Courtesy of Hilton’s Realtime- Navigator

March 29, 2017 : In the thirteen years since we launched Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator, I have never witnessed an event as I am currently seeing in the Gulf of Mexico;
The driving force for most all the surface currents on the Gulf of Mexico, the Loop Current, is practically non-existent this year.
What implications this even may have on the upcoming fishing season is unknown.
Below is a brief synopsis from March 28, 2013 to March 28, 2017 of how the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current and its resultant production of upwelling cyclones and downwelling warm core eddies affect Gulf-wide fishing conditions.
Thomas J. Hilton
RT-Nav.com

March 28, 2013 Analysis

March 28, 2014 Analysis

March 28, 2015 Analysis

March 28, 2016 Analysis

March 28, 2017 Analysis
Here you can see the Loop Current today – oh wait! Where is it? You can barely see it on the lower right corner of the image – it’s only reaching northward to 25 deg./30 min. N. That’s a full 180 nautical miles south of its northernmost position in this series from where it was in 2013. The entire region looks devoid of any meaningful currents, at least within fishing range. Fishermen know that they need current in order for the fish to feed – it will be interesting to see how this year’s fishing season plays out with this wild card being thrown at us by Mother Nature!
Keeping an eye on areas where there is decent current may be key to your fishing success this year. Contact me if you have any questions or issues using the service or nav app. 7-1-3-5-3-0-2-2-6-7 hilton@rt-nav.com www.RT-Nav.com
Good fishing!
Tom Hilton