Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Oct. 10, 2011

Geo Overstreet, 12, won 3rd place in the Gullett Mullet Fishing Tournament Saturday and received a $75.00 prize for netting six mullet that weighed approximately 18 pounds. First place weighed in at 20 pounds.

Fishing Updates

FWC Asks Fishermen to Report Giant Tiger Prawn

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking fishermen to be on the lookout for nonnative giant tiger prawn after a recent sighting in East Bay near Panama City. The Sept. 19 catches marks the first time a giant tiger prawn was reported to the FWC in Florida's northern Gulf of Mexico waters. Reports have been common in Atlantic coastal waters, and three were reported off the coast of St. Augustine this summer. Biologists are also working to confirm reports of another sighting in Pensacola Bay.

NOAA Fisheries Service Announces Closure Date for the South Atlantic Recreational Black Sea Bass Fishery 

•  NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2011-2012 recreational annual catch limit of 341,747 pounds for black sea bass has been reached.  As a result, the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from 35¡15.19' N. latitude,  (the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, NC) to Key West, FL, will close, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 17, 2011, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2012.  
• For vessels with a valid federal charter vessel/head boat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-grouper, the closure applies to state and federal waters.   The operator of a vessel that has a federal for-hire permit for snapper grouper must land any black sea bass harvested from either state or federal waters prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 17, 2011.

Commercial King Mackerel Fishing to Close in the Northern Florida West Coast Subzone

•  Harvest of king mackerel will be prohibited beginning 12:01 a.m., local time, October 7, 2011, for commercial vessels fishing in the northern Florida west coast subzone.  NOAA Fisheries Service has determined the 2011/2012 commercial quota of 168,750 pounds of king mackerel from this subzone has been reached.  The closure will remain in effect through the end of the fishing year, June 30, 2012.
• The northern Florida west coast subzone is located in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico north of 26¡19.8' N lat. (a line directly west from the Lee/Collier County, Florida, boundary) and east of  87¡31.1' W long. (a line directly south from the Alabama/Florida boundary)

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Chad Gamble

Mike, and Fay Griffin, from Great Britain, used Capt. Gambles's technique, which proved fatal for a few redfish destined for the dinner table and at least left  at least 20 with sore lips.

Last week’s charters aboard the ”Hook and Ladder“ have been producing some amazing catches of redfish. The fall run of these fish has recently began to show up on the flats of Sarasota and Tampa bays. Catches of twenty or more of these bruisers were the norm last week. Most fish have been in the 23-26 inch range with a few pigs getting up to 34 inches. We have been keying in on the mullet schools close to the mangroves on high tides and then following the troughs that run off the flat on the lower tides. These troughs serve as fish highways on the exceptionally low tides we have been having.

Next time you are out fishing, pay attention to the subtle changes in depth at the edge of the outside bar of any grass flat. What you will see is a series of small natural channels that funnel the water off of the flat on outgoing tides. The largest of these usually hold snook and other predators that ambush prey leaving the shallower water of the inside grass flat. Target your efforts here to capitalize on our low tides we are having this week.

Last Wednesday I had a charter with Ian, Joyce, Matthew, Mike, and Fay Griffin all the way from Great Britain. Using the technique listed above proved fatal for a few redfish destined for the dinner table and at least 20 left my boat with sore lips.

USCG Captain Chad Gamble

HookandLadderCharters.com

Email:Hookandladdercharters@gmail.com

Call (941) 809-8922

Fishing Forecast

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

Winds and seas will remain elevated tonight as surface low pressure develops over the Florida Straits and southeast Gulf of Mexico and high pressure remains over the mid Atlantic. The low will track slowly northwest through the eastern Gulf later tonight and Monday with an attendant warm front lifting north through the coastal waters. As the front lifts north the tight pressure gradient will weaken which will allow winds and seas to decrease and subside by early on Monday and through much of the upcoming week.

Monday

Southeast winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Monday night will bring south winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening...then isolated showers after midnight.

2011/10/10 Mon 12:00 AM 2.18 H

2011/10/10 Mon 06:59 AM 0.54 L

2011/10/10 Mon 12:58 PM 2.08 H

2011/10/10 Mon 06:52 PM 1.04 L

Tuesday

Southwest winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.  There will be a slight chance of showers.

2011/10/11 Tue 12:13 AM 2.28 H

2011/10/11 Tue 07:32 AM 0.37 L

2011/10/11 Tue 01:38 PM 2.01 H

2011/10/11 Tue 07:12 PM 1.16 L

Wednesday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a  chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring west winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. There will be a slight chance of showers in the evening.

2011/10/12 Wed 12:27 AM 2.39 H

2011/10/12 Wed 08:04 AM 0.25 L

2011/10/12 Wed 02:15 PM 1.93 H

2011/10/12 Wed 07:30 PM 1.26 L

Thursday

Northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a slight chance of showers. Thursday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a slight chance of showers in the evening.

2011/10/13 Thu 12:46 AM 2.49 H

2011/10/13 Thu 08:37 AM 0.17 L

2011/10/13 Thu 02:52 PM 1.85 H

2011/10/13 Thu 07:47 PM 1.33 L

Friday

Northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2011/10/14 Fri 01:09 AM 2.57 H

2011/10/14 Fri 09:12 AM 0.13 L

2011/10/14 Fri 03:30 PM 1.76 H

2011/10/14 Fri 08:06 PM 1.37 L

 Solunar Forecast