Captan Favorite's Fishing Forum Sept. 5, 2011

Jerry Roth won a $10 gift certificate for  Ocean Harvest Market and Grill with this nice redfish.

Jerry Roth, from the Orlando, Fla., 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.

The Bradenton Times wants your fishing pictures! We will be giving a prize for the best catch of the week. Please send any entrees tomerab.favorite@thebradentontimes.com, or tag us in your fishing pictures on facebook. We also accept video.

Fishing Updates

 NOAA Fisheries Service Seeks Public Comment on Amendment 10 for Spiny Lobster in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic

•  NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Plan.  The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic  Fishery Management Councils (Councils) have submitted Amendment  10 to NOAA Fisheries Service for review, approval, and  implementation.  The Notice of Availability for public comment on this amendment was published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2011.
•  The fishery management plan is jointly managed by the Councils.  NOAA Fisheries Service and the Councils  developed Amendment 10 to address new requirements

of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  They also considered requirements listed in a biological opinion on the spiny lobster fishery

developed under the Endangered Species Act. 

Actions in Amendment 10

•  Remove four species  of lobster from federal management;
• Revise how thresholds used to determine the status of the stock, such as overfishing (rate of removal is too high) and overfished (population abundance is

too low), are calculated;

• Establish an annual catch limit, annual catch target, and accountability measure;
• Revise the protocol for cooperation with Florida and the framework procedure, which allows for more timely implementation of routine regulatory changes;
• Require fishermen with tailing permits to land spiny lobster all whole or all tailed, and require applicants for a tailing permit to possess either a federal spiny lobster permit or the Florida permits required for commercial lobster fishermen;
• Allow retention of up to 50 Caribbean spiny lobsters under the minimum size limit and one per trap; and Delegate authority to Florida to remove derelict spiny lobster traps in federal waters.
• The Councils also considered alternatives to create new closed areas to protect coral and implement trap linemarking requirements; however, they chose to take no action at this time to allow for additional stakeholder input.

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Mark Torkos, from St. Augustine, Fla., caught and released this sheepshead on a Clouser fly while fishing Sarasota Bay 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, caught and released trout, reds, blues and sheepshead in Sarasota Bay and jumped several tarpon in the Peace River during the past week. The best action was with trout on deep grass flats and juvenile tarpon in the Peace River.

Steve Gibson, of Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing, fished the Peace River and residential canals of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda with me on Tuesday. We found plenty of tarpon in the 15 to 30-pound class and jumped three tarpon to 20 pounds on rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz. These mini torpedoes are great fun, jumping higher and more frequently than larger fish. They should continue to be a good option for the next couple of months.

Jerry Roth, from the Orlando, Fla. area, fished north Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. He connected with a pair of over-slot reds, one on a surface walking top water plug and the other, a 9.5 pound fish, on a weedless-rigged CAL shad tail. Ken Alexander and Steve Johns, from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. The action wasn’t fast but was steady. They caught and released trout to 17 inches and a bluefish on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. The best action was near Whale Key.

Fly angler Mark Torkos, from St. Augustine, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. We checked the coastal gulf for little tunny (false albacore) and Spanish mackerel but didn’t find anything. With plentiful baitfish in the coastal gulf, it is only a matter of time before the albie fishing takes off. We caught a few trout on Clouser flies at the Middleground flat and Stephens Point before moving to shallow water where Mark caught and released a sheepshead on a Clouser fly near Long Bar. Sheepshead are very challenging with flies and lures, since they feed mainly with their nose, and this was the first sheepshead on a fly for Mark.

Next week’s tides will improve towards the end of the week as we approach a full moon on Sept. 12, 2011. Trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay, little tunny and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf or juvenile tarpon in the Peace River should all be good options depending on conditions.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett

Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

(941) 923-7799

E-mail snookfin@aol.com

www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com

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

Fishing Forecast

Tropical Storm Lee continues to slowly drift northeastward along the central Louisiana coast. A tight pressure gradient extends over the eastern Gulf and will continue to produce moderate to strong south to southwest gusty winds and elevated...choppy and dangerous seas into early next week. All marine interests are encouraged to monitor the latest forecasts for any changes in conditions until conditions improve. Winds and seas are expected to subside midweek.

Monday

South winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning then numerous thunderstorms in the afternoon. Monday night will bring south winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening then isolated thunderstorms after midnight.

2011/09/05 Mon    06:02 AM       2.53    H

2011/09/05 Mon    03:28 PM       0.32    L

Tuesday

Southwest winds 15 to 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. Numerous thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring south winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2011/09/06 Tue     07:35 AM       2.46    H

2011/09/06 Tue     04:42 PM       0.3       L

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring west winds around 5 knots in the evening becoming variable less than 5 knots then becoming northeast around 5 knots toward morning. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2011/09/07 Wed    12:13 AM       1.67    H

2011/09/07 Wed    02:47 AM       1.6       L

2011/09/07 Wed    09:12 AM       2.45    H

2011/09/07 Wed    05:38 PM       0.3       L

Thursday

East winds around 5 knots becoming west 10 knots in the late morning and afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2011/09/08 Thu     12:21 AM       1.72    H

2011/09/08 Thu     04:29 AM       1.46    L

2011/09/08 Thu     10:28 AM       2.46    H

2011/09/08 Thu     06:20 PM       0.35    L

Solunar Forecast