ROFFER’S OCEAN FISHING FORECASTING SERVICE, INC.
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ROFFS™ FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
FOR THE TAMPA OFFSHORE AREA (LAT./LONG.)
UPDATED ON FRI. 14 MARCH 2014 FOR FRI. P.M. & SAT. FISHING ONLY
Based on a multiple factor analysis, the symbols (hot spot spots) mark the areas where bait concentrations are expected and where fishing action is expected to be better compared with other (non-marked) areas. These are not based on dock rumors or hearsay fishing reports. Fishing reports are stated as such. You should start fishing where you recognize other signs of good fishing conditions near these marked areas. It is very important to use your sea surface temperature (sst°) gauge to locate the boundaries of the water masses, which are outlined. Rather than trying to find water based on the absolute temperature values shown on the map, search for the relative change in sst where the water mass boundaries occur. Arrows indicate the main current direction. Numbers inside of the dots indicate the number of consecutive days that we have seen favorable conditions in that location. Daytime sst° are likely to warm 1°F-2°F.
We are able to use today’s infrared SST imagery data and yesterday’s MODIS ocean color/chlorophyll imagery, to provide this analysis for this area. Overall, the 80.0°F main body of the Loop Current is present in the south of the analysis area. To the north of the Loop Current, filaments of blue 77.0°F Loop Current water is pushing inshore over the Steps and the Box areas, creating favorable conditions for tuna, wahoo, dolphin and billfish action over 200-1000 fathom depths. Areas marked with the hot spot dots and the numbers two inside suggest increased chances for fishing action, as they are areas where we observed favorable ocean conditions for two days now. Please keep in mind that while we continue to use a combination of NOAA buoys to calibrate our SST on a daily basis to what you will find while out on the water during the morning hours. As always, remember to look for relative rather than absolute SST. On your way offshore, be sure to keep an eye out for weedlines and feeding birds, as they are strong indicators of water mass boundary convergence zones, which are known to concentrate baitfish and target fish.
In the north, over the Box area, where a Loop Current filament is pushing inshore, a series of blue green to blue 3°F filament boundaries (71.0°F-74.0°F) suggests increased chances for fishing action over 200 fathom depths near 85°02’W & 27°43’N, to near 85°00’W & 27°34’N (favorable, yet different, for two days). Start to fish where you locate the blue green to blended blue change in water color and head offshore. Additional chances for increased fishing action occur over 300 fathom depths near 85°09’W & 27°41’N, to near 85°14’W & 27°42’N, to over 300 fathom depths near 85°25’W & 27°42’N (all favorable, yet different, for two days), where you locate a series of blue 2°F filament boundaries (74.0°F-76.0°F) that are pushing eastwards and inshore. Further south, over 400 fathom depths near to 85°12’W & 27°28’N, over 500 fathom depths near 85°17’W & 27°25’N, water mass boundary conditions have been favorable, yet different, for two days, suggesting increased chances of fishing action along a series of blue 3°F filament boundaries (73.0°F-76.0°F) that are expected to be replaced by the warmer 77.0°F core of the filament in the next 12-24 hours. On your way offshore, take a look over 40 fathom depths near 84°19’W & 27°46’N (also favorable, yet different, for two days), where a series of blue green to blended blue 2°F water mass boundaries (68.0°F-70.0°F) forming a filament are pushing northwards, suggesting increased chances of fishing action.
Further south, increased chances of fishing action occur over the Steps, over 300-400 fathom depths near 85°00’W & 27°06’N, to over 200 fathom depths near 84°54’W & 27°01’N, to over 200-600 fathom depths near 84°53’W & 26°47’N (all favorable, yet different, for two days) where a series of blue green to blue 2°F filament boundaries (73.0°F-75.0°F) are also expected to be replaced by the warmer 76.0°F-77.0°F core of the filament in the next 12-24 hours. If you fish out here, take a look over 300-400 fathom depths near 85°01’W & 27°10’N, to over 500 fathom depths near 85°08’W & 27°10’N (both favorable, yet different, for two days), where a series of relatively cooler blended blue 5°F filament boundaries (68.0°F-73.0°F) are pushing inshore, suggesting increased chances of fishing action. Follow the Steps southwards, fishing across the filament boundaries.
In the south, increased chances for fishing action occurs over a 100 fathom depths near 84°17’W & 26°17’N, to near 84°17’W & 26°08’N, to near 84°18’W & 25°55’N and 84°23’W & 25°45’N, where a series of 2°F filament boundaries (70.0°F-72.0°F) are expected to be replaced by the warmer 73.0°F-77.0°F blue filament boundaries over the next 12-24 hours. Additional chances for increased fishing action occur along a series of blended blue to blue 4°F filament boundaries (71.0°F-75.0°F) that push inshore over 116 fathom depths near 84°27’W & 25°52’N, to near 84°28’W & 25°41’N. Follow these blended blue to blue 4°F filament boundaries (71.0°F-75.0°F) southwards to where water mass boundary conditions have been favorable, yet different, for two days over 200 fathom depths near 84°27’W & 25°25’N, to over 300-400 fathom depths near 84°29’W & 25°21’N, to over 500-600 fathom depths near 84°30’W & 25°20’N (all favorable, yet different, for two days), suggesting increased chances of fishing action.
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