ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: April 30, 2015

BRADENTON –  NOAA is fair weather as the weekend approaches but has issued a small craft advisory warning until winds subside. The Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament is only a few weeks away so anglers are encouraged to get their entry forms in now. FWC approved a 70-day recreational red snapper season in Gulf and is asking Florida boaters to select their top 100 fishing and boating spots to appear n America's Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots Sweepstakes. 

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 can be emailed 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!

Commission approves 70-day recreational red snapper season in Gulf state waters
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a 70-day recreational red snapper season for Gulf state waters at the April 16 meeting in Tallahassee. Red snapper is a popular species that has a strong economic impact for many coastal communities throughout Florida.

The 2015 season will start the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 23) and run through July 12, resume for all of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 5-7) and finish with Saturdays and Sundays throughout the rest of September and all of October, with the last day of harvest being Sunday, Nov. 1.

Florida anglers, boaters asked to select ‘Top 100 Family Fishing and Boating Spots’
Following the success of its first year, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing™ campaign is asking boaters and anglers to cast their votes in its 2015 America's Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes features several fishing sites in Florida and aims to increase awareness of great family-friendly parks across the country to get more families out on the water fishing and boating.

Florida is leading the way right now but needs people to share a little love. Participants could win a Walt Disney World fishing excursion!

Get outdoorsy with the new Guy Harvey hard-card license
There’s something wonderful about having a shiny new card in your wallet. While paper licenses do their part, a plastic license that easily fits in among other cards has so many benefits. It doesn’t get accidentally tossed out with the receipts. It is waterproof. It doesn’t rip or wear.

Due to popular demand, last fall the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began selling $4 hard-card licenses to those purchasing one-year licenses. Prior to this, only those who got 5-year or more licenses were able to purchase a hard-card. And to top it off, the new licenses feature art donated by Guy Harvey. Printing for these new cards began in September 2014.

Fishing Forecast

As an area of low pressure over the state shifts into the Atlantic, the surface pressure gradient will tighten behind the system's cold front. Winds over the waters will become northwest and streghthen. Winds and seas will gradually weaken thoughout the weekend, currently NOAA advices small crafts to use caution.

Thursday
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Isolated showers in the morning. Thursday night will bring northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2015/04/30 Thu 05:37 AM 0.51 L
2015/04/30 Thu 11:31 AM 1.9 H
2015/04/30 Thu 06:31 PM 0.4 L

Friday
Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Friday night will bring northwest winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming north after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2015/05/01 Fri 12:12 AM 1.58 H
2015/05/01 Fri 06:07 AM 0.63 L
2015/05/01 Fri 11:49 AM 2.0 H
2015/05/01 Fri 07:07 PM 0.21 L

Saturday
Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming north 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.Saturday night will bring north winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming east around 15 knots after midnight. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2015/05/02 Sat 12:57 AM 1.56 H
2015/05/02 Sat 06:32 AM 0.75 L
2015/05/02 Sat 12:07 PM 2.11 H
2015/05/02 Sat 07:41 PM 0.06 L

Sunday
East winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.Sunday night will bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming east around 20 knots after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters choppy.
2015/05/03 Sun 01:38 AM 1.52 H
2015/05/03 Sun 06:55 AM 0.85 L
2015/05/03 Sun 12:27 PM 2.23 H
2015/05/03 Sun 08:14 PM -0.07 L

Solunar Forecast