Captain Favorite

Lewis Steele, from GA, caught and released this 26 inch (almost 6-pounds) trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Catch of the Week:

Lewis Steele, from GA, caught and released this 26 inch (almost 6-pounds) trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

We are looking for more "catches of the week" so please send any fishing photos to merab.favorite@thebradentontimes.com.

Fishing Updates:
 

• Florida East Coast Subzone Closing to the Commercial Harvest  of Gulf Group King Mackerel

• The commercial sector harvesting Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida east coast subzone is closed, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) February 26, 2011, through March 31, 2011. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has determined the 2010/2011 commercial quota of 1,040,625 pounds of king mackerel from this zone will be reached by this date. 

• With this action, the Gulf group king mackerel commercial sector is closed in federal waters from the Flagler/Volusia County line to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line in Florida until April 1, 2011. Beginning April 1, the boundary between Atlantic and Gulf groups of king  mackerel shifts south and west to the Monroe/Collier County boundary on the Florida west coast. From April 1 through October 31, fish harvested along east coast of Florida, including all of Monroe County, are considered to be Atlantic group king mackerel.

• NOAA Seeks Public Comments on a Proposed Rule to Revise the Definition for Actual Ex-Vessel Value, Extend the Annual Maintenance Window for the Individual Fishing Quota Online System, and to Remove Obsolete Regulations in the Gulf of Mexico

• NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would re-define ”actual ex-vessel value,“ extend the time needed for maintenance of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)online system and remove obsolete regulations regarding the sale of grouper. The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2011, with the comment period ending March 24, 2011. 
• Written comments on these proposed changes must be received no later than March 24, 2011, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries Service. 
• Electronic copies of the proposed rule or the regulatory amendment may be obtained from the e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Web site at www.gulfcouncil.org, or from NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505. You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

• Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal:www.regulations.gov. Enter the following docket number into the ”Search“ box: NOAA-NMFS-2011-0018. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible.

• Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

• Mail: Richard Malinowski, NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.

• Reminder: Circle Hook Requirements in the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Effective March 3, 2011

• Beginning March 3, 2011, the use of non-stainless steel circle hooks (offset or non-offset) will be required on any vessel (commercial or recreational) using hook-and-line gear with natural baits to fish for snapper-grouper species north of 28 degrees N.  latitude in federal waters of the South Atlantic. After March 3, 2011, it will be unlawful to possess snapper-grouper species north of 28 degrees N. latitude without possessing non-stainless steel circle hooks. The use of circle hooks is expected to reduce bycatch mortality of incidentally caught red snapper and other non-target fish species

• N. Florida spotted seatrout season reopens March 1, 2011 in state waters

• The recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout in northern Florida reopens on March 1. This means all Florida waters will be open to the sport harvest of spotted seatrout beginning in March.

• Spotted seatrout harvest is prohibited in February in Atlantic Ocean waters north of the Flagler-Volusia county line to the Florida-Georgia border and in Gulf of Mexico waters 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 county line, to the Florida-Alabama border. This one-month closure helps maintain spotted seatrout abundance.

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

Spring Fishing Arrives On Tampa Bay by Captain Matt Ercoli

Its official, it looks like winter is over here in Tampa Bay.  I just got done taking a look at the 10 day extended forecast at www.intellicast.com . Its calling for mid 75 degree weather for the next ten days.  The fishing is going to explode as water temps go from winter conditions to spring conditions almost overnight.  It has been a long winter for us, the longest winter I can remember in 16 years.  We managed to do some pretty darn good fishing through it, but nothing like the next few weeks will bring.  We just started catching live greenbacks, also known as pilchards or white bait.  They are the life blood to all charter captains in these parts come spring time.  Once the water gets over 64 degrees you have to have them to really put the hammer on the fish.   I would say by the end of the week we will be done chucking shrimp and be totally switched over to greenbacks by the looks of the forecast.

We are set up for a tremendous spring fishery. It’s no secret that there are more Redfish around than ever. A few more warm days like we are having and the big Reds are going to explode on the shallow flats as they always do this time of year.

