Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: June 17, 2013

Posted Saturday, June 13, 2015 12:00 am

Merab-Michal Favorite

Catch of the Week

Daniel Lewis caught this 18.5-inch flounder while fishing in Tampa Bay last week.

BRADENTON – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reviewed and discussed the current status of snook populations in Gulf and Atlantic waters at its June 12 meeting in Lakeland before deciding to allow the recreational harvest of Gulf of Mexico snook to reopen this September. The harvest of snook in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters has been closed since early 2010. The FWC also approved a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries.

Fishing Updates

Gulf recreational snook harvest to reopen Sept. 1

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reviewed and discussed the current status of snook populations in Gulf and Atlantic waters at its June 12 meeting in Lakeland before deciding to allow the recreational harvest of Gulf of Mexico snook to reopen this September.

The harvest of snook in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters has been closed since early 2010, when a cold snap negatively impacted the population, particularly juvenile snook. In 2012, the Commission extended the temporary closure through Aug. 31, 2013, in an effort to further protect this important species and give it time to recover more fully from the cold snap.

The FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute confirms that Gulf snook were affected by the cold weather of 2010. Once reopened, the stock should continue to rebuild within a relatively short time to 2010 stock levels, thanks to management efforts such as regular closed seasons and the slot limit, which protects both juveniles and the more productive larger fish.

When the Gulf recreational harvest reopens Sept. 1, all bag limits, size limits, gear restrictions and closed seasons will be in effect. This includes the one-fish-per-person, per-day bag limit, the 28- to 33-inch total length slot limit and the two annual closures in Gulf waters, which are from Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31.

The Atlantic recreational harvest of snook will also open Sept. 1. This season closes annually from June 1 through Aug. 31 and from Dec. 15 through Jan. 31. The slot limit for Atlantic harvest is 28 to 32 inches total length.

The next stock assessment for snook is scheduled for 2015.

Learn more on this presentation by visiting MyFWC.com/Commission and clicking on “Commission Meetings” and “Agenda.”

Tarpon, bonefish to become catch-and-release only; FWC considers tarpon gear modifications

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), at its June 12 meeting in Lakeland, approved a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries and moved forward with a proposal to modify the types of gear used to target tarpon in Boca Grande Pass.

This catch-and-release proposal was adopted in recognition of the fact that the economic and fishing value of bonefish and tarpon greatly exceed their value as food fishes.

The following changes will go into effect Sept. 1 in state and federal waters off Florida:

All harvest of tarpon will be eliminated, with the exception of the harvest or possession of a single tarpon when in pursuit of an IGFA record and in conjunction with a tarpon tag.
Tarpon tags will be limited to one per person, per year (except for charter boat captains).
Transport or shipment of tarpon becomes limited to one fish per person.
One fish per vessel limit is created for tarpon.
Gear used for tarpon will be limited to hook-and-line only.
People will be allowed to temporarily possess a tarpon for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches must remain in the water.
Tarpon regulations will extend into federal waters.
The bonefish tournament exemption permit is eliminated. This exemption allows tournament anglers with the proper permit to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale.
The Commission also approved modifying the tarpon tag program by eliminating the current reporting requirements and shifting the start and end date for when the tarpon tag is valid from July through June to a calendar year, January through December. These rules will be changed in FWC code and will go into effect Sept. 1.
The Commission also moved forward with a two-part proposal that would include adding language to the current statewide snagging definition and modifying what types of gear could be used to target tarpon in Boca Grande Pass. The proposal would add language that prohibits catching or attempting to catch tarpon that have not been attracted or enticed by the angler’s gear to the snagging definition that applies statewide. This change would apply to tarpon fishing statewide. The second part of the proposal would prohibit fishing with gear that has a weight attached to the bottom of a hook. This change would apply to fishing for all species year-round within Boca Grande Pass.
This proposal will be brought back for a final public hearing at the Sept. 4-6 meeting in Pensacola.
To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings” and “Agenda.”

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

https://www.thebradentontimes.com/clientuploads/news_images/201212/052013_tarpon_250.jpg

Nick Huff, from Utah, battles a "hot" fly rod tarpon in the coastal gulf off Sarasota while fishing 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, had great action jumping numerous tarpon and catching and releasing several up to 100 pounds on flies and live baits in the coastal gulf during the past week.

Following Tropical Storm Andrea sea conditions improved and tarpon resumed their normal patterns early in the week. Fly anglers had numerous shots, jumped 4 tarpon and had long battles with a couple of them with Lefty Deceiver and Tarpon Bunny flies on Wednesday. A great day!

The Notari family, Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, Fla., his son Craig Notari and grandsons James, Peter and Christopher, all from Winnetka, IL tarpon fished with me and Capt. Jack Hartman on Thursday and Friday. Craig and Christopher fished with me on Thursday and had good action, jumping three tarpon and catching and releasing two of them. Christopher caught and released an estimated 50 to 60-pound tarpon on a live pinfish and also had a bite from a tarpon that surprised us at the side of the boat on a DOA Baitbuster. We moved to shallow water later in the morning where Craig hooked up and later caught and released an estimated 100-pound fish on a Deceiver fly. Capt. Jack also had great action with Terry, Peter and James on Thursday, jumping 5 fish and landing 1, on live pinfish! James caught and released a 120-pounder and Peter jumped an estimated 160-pound fish and got the fish close to the boat after a long battle.

It was windy out of the west on Friday but still fishable. Terry hooked a hot fish with me that day on a pinfish but it broke off at the end of a smoking run. Capt. Jack’s crew, Peter and James, jumped a couple of nice tarpon also on pinfish. With 11 tarpon jumped and 3 caught and released, including one on a fly, it was a great couple of days for the family group. “This was our best tarpon season in 15 years of fishing with Captain Rick!”-Terry Notari.

Depending on conditions, tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be good next week. Tarpon may not show well on the surface if it is rough. However if conditions aren’t good for tarpon in the gulf, there should be good action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds and big trout in shallow water early in the day. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW near passes should also be a good option..

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

To create a forecast specific to

your zip code visit

www.wunderground.com

Fishing Forecast

Atlantic high pressure will remain in place over the coastal waters through the work week with sea breeze development expected each afternoon. Winds are expected to remain weak with relatively flat seas the next several days. Most shower and thunderstorm activity will remain over land areas the next few days.

Monday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring west winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming south around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/06/17Mon01:44 AM0.55L

2013/06/17Mon07:51 AM1.99H

2013/06/17Mon03:14 PM0.65L

2013/06/17Mon08:28 PM1.43H

Tuesday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday nights will bring west winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming southwest around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/06/18Tue02:28 AM0.74L

2013/06/18Tue08:33 AM2.15H

2013/06/18Tue04:25 PM0.38L

2013/06/18Tue10:09 PM1.36H

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.

Wednesday night will brine west winds around 10 knots then becoming southeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/06/19Wed03:13 AM0.92L

2013/06/19Wed09:15 AM2.32H

2013/06/19Wed05:27 PM0.1L

2013/06/19Wed11:40 PM1.36H

Thursday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring orth winds around 10 knots then becoming east around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/06/20Thu03:57 AM1.07L

2013/06/20Thu10:00 AM2.49H

2013/06/20Thu06:24 PM-0.16L

Friday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.

2013/06/21Fri12:57 AM1.38H

2013/06/21Fri04:40 AM1.17L

2013/06/21Fri10:46 AM2.65H

2013/06/21Fri07:17 PM-0.35L

Solunar Forecast

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