Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: July 7, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, had good action catching and releasing tarpon estimated at 70 and 90-pounds, his first tarpon on fly, while fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – High pressure will ridge across the coastal waters through the end of the week. This will keep an east to southeast wind flow in place with light seas. Afternoon sea breezes will develop each day and allow for isolated to scattered thunderstorms. Catch and release snook in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. You should find reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more.

FISHING UPDATES

MCSO releases ‘Operation Dry Water’ results

• Law enforcement agencies around the state and country are participating in “Operation Dry Water” June 27-29. This nationwide, public education effort is designed to prevent alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. FWC officers, along with local law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard, will be on the lookout for boating under the influence (BUI) violations.
• The Manatee County Sheri'ff's Office arrested one man on BUI, charges,issued nine safety violation citations, and gave out countless warnings. 
• “Alcohol- and drug-related boating accidents are preventable,” said Capt. Tom Shipp of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Boating and Waterways Section. “Even one death is too many. We want all boaters to enjoy the freedom to get out on the water and the opportunity to do it safely.”
• Last year, nine people died from boating accidents related to alcohol and drug use in Florida. That represents 15 percent of the state’s boating fatalities for 2013.

Gag grouper recreational harvest opening in most Gulf waters, closing in 4-county region

• Gag grouper will open for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters and all Gulf federal waters July 1. The same day, the season will close in state waters off the coast of Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. The FWC manages marine fish from the shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

• The gag grouper recreational harvest season in Gulf of Mexico state waters, not including Franklin, Jefferson, Wakulla and Taylor counties, will remain open through Dec. 3, closing Dec. 4.

FWC moves to simplify saltwater rules in 3 counties

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a measure at its June 18 meeting in Fort Myers that will remove several outdated or redundant localized regulations in Gilchrist, Indian River and Manatee counties. These changes will go into effect as soon as possible.

• The FWC has been working to streamline and clarify saltwater fishing rules since 2009 as part of a marine fisheries rule clean-up process. This includes reviewing existing localized rules known as Special Acts of Local Application and working with county governments to remove them if warranted. Many Special Acts were put in place before the Marine Fisheries Commission, one of the FWC’s predecessor agencies, was created, and are now no longer necessary due to more current, statewide fishing management.

• The governments from all three counties have been working with the FWC on these changes. The FWC will be working with other counties in the future to help streamline and reduce regulations throughout the state, increasing transparency and consistency while standardizing FWC saltwater fishing management and making it easier for fishermen to access and participate in Florida fishing. The repeal of the Special Acts for these three counties is not expected to have any negative effects on Florida’s fisheries.

• In Manatee County, seven Special Acts are slated to be removed, including ones that limit the types of gear that can be used within the waters of the county, set aggregate bag limits for saltwater fish on the Manatee River, and authorize Manatee County to regulate the harvest of finfish within the county. Current statewide regulations now address the use of gear and give the FWC the authority to regulate the harvest of saltwater fish. Repealing these conflicting and redundant rules will help clarify and simplify regulations in Manatee County.

• To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and “Commission Meetings.”

 

WEEKLY FISHING REPORT BY CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, battles a tarpon jumped on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett.

 

A fly angler fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota during the past week. 

 

Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, fly fished for tarpon several days with me last week. The goal was tarpon on a fly and he did well, especially since it was his first time targeting tarpon. Tuesday was a great day with lots of shots and Frank caught and released his first tarpon, an estimated 90-pounder!

 

Shots were fewer on Wednesday and our day ended when a thunderstorm pushed through roughing up the water. Tarpon fishing is usually a waiting game, much like hunting whitetail deer or turkeys, so we often see other things along the way. Over several days we saw bull and hammerhead sharks, manatees and had a shot at a couple of cobia while we waited for tarpon.

 

Conditions deteriorated on Thursday as a stiff west wind made it rough. Frank hung in there and made his shots count, hooking up with another tarpon, an estimated 70-pounder, and successfully catching and releasing the fish on the last cast of the day! Going 2 for 2 on tarpon with a fly, especially on your first attempt - priceless!

           

Tarpon fishing should remain strong next week as we head towards a full moon. Large schools of tarpon should become more plentiful as they prepare to head offshore to spawn. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. You should find reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more.

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

 

Fishing Forecast

High pressure will ridge across the coastal waters through the end of the week. This will keep an east to southeast wind flow in place with light seas. Afternoon sea breezes will develop each day and allow for isolated to scattered thunderstorms.

Monday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Monday night will bring west winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/07Mon02:17 AM0.94L

2014/07/07Mon08:27 AM2.23H

2014/07/07Mon04:42 PM0.34L

2014/07/07Mon10:45 PM1.33H

Tuesday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/08Tue03:03 AM1.08L

2014/07/08Tue09:15 AM2.37H

2014/07/08Tue05:41 PM0.12L

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring west winds around 5 knots in the evening then becoming variable less than 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/09Wed12:08 AM1.36H

2014/07/09Wed03:53 AM1.18L

2014/07/09Wed10:04 AM2.52H

2014/07/09Wed06:34 PM-0.09 L

Thursday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring south winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/07/10Thu01:12 AM1.41H

2014/07/10Thu04:44 AM1.23L

2014/07/10Thu10:54 AM2.66H

2014/07/10Thu07:23 PM-0.25 L

Friday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms.

2014/07/11Fri02:01 AM1.43H

2014/07/11Fri05:35 AM1.24L

2014/07/11Fri11:44 AM2.77H

2014/07/11Fri08:10 PM-0.33 L

Solunar Forecast