Captain Favorite

Joyce Bass wih sheepheads

Catch of the Week:
Joyce Bass holds up two sheepheads that she caught near Port Manatee on crawlers and sand fleas.

Fishing Updates:

NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed Rule to Establish a Fixed Closed Season for the Recreational Harvest of Greater Amberjack in the Gulf of

Mexico
NOAA Fisheries Service has published a proposed rule that, if approved and implemented, would establish a June 1 through July 31 seasonal closure for recreational harvest of greater amberjack in or from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) federal waters. The intended effect of the proposed rule is to maintain the rebuilding plan targets for the overfished greater amberjack resource, reduce the likelihood of exceeding the recreational quota for greater amberjack, minimize in-season quota closures for greater amberjack during peak recreational fishing months, and increase social and economic benefits for Gulf recreational fishers by maximizing the number of fishing days available to the recreational sector.
Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on February 23, 2011.

Addresses: You may submit comments, identified by ”0648-BA48“, by any one of the following methods:

• Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov. See instructions below.

• Mail: Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.

NOAA Fisheries Service Announces Closure Date for the South Atlantic Recreational Black Sea Bass Fishery
NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2010-2011 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass has been reached. As a result, the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from 35¡15.19' N. lat., (the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, NC) to Key West, FL will be closed, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) February 12, 2011,through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2011.

For vessels which have a valid federal charter vessel/head boat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters. The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal for-hire permit for snapper-grouper must have landed any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, February 12, 2011

NOAA Reminds Fishermen of the ”THE EDGES“ Area Closure Prohibiting Fishing from January 1 through April 30, and Other Area Closures

NOAA Fisheries Service reminds fishermen that the area known as ”The Edges“ in the Gulf of Mexico is closed to all fishing from January 1 through April 30 each year. All commercial and recreational fishing or possession of fish managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is prohibited in the closed area. Possession is allowed when transiting the area if gear is stowed in accordance with federal regulations. The intent of the closure is to protect gag and other groupers during their respective spawning seasons. The boundaries of the closed area are within lines drawn between the following coordinates:
Northwest corner = 28¼ 51’N, 85¼ 16’W
Northeast corner = 28¼ 51’N, 85¼ 04’W
Southwest corner = 28¼ 14’N, 84¼ 54’W
Southeast corner = 28¼ 14’N, 84¼ 42’W

NOAA Fisheries Service also reminds fishermen of other closed areas in the same region as ”The Edges.“These sites, Madison and Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves were implemented in 2000 to also protect gag and other grouper species. They are closed year round to reef fish fishing, but fishing for species other than reef fish is allowed in these areas from May through October. Possession of fish species prohibited from harvest in either area is only allowed aboard a vessel in transit with fishing gear stowed in accordance to federal regulations. The boundaries of the marine reserves are within lines drawn between the following coordinates:

Madison and Swanson
Northwest corner = 29¡17'N, 85¡50'W
Northeast corner = 29¡17'N, 85¡38'W
Southwest corner = 29¡06'N, 85¡50'W
Southeast corner = 29¡06'N, 85¡38'

Steamboat Lumps
Northwest corner = 28¡14'N, 84¡48'W
Northeast corner = 28¡14'N, 84¡37'W
Southwest corner = 28¡03'N, 84¡48'W
Southeast corner = 28¡03'N, 84¡37'W

North Florida Spotted Seatrout Season Closes
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) advises anglers that the recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout in North Florida will close for one month to help maintain spotted seatrout abundance.

The harvest and possession of spotted seatrout is prohibited from Feb. 1 until March 1 in all waters north of the Flagler/Volusia counties line to the Florida-Georgia border in the Atlantic, and north of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (which is about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas/Pasco counties line) to the Florida-Alabama border in the Gulf.

Gulf Grouper Sport Season closes Feburary 1, 2011
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises anglers that the recreational harvest of all shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) is prohibited from Feb. 1 through March 31 in all Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters off Florida, except in all waters of Monroe County.

Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding, waded a flat in north Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett and caught and released this nice trout on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

Weekly Fishing Report by Captain  Rick Grassett
 
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout during the past week. In addition to trout, we also caught and released reds on one trip. A front moved through early in the week forcing the cancellation of a couple of days due to winds in the mid 20 mph range.
            
