following reef fish: red and vermilion snapper; gag; black and red grouper; gray triggerfish; greater and lesser amberjack; banded rudderfish; and almaco jack.

Biologists tally a record high manatee count

• Warm temperatures and clear, sunny days between some of the coldest weather of the year assisted FWC biologists and partners in counting an all-time high number of manatees during this year’s statewide aerial survey.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reported a preliminary count of 6,063 manatees statewide. During the February count, a team of 20 observers from 11 organizations counted 3,333 manatees on Florida’s east coast and 2,730 on the west coast of the state. This year’s synoptic survey count exceeded the previous high count for 2010 by almost 1,000 animals.

Do not disturb Florida’s nesting sea turtles

• It can be thrilling to watch a sea turtle crawl onto the beach at night and dig a large hole in the sand to lay dozens of eggs. Just remember that “Do not disturb” is the best behavior to follow when observing a nesting sea turtle.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) asks people not to get too close, shine lights on, or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.
• Spring is the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in Florida. From now through the end of October, thousands of sea turtles will land on Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches to lay their eggs. With Florida hosting one of the largest loggerhead nesting aggregations in the world, this becomes an opportunity for residents and visitors to play an important role in conserving these long-lived reptiles. People can help by taking turtle-friendly precautions on the beach.

Fishing Forecast

A week frontal trough will settle into the Northeast Gulf and Northern Florida Peninsula the remainder of today, displacing the ridge of high pressure to the south. Weak low pressure many develop along this trough on Thursday and move slowly northeast way from our region on Friday and Saturday. No significant increase in winds or seas is expected.

Thursday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning ... then a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots then becoming east after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2015/04/16 Thu 06:09 AM 0.2 L
2015/04/16 Thu 11:56 AM 1.87 H
2015/04/16 Thu 06:37 PM 0.27 L

Friday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Friday night will brine northwestn winds around 5 knots then becoming northeast after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.
2015/04/17 Fri 12:22 AM 1.85 H
2015/04/17 Fri 06:45 AM 0.38 L
2015/04/17 Fri 12:21 PM 2.04 H
2015/04/17 Fri 07:26 PM 0.01 L

Saturday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming south around 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Saturday night will brine southwest winds around 10 knots then becoming south after midnight. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.
2015/04/18 Sat 01:20 AM 1.78 H
2015/04/18 Sat 07:17 AM 0.56 L
2015/04/18 Sat 12:48 PM 2.2 H
2015/04/18 Sat 08:14 PM -0.18 L

Sunday
South winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A chance of thunderstorms.
2015/04/19 Sun 02:14 AM 1.66 H
2015/04/19 Sun 07:45 AM 0.73 L
2015/04/19 Sun 01:16 PM 2.33 H
2015/04/19 Sun 09:00 PM -0.29 L

Solunar Forecast