ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast: March 19, 2015

BRADENTON –  NOAA is predicting a chance of showers over the weekend. FWC officials are urging beachgoers to leave nesting sea turtles alone. Snook season has opened. FWC commissioners are holding public workshops on a proposed change on red snapper season. 

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.

Commission directs staff to hold public workshops on Gulf red snapper season

• At its meeting Feb. 5 in Jacksonville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff to host several workshops prior to the April Commission meeting in an effort to gather additional stakeholder input on the 2015 recreational red snapper season in Gulf state waters.
• The 2015 season preferred by the Commissioners that will be discussed at workshops would 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 September and October, with the season ending Nov. 1. This proposed season would be 70 days.
• The 2014 season began the Saturday before Memorial Day and remained open through July 14 (a total of 52 days).
  Once finalized, a list of workshop locations, dates and times will be publicized in a news release and online at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater,” “Rulemaking” and “Public Workshops.”

Fishing Forecast

Broad high pressure will hold over the waters through much of the period resulting in a week pressure gradient and light winds and seas. A frontal boundary will setup along the Gulf coast during the weekend, then will sink south across Florida by early next week.

Thursday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop.Thursday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters smooth.
2015/03/19 Thu 12:17 AM 2.05 H
2015/03/19 Thu 07:28 AM -0.14 L
2015/03/19 Thu 01:11 PM 1.63 H
2015/03/19 Thu 07:27 PM 0.23 L

Friday
Northwest winds around 5 knots increasing to around 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Friday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2015/03/20 Fri 01:12 AM 1.98 H
2015/03/20 Fri 08:02 AM 0.04 L
2015/03/20 Fri 01:35 PM 1.78 H
2015/03/20 Fri 08:16 PM 0.02 L

Saturday
North winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest around 5 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters smooth. Saturday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters smooth.
2015/03/21 Sat 02:05 AM 1.85 H
2015/03/21 Sat 08:32 AM 0.25 L
2015/03/21 Sat 02:00 PM 1.93 H
2015/03/21 Sat 09:06 PM -0.13 L

Sunday
South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Sunday Night will brine west winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms.
2015/03/22 Sun 02:58 AM 1.67 H
2015/03/22 Sun 09:00 AM 0.45 L
2015/03/22 Sun 02:29 PM 2.06 H
2015/03/22 Sun 09:58 PM -0.21 L

Solunar Forecast