Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Feb. 4, 2013

Catch of the Week
Hal D'Orazio, from Lake Forest, Ill., caught and released this nice red on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing the Terra Ceia Bay area with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – This past weekend marked the close of gulf grouper season and the opening of snook season on the Atlantic Coast, which runs through May 1. Snook season will remained closed in the Gulf. The FWCC is considering a proposal that would designate certain fish as game fish or sport fish at their meeting on Feb. 13. Our contributing Capt. Rick Grassett said the best action next week should be with trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. He recommends looking for reds around docks, in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low, or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high.

Fishing Updates

Gulf grouper recreational season closes Feb. 1

• Several species of grouper, including black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind will close to recreational harvest from Feb. 1 through March 31 in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, excluding state waters of Monroe County.

• Gag grouper has a separate season from other Gulf of Mexico grouper and is currently closed to harvest. A proposed 2013 gag grouper season in state waters will be discussed at the February Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) meeting in Orlando.

• The upcoming two-month recreational harvest closure that starts Feb. 1 was put in place to help rebuild the gag grouper fishery. Gag grouper spawn during the February and March closure, so limiting the harvest of other grouper helps reduce the number of gag grouper that are caught unintentionally and die after being released.

• More information regarding grouper fishing regulations, including the current grouper closure in Atlantic and Monroe County waters, is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing. Visit MyFWC.com/Commission to learn more about the February Commission meeting.
  

Snook season reopening on Atlantic coast only Feb. 1

• The recreational harvest season for snook reopens on Feb. 1 in Florida’s Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. The season is open through May 31.
• In the Atlantic, anglers may keep one snook between 28 and 32 inches total length per day in the allowable harvest areas only. Fishermen targeting snook must have a snook permit as well as a saltwater license unless they are exempt from having a license. Using snatch hooks and spears is prohibited.

• It is illegal to buy or sell snook.
• The harvest of snook remains closed in all of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico state waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County, through Aug. 31. Anglers may still catch and release snook during the closure, but the FWC encourages everyone to handle and release these fish carefully to help ensure their survival upon release.
• This Gulf closure went into effect Dec. 15, 2010, after the population was impacted by prolonged cold weather. The closure will give the Gulf snook population additional time to rebound.
• Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater” for more information on snook.
  

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Fly Fishing Day Feb. 9

• CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (1249 Stickney Point Road in Siesta Key) will hold a day of free fly fishing activities on Saturday, Feb 9th from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guides will be on hand for fly casting instruction, Walt Plasson will demonstrate fly tying and there will be a raffle for all participants. Capt. Rick Grassett will do a seminar on saltwater fly fishing in our area at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a fly casting competition at 1 p.m. with a $100 CB’s gift certificate for the winner. Attendees will receive a 20 percent discount coupon (excluding sale items) and a $20 discount on future Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools. Stop by and see the latest fly fishing products from Orvis, Lamson and Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO). Call (941) 349-4400 for more information.

Saltwater game fish, sport fish designations Feb. 13

• Whether it’s the heart-pounding excitement and anticipation of the strike on a fly or a lure, or the thrill of a catch soon to be on your dinner table, the best place in the world to experience saltwater fishing opportunities is Florida – the Fishing Capital of the World.

• The recent proposal to create saltwater game fish and sport fish designations in Florida is about highlighting some of the state’s most valuable recreational fish for today and future generations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider adopting these designations at its Feb. 13 meeting in Orlando.

Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Feb. 15-17

• The Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta series opens its 2013 season Feb. 15-17, at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club near downtown St. Petersburg, Fla (11 Central Ave.). More than 1,000 sailors will hit the water for three days of competitive sailboat racing in conjunction with the largest and most popular sailboat racing series in North America.  
• Top sailors from around the world will compete against local skippers for the overall prize; a trip to the British Virgin Islands to race in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Championship Regatta.
• Races will be held on Tampa Bay, east of the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier. Boats will be launched from the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
• Private boats for spectators allowed, limited viewing is available – best seen from the St. Pete Municipal Pier. There is no charge to view the races.
• Visit www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas for more information.

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School Feb. 16

• CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, Orvis Outfitter of the Year for 2011 (1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key) will hold an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Feb. The schools will cover fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor, Capt. Rick Grassett, will also cover leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. The course, designed for beginning and intermediate fly casters, will focus on basics but also work with intermediate casters on correcting faults and improving casting skills. Cost for the schools, which will run from 9 AM to 3 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations.

Weekly Fishing Report by 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, Spanish mackerel and blues in Sarasota Bay and trout, reds and a pompano in the Terra Ceia Bay area on lures and flies during the past week.
            
Martin Marlowe, from NY, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We fished the west side of the bay from the Middleground flat to Buttonwood Harbor where he caught and released trout and several bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on a sink tip fly line. Bill and Sally Wester, from Cincinnati, Ohio, fished the same areas with me on Tuesday. They also caught trout and blues but on CAL jigs with shad tails.
            
Keith McClintock and Hal D’Orazio, both from IL, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Wednesday. With a strong front approaching, we had high winds that day so it was challenging. They had good action in the afternoon catching trout, several reds and a four-pound pompano on CAL jigs with shad tails.
         
The best action next week should be with trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds around docks, in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high.

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
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com

Fishing Forecast 

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

High pressure over the eastern U.S. Tracks southeastward to the open Atlantic through midweek...as it ridges across Florida to the Gulf with a relaxed gradient. A weak frontal boundary sinks south into the northern half of the state and stalls...as a weak wave of low pressure tracks along it during the end of the week.

Monday

East winds around 5 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Monday night will bring west winds around 5 knots then becoming south after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/02/04Mon02:10 a.m.-0.25L

2013/02/04Mon06:25 p.m.1.96H

Tuesday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday night will bring south winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/02/05Tue03:30 a.m.-0.43L

2013/02/05Tue07:38 p.m.2.02H

Wednesday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of showers. Wednesday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming east after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/02/06Wed04:36 a.m.-0.6L

2013/02/06Wed08:52 p.m.2.08H

Thursday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming east around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/02/07Thu05:30 a.m.-0.69L

2013/02/07Thu12:27 p.m.1.08H

2013/02/07Thu04:00 p.m.0.9L

2013/02/07Thu09:59 p.m.2.12H

Friday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon.

2013/02/08Fri06:16 a.m.-0.71L

2013/02/08Fri12:48 p.m.1.13H

2013/02/08Fri05:07 p.m.0.76L

2013/02/08Fri10:57 p.m.2.12H

Solunar Forecast