Tom Wright, from Sarasota, FL , and his brother, Frank Wright, from Columbus,OH  fished Little Sarasota Bay with me on Monday afternoon. They had steady action with trout, catching and releasing more than 30 trout to 17 inches on CAL jigs with shad tails. We fished a trough along a spoil bar to catch most of the fish. The next couple of days were blown out as 20 to 25 mph winds whipped the water. On Thursday the water looked like coffee with cream in Gasparilla Sound when Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL and his cousin, Jack McCulloch from Englewood, FL fished with me. Although the water was churned up in open areas, it was very clear in the backcountry. They caught and released more than 20 trout to 18 inches, with about half of them in the slot, and five small reds on CAL jigs with shad tails.

Sarasota winter residents Nick Reding and Mike Perez fished north Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We waded all day, fishing potholes and drop offs and it was slow due to cold water. However, they did catch and release a few quality trout on my Grassett Flats Minnow and Clouser flies.

Next week’s negative low tides as we approach a new moon on Feburary 3, 2011 should concentrate reds and trout in potholes and deep areas. However, afternoons may fish better due to warmer water.
 
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
 

To create your own forecast specific to your zip code visit www.wunderground.com.

Fishing Forecast
High pressure remains over the eastern Gulf today...then shifts east on Monday as low pressure develops across the lower Mississippi Valley. This system pushes a cold front into the northern waters late Wednesday and stalls over the waters on Thursday. Water temperature is in the low 60s.

Fishing will become better toward the end of the week as the moon wanes to new. The best fishing will occur on Thursday.

Monday
East winds around 5 knots becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth.
Monday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots becoming east 10 knots overnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Fishing during major solunar periods from 10:47 a.m. - 12:47 p.m. and 11:12 p.m. - 1:12 a.m., or during minor solunar periods from 5:25 a.m. - 6:25 a.m. and 4:10 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 6:10 a.m. (-0.65), high at 1:13 p.m. (1.09), low at 4:33 p.m. (0.95), high at 10:29 p.m. (1.99)

Tuesday
Southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday night will bring south winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.  Fishing during the major solunar period from 11:37 a.m. - 1:37 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 6:08 a.m. - 7:08 a.m. and 5:07 p.m. - 6:07 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 6:45 a.m. ( -0.61), high at 1:25 p.m. (1.11), low at 5:30 p.m. (0.83), high at 11:15 p.m. (1.96)

Wednesday
Southwest winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. There will be a slight chance of showers. Wednesday night will bring North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a chance of showers. Fishing during major solunar periods from 12:01 a.m. - 2:01 a.m. and 12:24 p.m. - 2:24 p.m., or during minor solunar times from 6:47 a.m. - 7:47 a.m. and 6:03 p.m. - 7:03 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 7:14 a.m. (-0.53), high at 1:35 p.m. (1.15), low at 6:17 p.m. (0.7), high at 11:55 p.m. (1.9)

Thursday
Northeast winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. There will be a chance of showers. Because the time of the sunset and moonset coincide, there is a peak fishing hour between 6:57 p.m. – 7:57 p.m. Fishing during major solunar periods from 12:46 a.m. - 2:46 a.m. or 1:08 p.m. - 3:08 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 7:22 a.m. - 8:22 a.m. and 6:57 p.m. - 7:57 p.m. will produce the very best results.
Tides: Low at 7:39 a.m. (-0.43), high at 1:44 p.m. (1.21), low at 7:00 p.m. (0.56)

Friday
Because the time of the sunrise and moonrise coincide, there is a peak fishing hour between 7:54 a.m. – 7:57 p.m. Fishing during major solunar periods from. 1:29 a.m. - 3:29 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. - 3:50 p.m., or during minor periods from 7:54 a.m. - 8:54 a.m. and 7:49 p.m. - 8:49 p.m. will produce the very best results.
Tides: High at 12:33 a.m. (1.81), low at 8:01 a.m. (-0.3), high at 1:54 p.m. (1.3), low at 7:41 p.m. (0.43)