ishing Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast Sept. 13, 2012

BRADENTON -- Some of the best fishing of the month will take place over the weekend as the moon wanes to new. One of the biggest events of the year, the Tampa Boat Show, is approaching at the end of the month and will now feature on-the-water education for all ages. Veterans now have an easier path to becoming commercial fishermen. Capt. Rick Grassett recommends catching and releasing snook before dawn and then moving to the flats for trout and reds in Sarasota Bay next week.

 FWC decides to make it easier for Fla. veterans to become commercial fishermen

• Florida veterans wishing to enter the commercial fishing industry may soon be able to do so more easily thanks to changes made today at the Sept. 5-6 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) meeting in Tampa. These changes are anticipated to take effect on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2012.
• The Commission implemented a new program that will modify income requirements for Florida veterans seeking a commercial restricted species endorsement license.
• The restricted species endorsement allows commercial harvesters to fish for and sell species that are designated as restricted.
• Spanish and king mackerel, flounder, shrimp, dolphin and several reef fish are among the list of species that require a restricted species endorsement.
• Currently, commercial harvesters attempting to qualify for a restricted species endorsement license must have a Florida Saltwater Products License, which is Florida’s commercial saltwater fishing license, and be able to attribute $5,000 or 25 percent of their total annual income during one of the past three years to sales of saltwater products.
• With the new changes in place, restricted species endorsement income requirements will be waived for one license year (July 1 - June 30) for Florida veterans who were honorably discharged between Sept. 11, 2001, and June 30, 2014. After June 30, 2014, this income requirement waiver will continue to extend to Florida veterans so long as they apply within four years of an honorable discharge.

Weekend Forecast  

An increase in moisture will provide isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Gulf waters during the next several days. A low pressure system will form across the northeast Gulf of Mexico tonight and continue through the end of the week. The National Hurricane Center is showing a low probability that this system will develop into a tropical depression over the next few days. This system will bring increasing south to southwest flow and building seas through the weekend and possibly more widespread shower and thunderstorm activity to the area late in the weekend as it combines with a cold front and tracks across northern Florida.

Weekend Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will remain north of the waters through Sunday. An area of low pressure will develop over the Gulf and track toward the marine area early next week.

Thursday

East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Friday

Northeast winds around 15 knots...diminishing to around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Friday night will bring northeast winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Saturday

East winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Saturday night will bring east winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Sunday

East winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Sunday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Tides

Solunar Forecast