| CATCH OF THE WEEK |
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| Patrice Camillieri, from France, caught and released this 6-pound tripletail on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett. |
The FWC no longer requires anglers to carry a venting tool when fishing for reef fish -- they are leaving it up to the fisherman to determine the best way to release the fish unharmed. Capt. Rick Grassett recommends fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues and more, which should also be a good inshore option next week. Look for false albacore and tripletail in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.
Gag grouper recreational harvest closes in most Gulf waters in early December
Gag grouper is closed for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters as of Dec. 4, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 3. All Gulf federal waters closed Dec. 3. State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties were open from April 1 through June 30 and were not open during the July 1 through Dec. 3 season. Monroe County is also excluded because it follows Atlantic rules for gag grouper. The FWC manages marine fish from the shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico. These closures are an effort to help rebuild gag grouper populations in the Gulf of Mexico back to strong sustainable levels.
Snook harvest seasonal closure in Gulf started Dec. 1
The recreational harvest season for snook closed Dec. 1 in Gulf state and federal waters, including Monroe County and Everglades National Park, and will remain closed through Feb. 28, 2014, reopening to harvest March 1, 2014. Snook can continue to be caught and released during the closed season.
This and other regular season closures are designed to help protect the species during vulnerable times such as cold weather. Atlantic state and federal waters including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River will close Dec. 15 through Jan. 31, 2014, reopening to harvest Feb. 1, 2014.
Venting tool requirement removed in Gulf waters
Soon Florida anglers will no longer be required to have and use a venting tool when fishing for reef fish in Gulf of Mexico state waters.
During its Nov. 21 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) removed the requirement in Gulf state waters, making state regulations consistent with rules in federal waters. By removing this rule, anglers will now have the freedom to determine how to best maximize survival of released reef fish using devices they feel are appropriate, depending on the circumstances.
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| Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, battles a tarpon jumped on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett. |
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout and bluefish in Sarasota Bay, snook at night in the ICW and tripletail in the coastal gulf on flies during the past week. The best action was fly fishing for snook at night in the ICW.
Patrice Camillieri, from France, fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Monday and again on Thursday. We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay on Monday where he caught and released trout, including a couple of upper slot fish, and bluefish on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly. He sight fished a 6-pound tripletail on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly in the coastal gulf with me on Thursday morning and later we moved to skinny water in Sarasota Bay where he caught and released a 6-pound “gator” trout on the same fly! I feel that these big trout, which are mostly females that may be full of roe, are important to the health of our trout fishery, so I release all trout over 20 inches.
Bill Rhodes, from Hernando Beach, FL, snook fished with me in the ICW on Tuesday evening. He had nonstop action catching and releasing numerous snook to 24 inches on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. With a good incoming tide, compounded by a south wind and a warming trend following the last front, snook gorged themselves on glass minnows and shrimp. Every once in a while several factors will align and the bite will be amazing. It’s good to be there when it happens!
Bill also caught and released trout, ladyfish and bluefish in Sarasota Bay on flies with me on Wednesday. He understands the advantage of fishing the entire water column and had his fly rods rigged with floating, intermediate and faster sinking fly lines. Bill also has a lot of success fishing tandem flies, a very effective technique for fishing deep grass flats. We fished deep grass flats from 5’ to 8’ on both sides of the bay and he had steady action including a couple of doubles where he caught a fish on each fly!
Snook season is now closed through the end of February on the west coast, but there should be good catch and release action with snook around lighted docks at night in the ICW. Use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly and handle them gently. Big trout are moving into shallow water in Sarasota Bay where you may find them in potholes when the tide is low. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues and more should also be a good inshore option next week. Look for false albacore and tripletail in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
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Fishing Forecast
High pressure reaches across Florida from the Atlantic through Tuesday as a front remains stationary north of the area. The front moves south into the north central waters during Tuesday night and Wednesday. The front then moves south of the Gulf waters later in the week as strong low pressure develops off the Carolina coast. Strong surface high pressure builds in along the mid Atlantic coast late in the week with increasing winds and seas expected as the gradient tightens in response to the strong high to the north and the deepening low off the mid Atlantic coast.
Monday
Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring south winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.
2013/12/09Mon05:08 AM1.54H
2013/12/09Mon12:27 PM0.26L
2013/12/09Mon06:47 PM1.64H
Tuesday
South winds around 10 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.
2013/12/10Tue01:38 AM0.61L
2013/12/10Tue06:59 AM1.31H
2013/12/10Tue01:15 PM0.49L
2013/12/10Tue07:27 PM1.8H
Wednesday
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/12/11Wed02:59 AM0.3L
2013/12/11Wed08:47 AM1.21H
2013/12/11Wed02:01 PM0.69L
2013/12/11Wed08:06 PM1.94H
Thursday
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers. Thursday night will bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2013/12/12Thu04:03 AM0.02L
2013/12/12Thu10:16 AM1.21H
2013/12/12Thu02:45 PM0.85L
2013/12/12Thu08:44 PM2.06H
Solunar Forecast
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