ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast Dec. 20, 2012

BRADENTON -- Recreational harvest of snook in all Atlantic waters will close December 14, and will remain closed until the end of August. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has created a long-term survival plan for 60 species. Sarasota based Capt. Rick Grassett recommends scouting out trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and on deep grass flatsy. Shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should also be good into next week. He said to look for them in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low, or higher on shallow grass flats at the top of the tide. Tripletail should remain a good option in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.

Fishing Updates

December brings closure of snook season in Atlantic state, federal waters 

• The recreational harvest of snook will close in all Atlantic waters, including the inland waters of Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, beginning Dec. 15, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 14. The season will reopen in the Atlantic’s state and federal waters Feb. 1, 2013.
• Snook season is currently closed in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, and will remain closed through Aug. 31, 2013, to give the fish time to fully rebound from severe cold weather in 2010 that killed many snook.
• The extended Gulf harvest closure will help protect snook populations this winter, when they are most vulnerable to cold weather, and give snook added protection during next spring and summer’s spawning months.
• Anglers may still catch and release snook during the harvest closure, and the FWC encourages everyone to handle and release these fish carefully to help ensure their survival upon release.
• Snook regulations, including a bag limit of one fish per person, per day and a slot limit of no less than 28 inches and no more than 32 inches, apply to snook harvested in both state and federal waters off Florida. No one may possess any snook caught during snook closed seasons.
• For more information regarding the management of snook in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.”

FWC defines new conservation model for 60 species 

• To achieve long-term survival for 60 imperiled wildlife species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed a new conservation model at its meeting today in Apalachicola.
• Creating the Imperiled Species Management Plan will define measurable objectives and actions to manage and conserve these animals to keep them part of Florida’s wildlife forever.
• Staff updated Commissioners on how they will integrate broad conservation strategies with specific actions for each wildlife species. The Imperiled Species Management Plan will include habitat conservation; wildlife management; measurable objectives (including timeframes); possible incentives, potential rule recommendations; and consideration of economic, ecological and social impacts.
• “This approach is smart thinking,” said FWC Chairman Kenneth Wright.
• Typically, the FWC has developed and implemented separate management plans for individual species such as the bald eagle, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise and Florida manatee. With the Imperiled Species Management Plan, the FWC will retain that focus while recognizing the efficiency of developing integrated strategies that positively affect multiple species, for example those sharing a seaside marsh or upland scrub habitat.
• Opportunities for input from stakeholders and the public will be sought as components of the Imperiled Species Management Plan begin to be rolled out in draft form in 2013.
• “By identifying both the common elements and specific actions needed to promote survival of 60 species, Florida can achieve broad long-term conservation success for wildlife such as the little blue heron, Eastern chipmunk and Florida sandhill crane,” said Laura Barrett, the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Plan Coordinator.
• “The Imperiled Species Management Plan will give stakeholders and the public a broad conservation vision of what the FWC plans to achieve for 60 species that have been listed as state-threatened or species of special concern,” Barrett said.
• The FWC adopted a new conservation model in September 2010 to evaluate the status of species listed as state-threatened or species of special concern. The Commission-approved process first called for developing a Biological Status Review (BSR) for each species. The BSRs, independently reviewed by outside scientists and the public, reported on what was happening to each species, and made a recommendation on whether the species met criteria to:

Remain or become listed as threatened;

• Remain a species of special concern until further data could be gathered; or
• Be removed from the list of state-threatened species.
• The BSRs and their listing recommendations are available at MyFWC.com/ImperiledSpecies.

Weekend Forecast

A cold front will be moving into the northern coastal waters this evening and pushing through the waters overnight. Winds and seas will continue to increase through the evening and then switch around to the northwest behind the front after midnight. Strong cold air advection will support hazardous conditions quickly developing...with high end Small Craft Advisory conditions to periods of gale conditions possible after midnight through later Friday morning. Any gale force gusts should be over by late Friday evening, however advisory criteria winds and seas will persist through at least Friday night. High pressure will then build over the region for the second half of the weekend allowing winds and seas to subside. The next cold front is anticipated during the early/middle portion of next week.

Thursday

Southwest winds around 20 knots then becoming northwest 20 to 25 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters rough. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening, then scattered showers after midnight.

2012/12/20Thu12:58 a.m.0.55L

2012/12/20Thu06:11 a.m.1.16H

2012/12/20Thu12:23 p.m.0.45L

2012/12/20Thu06:39 p.m.1.7H

Friday

Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots. Bay and inland waters rough. Friday night will bring north winds around 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy.

2012/12/21Fri02:22 a.m.0.3L

2012/12/21Fri08:06 a.m.1.03H

2012/12/21Fri01:05 p.m.0.66L

2012/12/21Fri07:19 p.m.1.81H

Saturday

North winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Saturday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light 

chop.

2012/12/22Sat03:29 a,m,0.05L

2012/12/22Sat09:49 a.m.1.04H

2012/12/22Sat01:50 p.m.0.82L

2012/12/22Sat07:59 p.m.1.9H

Sunday

Northeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Sunday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/12/23Sun04:24 a.m.-0.17L

2012/12/23Sun11:09 a.m.1.1H

2012/12/23Sun02:36 p.m.0.95L

2012/12/23Sun08:39 p.m.1.97H

Solunar Forecast