Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: June 23, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bradley Hume, of Palmetto, caught and released this 40-inch snook on live greenbacks in Terra Ceia Bay.

BRADENTON -- The FWC is working to streamline saltwater rules in Manatee County. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. Look for reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more. An afternoon sea breeze will develop each day this week, winds and seas will be locally higher in and around any storms over the water.

FISHING UPDATES

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Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a measure at its June 18 meeting in Fort Myers that will remove several outdated or redundant localized regulations in Gilchrist, Indian River and Manatee counties.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.”

FWC combats lionfish invasion with fishery management changes

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made several changes at a June 18 meeting in Fort Myers that will help combat the lionfish invasion in Florida waters. Lionfish are an invasive species that have a negative impact on native wildlife and habitat.
• Approved changes go into effect Aug. 1 and include:
• Prohibiting the importation of live lionfish;
• Allowing the harvest of lionfish when diving with a rebreather, a device that recycles air and allows divers to remain in the water for longer periods of time; and
• Allowing participants in approved tournaments and other organized events to spear lionfish or other invasive species in areas where spearfishing is not allowed. This will be done through a permitting system.

Help the FWC locate rare upland birds

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) requests the public’s help in locating three species of rare birds during their breeding seasons. The southeastern American kestrel, the burrowing owl and the painted bunting are rare and declining species that are often overlooked by traditional monitoring programs such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
• People are encouraged to use the FWC's new Rare Bird Registry to quickly map locations where they observe these species, with the option to upload photos and additional comments. It’s quick and easy to use. Data submitted will be used by FWC scientists to identify important breeding areas for these species as well as estimate the size of their populations.

Workshops set for gopher tortoise conservation

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding regional workshops to present information on opportunities for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises in Florida.
• The goal of these workshops is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species.

 

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 several tarpon and landing a couple in the coastal gulf on a DOA Baitbuster and flies during the past week. Singles, doubles and small schools of tarpon, probably recently spawned fish, outnumbered large schools during the past week.

 

Harry and Jiske Ong, from Tampa, FL, tarpon fished in the coastal gulf with me on Monday. We had good action for the first couple of hours of the day with numerous schools of tarpon passing by. Harry caught and released an estimated 75-pound tarpon on a DOA Baitbuster. The Baitbuster has been hot this season, often jumping and catching tarpon when they didn’t eat live baits!

 

Fly angler David Morgan, from Sarasota, FL, tarpon fished with me on Tuesday. It was his first time fly fishing for tarpon and he did well. He had numerous shots at tarpon, but it was his first shot that was the best. He hooked up, jumping and bringing the fish, an estimated 75-pound tarpon, to the boat where it was leadered after a short battle.

 

We had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly on Wednesday and Thursday. We didn’t hook up on Wednesday but on Thursday we jumped 2 and had another bite. Wind shifted to the west on Friday and tarpon were fewer, deep in the water column and didn’t give us many shots.

 

 

Tarpon should school heavily as we head towards a new moon next week. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. Look for 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 in the central Gulf of Mexico will ridge across southwest and central Florida keeping westerly winds in place across the waters and slight seas. The high pressure will gradually move eastward over the coastal regions through the week with winds further decreasing. An afternoon sea breeze develops each day. Winds and seas will be locally higher in and around any storms over the waters.High pressure in the central Gulf of Mexico will ridge across southwest and central Florida keeping westerly winds in place across the waters and slight seas. The high pressure will gradually move eastward over the coastal regions through the week with winds further decreasing. An afternoon sea breeze develops each day. Winds and seas will be locally higher in and around any storms over the waters.

Monday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning. Monday night will bring west winds around 10 knots diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

 2014/06/23Mon03:57 AM1.05L

2014/06/23Mon10:09 AM2.37H

2014/06/23Mon06:25 PM0.02L

Tuesday

Northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring northwest  winds around 10 knots diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.

2014/06/24Tue12:52 AM1.37H

2014/06/24Tue04:38 AM1.15L

2014/06/24Tue10:49 AM2.45H

2014/06/24Tue07:10 PM-0.09L

Wednesday

Northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning ... then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2014/06/25Wed01:46 AM1.38H

2014/06/25Wed05:18 AM1.2L

2014/06/25Wed11:26 AM2.49H

2014/06/25Wed07:49 PM-0.15L

Thursday

Northwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning ... then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring west winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.

2014/06/26Thu02:29 AM1.39H

2014/06/26Thu05:56 AM1.22L

2014/06/26Thu12:01 PM2.51H

2014/06/26Thu08:25 PM-0.16L

Friday

West winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning ... then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.

2014/06/27Fri03:03 AM1.4H

2014/06/27Fri06:35 AM1.22L

2014/06/27Fri12:36 PM2.51H

2014/06/27Fri08:57 PM-0.14L

Solunar Forecast