Captain Favorite's Weekend Fishing Forecast Nov. 1, 2012

BRADENTON -- Sandy has created lots of wind that isn't good for fishing, but as the weather gets better, plenty of fishing opportunities will become available. Sheepshead are gathering around bridges and trout, and redfish and snook have been hitting live bait on the grass flats. Offshore, King mackerel, amberjack and barracuda can be caught just off the beaches and there are reports that redfish are running in the shallows.

Fishing Updates

 Gulf gag grouper, Atlantic vermilion snapper season closures start Nov. 1

• The recreational harvest season for gag grouper in most Gulf of Mexico waters and vermilion snapper in the Atlantic Ocean will close on Nov. 1. These closures are intended to reduce overfishing and increase the population of gag grouper and vermilion snapper.
• The gag grouper recreational harvest season in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters will close Nov. 1, with the final day of harvest being Oct. 31. This closure does not include state waters off Franklin, Jefferson, Wakulla and Taylor counties, which were open April 1 through June 30 this year, or state waters off Monroe County, which is currently open through Dec. 31 and is included in Atlantic gag grouper seasons and rules. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages marine fish from the shore to nine nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The recreational harvest of vermilion snapper closes Nov. 1 in all state and federal Atlantic waters off Florida. State and federal waters off Monroe County that are south and east of U.S. 1 are included in this closure. The FWC manages marine fish from the shore to three nautical miles in the Atlantic.

Weekend Forecast  

Gradient flow continues to weaken as a trough shifts east of the state and high pressure builds in from the west. Expect winds and seas to continue to diminish through the weekend. May see a passing shower or two tomorrow with limited rain chances into the weekend. Next cold front passage may be possible by Tuesday.

Thursday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated showers in the morning...then scattered showers in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming north around 10 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/01Thu01:10 a.m.2.54H

2012/11/01Thu09:31 a.m.-0.03L

2012/11/01Thu04:04 p.m.1.58H

2012/11/01Thu08:02 p.m.1.35L

Friday

Northeast winds around 10 knots then becoming north around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Friday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/11/02Fri01:44 a.m.2.52H

2012/11/02Fri10:11 a.m.0.01L

2012/11/02Fri04:49 p.m.1.53H

2012/11/02Fri08:33 p.m.1.36L

Saturday

East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Saturday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/03Sat02:22 a.m.2.46H

2012/11/03Sat10:56 a.m.0.07L

2012/11/03Sat05:42 p.m.1.51H

2012/11/03Sat09:15 p.m.1.38L

Sunday

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

2012/11/04Sun02:06 a.m.2.34H

2012/11/04Sun10:46 a.m.0.15L

2012/11/04Sun05:42 p.m.1.53H

2012/11/04Sun09:19 p.m.1.4L

Solunar Forecast