ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast Oct. 4, 2012

BRADENTON -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission issued an executive order that the bag limit for oysters be lowered to 10, 60-pound bags per person, which is half as much as the previous amount. The fifth annual Ben Gullett Mullet Invitational and fish fry will be held on Oct. 12 and 13, then the Fall Fly Fishing Challenge will be held the next weekend. 

Bay County oyster bag limit lowered for October

• The commercial bag limit for oysters in Bay County will be lowered to 10 60-pound bags per person or vessel, whichever is less, starting Oct. 1. This change will be in effect for the month of October only and is being made through an executive order by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Before the change, the bag limit was 20 bags per person or vessel. This change does not apply to active oyster leases.
• This change was requested by the Bay County Commission and Bay County oyster harvesters to better sustain commercial oyster harvesting opportunities in the waters of Bay County.

Fifth Annual Ben Gullett Mullet Invitational and Fish Fry

• The fifth Annual Gullett Mullet Invitational and Fish Fry is scheduled for October 12 and 13th and is sponsored by Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association, Inc. and the Gullett Family to benefit outdoor activities for youth such as the Annual Jerry Hill Memorial Kids’ Fishing Tournament.
• To register for the mullet fishing tournament, call 792-8314 for a registration form. The contestants will attend a Captain’s Meeting on Friday, October 12, 6:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Point Civic Association, 637 43rd St. Blvd. W., Palmetto. Weigh-in will begin on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
• An old fashioned fish fry will be served on Saturday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the Palmetto Point Civic Association for $10 a plate and is open to the public. Diners will have choice of smoked or fried mullet, hush puppies, cheese grits, slaw, cookie and tea. For fish fry tickets call 792-8314.
• The event on Saturday, October 13 will also include a mullet cast netting contest, salt water and fresh water fly tying demonstrations, silent auction and other activities of interest to fishing enthusiasts. 

 Fall Fly Fishing Challenge

• The Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers and Sarasota Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association will hold their 8th annual Fall Fly Fishing Challenge Oct. 27.
• The catch, photo and release event will feature an Open Division for guides and anglers fishing with guides (all anglers are eligible to compete in the Open Division}, and a Fly Angler Division (no guides).
• In the Open Division, eligible species include snook, redfish and spotted seatrout. Those in the Fly Angler Division will fish for a variety of species, including snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, bluefish, ladyfish, flounder, snapper, jack crevalle, pompano and permit based on a points-per-inch system.
• Entry fee is $50 and includes an awards barbecue at Ken Clark Auditorium, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
• Tournament applications are available at area tackle shops or online at http://ccaflorida.org and http://mangrovecoastflyfishers.com.
• Competitors’ meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Trader Vic’s, 351 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota.
• For information, call Rick Grassett at (941) 923-7799 or Steve Gibson at (941) 284-3406.

 Destin Seafood Festival October 5-7, 2012

• The "Heritage on the Harbor" event is bringing the festival back to its roots along the stretch of the Destin Harbor with no admission fee and no fencing. Fun for all ages, the event also kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo and features great seafood, local entertainment, children's activities, and a variety of arts and crafts vendors. 
• The festival will take place in Destin Harbor.

Recreational bay scallop season closes Sept. 25

• The 2012 recreational season for bay scallops, which was extended two weeks earlier this year, will close Tuesday, Sept. 25. The final day of harvesting is Sept. 24.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) extended the season temporarily in 2010 and 2011 to help alleviate economic hardships caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
• The season was extended permanently in June 2012. This extension will help increase business opportunities during a time of the year when other fisheries are closed and tourism has decreased.
• The 2012 season began July 1. Before the change, the season was set to end Sept. 11. Surveys will be conducted after the season closes to assess the scallop population.
• Bay scallops can be recreationally harvested in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to nine nautical miles) from the Pasco-Hernando County line northward to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.

Destin Seafood Festival October 5-7, 2012

• The "Heritage on the Harbor" event is bringing the festival back to its roots along the stretch of the Destin Harbor with no admission fee and no fencing. Fun for all ages, the event also kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo and features great seafood, local entertainment, children's activities, and a variety of arts and crafts vendors. 
• The festival will take place in Destin Harbor.

Weekend Forecast  

A stalled frontal boundary will hold across the eastern Gulf of Mexico waters through tonight as high pressure starts to build back across the area from the Atlantic. The front will weaken and retreat back to the north on Thursday as high pressure across the peninsula merges with high pressure to the north. Ridging will then remain across the waters through the upcoming weekend.

Thursday

East winds around 10 knots then becoming north in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring 

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.

Friday

East winds around 10 knots then becoming northwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Friday night

will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.

Saturday

Northeast winds around 10 knots then becoming north around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.

Sunday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms.

Tides

Solunar Forecast