Bradenton Times News Articles

Today is the last day of the spiny lobster short season which is available exclusively to recreational boaters. The full moon will bring lots of good fishing, so rig those reels and get fishing. Tarpon are still present offshore, but inshore fish will become docile in the mid-day heat. The best fishing remains in the early hours of the morning or in the evening. Amberjack season will open in Gulf waters on August 1.

Florida families will begin packing up for their annual pillgrimage to the Florida Keys for the two-day exclusive recreational lobster season on July 25 and July 26! Those anglers who choose to stay local will have to accomodate numberous scattered thunderstorms throughout the week. Tarpon should be aggressive, look for them rolling on deep grass flats or feeding in bait schools. Trout and blues on deep grass flats and reds in skinny water of Sarasota Bay are also good options early in the day.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to hear from saltwater anglers about fishing. A subtropical ridge of bad weather will remain over the southern and central waters through the next several days, but don't be deterred because a new moon on Thursday should produce some of the best fishing of the month! Anglers are advised to target nearshore rock piles which are producing good flounder fishing. Anchoring right at the edge of the rocks has been a winning tactic according to local charter captains. 

Tomorrow will be the last day to fish for red snapper, the season closes in state and federal wates on Wednesday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission released the boating statistics for 2011. Anglers are advised to target nearshore rock piles which are producing excellent flounder fishing. The tactic has been to anchor right at the edge of the rocks or ledges. 

Get ready for the 16th Annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament this weekend. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will continue overnight each day, with better storm coverage from south Tampa Bay. As the moon wanes to new, fishing should get better over the weekend and be at its best early next week.

Next weekend is the 16th Annual DeSoto Fishing Tournament! Then Wednesday is the last chance for public input for the Warner's Bayou renovations. Captain Rick Grassett, one of our contributers, reported seeing an seven or eight foot small tooth sawfish. Historically the species inhabited Tampa Bay, but they were thought to have been extinct in the area. Because of the heat, anglers should get an early start for the best fishing action. Red snapper season was extended by six days -- it will be open until July 16.

Anglers caught more than they bargained for while chartering a boat Thursday morning. At approximately 7:30 a.m., Charter Captain Kris Winkel and his guests were fishing the Skyway on the south side of the channel when they heard screams from above. They looked just in time to see a woman’s head sink under the surface after she jumped off the bridge.

Your fishing forecast features, coastal temperatures, sea conditions, tides and peak fishing hours. However, the best part of this fun feature is that you can customize your own forecast by following the links. So utilize The Bradenton Times to get you where you need to go and help you catch that big one.

Due to the stormy weather, the First Annual West Coast Tarpon Challenge weigh-in was postponed until this Saturday. Anglers will be given the opportunity to fish one additional weekday of their choosing. The weigh-in celebration, complete with live music, will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, with the award presentation at 3:00 p.m.

Due to the stormy weather from Debby, the First Annual West Coast Tarpon Challenge weigh-in was postponed until Saturday. Anglers were given the opportunity to fish one additional weekday of their choosing. The weigh-in celebration, complete with live music, will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, with the award presentation at 3:00 p.m.