Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: June 2, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Ellie Ameres caught her first snook while fishing with her dad, Michael Ameres, over the weekend..

BRADENTON -- Conservation-based Apalachicola oyster harvest changes became effective June 1. The FWC released a new lionfish mobile application. The harvest of amberjack and grey triggerfish closed June 1. Weather Underground is predicting afternoon showers and thunderstorms all week. 

FISHING UPDATES

Conservation-based Apalachicola Bay oyster harvest changes effective June 1

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made several changes that will be in effect from June 1 through Aug. 31 this year, in Apalachicola Bay in an effort to conserve oyster resources.
• The FWC has been working with the Franklin County oyster industry to implement these temporary changes. Apalachicola Bay oysters have significantly declined in population due to lack of fresh water flow in previous years.
• Changes effective June 1 include:

1. Prohibiting commercial and recreational harvest of oysters in the area commonly known as East Hole;
2. Lowering the daily commercial harvest and possession limit from 20 to eight  bags (each bag is equivalent to 60 pounds or two 5-gallon buckets) of oysters in the shell per person;
3. Lowering the daily recreational harvest, vessel and possession limit to five gallons of oysters in the shell (previously two bags per day with one bag being equivalent to 60 pounds or two 5-gallon buckets);
4. Prohibiting commercial oyster harvests on Fridays and Saturdays.

• All other harvest regulations remain in effect.

New Report Florida Lionfish app unveiled; first 250 users receive free T-shirt 

• See a lionfish in the wild? Report it using the new Report Florida Lionfish app. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) unveiled the new smart device app today (May 28) during a live Twitter chat. The first 250 people who successfully complete the Report Florida Lionfish app reporting form will receive a free, interactive and newly redesigned “Lionfish Control Team” T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life. Learn more about the new app, T-shirt and interactive logo by watching a video online.

Amberjack, gray triggerfish close June 1 in Gulf state waters

• The recreational harvest of greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) closes June 1 and will remain closed through July 31, reopening Aug. 1.
• In federal Gulf waters, greater amberjack will also be closed June 1 through July 31. Gray triggerfish closed in Gulf federal waters May 1 and will remain closed through Dec. 31.

FWC releases 2013 boating accident statistics, stresses safe boating

• Sixty-two people lost their lives in Florida last year in boating accidents, and there have already been 11 deaths so far this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which has released its 2013 Boating Accident Statistical Report.

Monofilament fishing line perilous for pelicans

• Fishing is an important part of the Florida lifestyle as well as its economy. In spite of the obvious benefits, this leisure-time activity, on occasion, can lead to problems for birds and other wildlife such as sea turtles and manatees. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, monofilament fishing line and fishing hooks can entangle these animals, leading to injury and even death.

 

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.

 

Anglers 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, jumping and hooking up with tarpon on fly and spinning tackle in the coastal gulf recently.

 

Most of my time was spent fly fishing for tarpon and anglers fishing with me had numerous shots some days, but only a few shots on a couple of other trips. With many variables, including visibility, tide and sea conditions, it usually requires numerous shots for it all to come together to be successful.

 

Hal Lutz, from Parrish and Andrea Lutz, from Atlanta, GA, spent a couple of mornings spin fishing for tarpon with me. We drifted live baits while waiting to cast to schools with live crabs and DOA Baitbusters. Hal cast a live crab into a happy school of tarpon and hooked up. He also had a few shots at tarpon with a fly later in the morning.

 

Patrice Camillieri, from near Paris, France, fly fished for tarpon a couple of days with me. Conditions were good one day, but we only saw a few fish. We had sloppy sea conditions another day with lots of shots. Despite the tough conditions, he had several bites, jumping one and hooking up a couple of more times.

 

Lutz and Jeb Mulock, from Bradenton fly fished for tarpon in the coastal gulf with me on Friday. We didn’t see a lot of fish but they made their shots count. Jeb jumped a big tarpon and fought the fish for about 20-minutes before the hook pulled. His first tarpon on a fly!

 

Tarpon should be plentiful in the coastal gulf as their spawning migration hits full stride. Look for reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay. You should find catch and release snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. Fishing deep grass flats for trout, blues and more should also be a good option.

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 over the Atlantic Seaboard is ridging south to Florida and an increasing pressure gradient will bring fresh east winds across the waters this evening and overnight. The winds will moderate for the start of the week but should maintain an easterly flow at 10 to 15 mph...with evening surges becoming quite brisk for a few hours. Numerous showers and storms will develop across the Florida interior each day and push into the waters later in the afternoons and evenings with briefly elevated winds and seas possible.

Monday

East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Monday night will bring east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/06/02 Mon 05:39 a.m. 1.42 H

2014/06/02 Mon 09:42 a.m. 1.21 L

2014/06/02 Mon 03:22 p.m. 2.2 H

2014/06/02 Mon 11:45 p.m. 0.03 L

Tuesday

East winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring east winds 10 to 15 knots diminishing to 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2014/06/03 Tue 06:19 a.m. 1.49 H

2014/06/03 Tue 10:52 a.m. 1.21 L

2014/06/03 Tue 04:13 p.m. 2.02 H

Wednesday

East winds around 10 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2014/06/04 Wed 12:28 a.m. 0.15 L

2014/06/04 Wed 07:00 a.m. 1.58 H

2014/06/04 Wed 12:16 p.m. 1.18 L

2014/06/04 Wed 05:14 p.m. 1.81 H

Thursday

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

2014/06/05 Thu 01:12 a.m. 0.29 L

2014/06/05 Thu 07:40 a.m. 1.69 H

2014/06/05 Thu 01:46 p.m. 1.06 L

2014/06/05 Thu 06:31 p.m. 1.61 H

Friday

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

2014/06/06 Fri 01:57 a.m. 0.44 L

2014/06/06 Fri 08:18 a.m. 1.81 H

2014/06/06 Fri 03:08 p.m. 0.87 L

2014/06/06Fri08:03 p.m.1.46H

Solunar Forecast