Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Sept. 1, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Jerry Roth, from the Orlando, Fla. area, caught and released this over slot, 9.5-pound red, on a weedless-rigged CAL shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Snook season is upon us! Starting Sept. 1, snook season opens statewide. Weather Underground offshore afternoon showers and thunderstorms. FWC researchers have reported that transplanted, nursery-raised corral has spawning for the fist time off of Marathon Key. Researchers are seeking tarpon data from Florida anglers by way of a "finger print," or DNA sample, taken from the tarpon during the catch. 

FISHING UPDATES

• Limited harvest starts Sept. 1 for snook, a premier Florida fish
  The recreational harvest season for Florida’s premier game fish, snook, opens Sept. 1 statewide. Unique to the region, snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World.While the fishery is already more than 90 percent catch-and-release, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages anglers to continue to use moderation when determining whether or not to take a snook home. Gulf snook populations were negatively impacted by a 2010 cold kill.
• Gulf snook numbers currently exceed FWC management goals but are still rebuilding to pre-cold-kill levels, which is one of the reasons why it is important to handle fish with care in this region and use moderation when determining whether or not to harvest one. When releasing a snook, proper handling methods can help ensure the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about catch-and-release and the best way to handle a fish, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater” then “Recreational Regulations.”
  

• FWC, partners see ultimate coral reef-building success
  Researchers at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) observed transplanted nursery-raised staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) spawning for the first time this month at Tropical Rocks, just over 4 miles offshore of Marathon.
• These corals were supplied by the Coral Restoration Foundation and Mote Marine Lab nurseries and outplanted by the FWC. The project was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via The Nature Conservancy.
• The FWC, in collaboration with the Conservancy and other American Recovery and Reinvestment Act partners, began construction on the Middle Keys coral nursery in late 2009 but suffered setbacks due to a coldwater kill and, later, a warm-water bleaching event.
• The goal of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act project was to expand the current nurseries, develop new nurseries and outplant high numbers of nursery-grown corals throughout the Florida reef tract and the U.S. Virgin Islands.“This is the first time that we have seen staghorn coral spawning at the reef tract that included corals grown as part of our nursery program,” said Caitlin Lustic, coral recovery coordinator for the Conservancy in Florida. “This spawning event shows that outplanted corals have the ability to reproduce just like a natural colony and furthers our goal of creating breeding colonies of coral that can repopulate reefs on their own.”
  

FWC tarpon researchers seek data from north Florida anglers

• The strength, stamina and fighting ability of a “silver king” make tarpon one of Florida’s most popular game fish. Experience the thrill! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants people to reel one in to the side of their boat and help us with the Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study.
• Tarpon DNA helps scientists learn more about the fish’s rich life history, from its anatomy to its catch history. Each year, willing anglers supply the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute with DNA “fingerprint” data from tarpon and then release them to jump and challenge anglers another day. The FWRI especially needs DNA samples from fish larger than 30 inches hooked in northeast and northwest Florida.

Lionfish-reporting app successful, plus 250 users sporting new lionfish shirts

• See or catch a lionfish? Report it. That’s what many lionfish hunters have been doing, thanks to the new Report Florida Lionfish app. Released to the public May 28, the app has been downloaded by more than 2,500 people. The first 250 to successfully report their lionfish catch or sighting received an interactive Lionfish Control Team T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life on your smartphone.
• In addition to the app, data can also be submitted online at MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Report Lionfish.”
• Lionfish are an invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s reefs and wildlife.

FWC recovers 299 sea turtle eggs from poacher

• Nearly 300 sea turtle eggs were returned to the beach and reburied Friday after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) caught a man poaching them from a beach in St. Lucie County.
• James Odel McGriff, 55, of Riviera Beach, was arrested and booked into the St. Lucie County jail.

 

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 Sarasota Bay reported good action on deep grass flats with trout, blues, jacks and more on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and flies during the past week. Reds are also beginning to school on Sarasota Bay flats. It is easier to find them when the tide is low. Look for wakes or patches of nervous water when it is calm or slick spots when there is a chop to find schools.

 

My friend, Capt. Rick DePaiva, invited me to fish Pine Island Sound with him on Wednesday afternoon. Tides were right for reds to tail on shallow grass as the tide bottomed out at about 5 PM, which gave us a window to fish the falling tide and then the incoming just before dusk. We had some shots at reds and snook on the outgoing tide, but as the tide hit low the water slicked off and conditions got right. We got out and waded as reds “snaked” their way back onto a shallow flat, crawling through the exposed grass. I caught and released a 30” red on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly with only a 20’ cast. Very rewarding!

 

Look for schools of reds staging on edges of bars and flats or tailing on shallow grass flats when the tide is low. There should still be some action with tarpon in the coastal gulf. However as they thin out in the coastal gulf, they are moving to inside areas where you may find them rolling on deep grass flats or in passes at first light. You also should find trout, blues and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Catch and release snook fishing should be good in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes.

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

A ridge of high pressure across the Florida Peninsula and into the northern Gulf of Mexico will keep winds and seas below cautionary criteria through the early part of the week. Sea breezes will develop and turn winds onshore each afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will move offshore and into the Gulf each afternoon and evening.

Monday

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

2014/09/01 Mon 4:50 a.m. 2.41 H

2014/09/01 Mon 1:00 p.m. 0.55 L

2014/09/01 Mon 7:02 p.m. 1.59 H

2014/09/01 Mon 11:42 p.m. 1.31 L

Tuesday

East winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring east winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/09/02 Tue 5:46 a.m. 2.42 H

2014/09/02 Tue 2:23 p.m. 0.5 L

2014/09/02 Tue 9:02 p.m. 1.54 H

Wednesday

East winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/09/03 Wed 12:38 a.m. 1.42 L

2014/09/03 Wed 6:55 a.m. 2.44 H

2014/09/03 Wed 3:44 p.m. 0.4 L

2014/09/03 Wed 10:41 p.m. 1.6 H

Thursday

East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring east winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/09/04 Thu 2:06 a.m. 1.48 L

2014/09/04 Thu 8:17 a.m. 2.49 H

2014/09/04 Thu 4:53 p.m. 0.3 L

2014/09/04 Thu 11:33 p.m 1.67 H

Friday

East winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.

2014/09/05 Fri 3:38 a.m. 1.43 L

2014/09/05 Fri 9:37 a.m. 2.57 H

2014/09/05 Fri 5:49 p.m. 0.22 L

Solunar Forecast