Trout fishing is peeking as well.  I have never caught so many keepers and large ones as I have this winter. I can just imagine what it’s going to be like in a week.  We catch nice Trout on shrimp but once we start chucking greenbacks we really get the multiple giants on.  There are more and bigger Trout now than I have ever seen since I have been in the business.

The snook are still suffering, but the good news is there is a very aggressive stocking program going on and we did see a few more this fall on the flats before they went into their wintering grounds.  We should catch more Snook than last year while targeting the Reds this spring.

There are still plenty of sheepshead and black drum around to catch although I believe I’m done targeting them for the year.  My focus will be more on large Reds and Trout on the shallow flats along with a few Snook for the next month or so.

Around the middle to the end of March we will start heading offshore some for kingfish, tunny and mackerel. April is always a great month offshore, grouper come into season and it’s generally my best month offshore. Flats fishing is really good then too.

May will be the beginning of peak tarpon season and anyone that knows me knows that’s what I will be doing till the bulk of them disappear in late July.

I have a few dates open for the next few weeks of February and March. Fishing is going to get awesome with this spring weather.  Also, if you are planning a Tarpon charter, don’t wait too long. I don’t have a lot of openings available as is.

Hope you have enjoyed the report.

Capt. Matt Ercoli
www.captainmatt.com
941-447-9888

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

Weekly Fishing Forecast

High pressure will remain over the area today before shifting south tonight. A front will approach the northern waters after midnight...and move south throughout the day on Tuesday. A strong area of high pressure will then build north of the area through the end of the week. Fishing will be average during the beginning of the week but then gain momentum as the moon wanes to new toward the end of the week.

Monday
South winds around 15 knots. Seas will be 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
Monday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots. Seas will be 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a slight chance of showers. Fishing during major solunar periods from 9:02 a.m. - 11:02 a.m. and 9:26 p.m. - 11:26 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 3:49 a.m. - 4:49 a.m. and 2:18 p.m. - 3:18 p.m. will produce average results.
Tides: Low at 5:04 a.m. (-0.39), high at 12:06 p.m. (1.2), low at 3:57 p.m. (1.0), high at 9:42 p.m. (1.85)

Tuesday
West winds around 10 knots. Seas will be to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers. Tuesday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots becoming northeast after midnight. Seas will be 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers. Fishing during major solunar periods from 9:49 a.m. - 11:49 a.m.  and 10:12 p.m. - 12:12 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 4:26 a.m. - 5:26 a.m.  and 3:16 p.m. - 4:16 p.m. will produce good results.
Tides: Low at 5:42 a.m.  (-0.36), high at 12:15 p.m. (1.26), low at 5:00 p.m. (0.83), high at 10:36 p.m. (1.84)

Wednesday
East winds around 10 knots becoming north 5 knots late in the afternoon. Seas will be 2 feet. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Wednesday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Fishing during major solunar periods from 10:34 a.m. - 12:34 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. - 12:55 a.m., or during minor solunar periods from 4:58 a.m. - 5:58 a.m. or 4:13 p.m. - 5:13 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 6:13 a.m. (-0.28), high at 12:26 p.m. (1.33), low at 5:46 p.m. (0.65), high at 11:21 p.m. (1.81)

Thursday

Northeast winds around 15 knots. Seas 2 feet or less. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Thursday night will bring east winds around 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.Fishing during major solunar periods from 11:16 a.m. - 1:16 p.m. and 11:37 p.m. - 1:37 a.m., or during minor solunar period from 5:28 a.m. - 6:28 a.m.  and 5:09 p.m. - 6:09 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 6:38 a.m. (-0.16), high at 12:35 p.m. (1.4), low at 6:25 p.m. (0.47)

Friday
East winds around 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Fishing during the major solunar period from 11:57 a.m. - 1:57 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 5:56 a.m. - 6:56 a.m. and 6:03 p.m. - 7:03 p.m. will produce the very best results.
Tides: High at 12:00 a.m. (1.75), low at 7:00 a.m. (-0.03), high at 12:44 p.m. (1.5), low at 7:00 p.m. (0.3)
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