ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Dec. 24, 2012

Catch of the Week
Bill Rhodes, from Hernando Beach, Fla., caught and released this nice snook on a Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing the ICW near Venice at night with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Recreational harvest of snook in all Atlantic waters closed December 14, and will remain closed until the end of Auguest. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has created a long-term survival plan for 60 species. Sarasota based Capt. Rick Grassett recommends looking for redfish in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or higher on shallow grass flats at the top of the tide. Anglers can also find trout, bluefish and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Tripletail should remain a good option in the coastal Gulf.

Fishing Updates

December brings closure of snook season in Atlantic state, federal waters 

• The recreational harvest of snook will close in all Atlantic waters, including the inland waters of Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, beginning Dec. 15, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 14. The season will reopen in the Atlantic’s state and federal waters Feb. 1, 2013.
• Snook season is currently closed in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, and will remain closed through Aug. 31, 2013, to give the fish time to fully rebound from severe cold weather in 2010 that killed many snook.
• The extended Gulf harvest closure will help protect snook populations this winter, when they are most vulnerable to cold weather, and give snook added protection during next spring and summer’s spawning months.
• Anglers may still catch and release snook during the harvest closure, and the FWC encourages everyone to handle and release these fish carefully to help ensure their survival upon release.
• Snook regulations, including a bag limit of one fish per person, per day and a slot limit of no less than 28 inches and no more than 32 inches, apply to snook harvested in both state and federal waters off Florida. No one may possess any snook caught during snook closed seasons.
• For more information regarding the management of snook in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Snook.”

FWC defines new conservation model for 60 species 

• To achieve long-term survival for 60 imperiled wildlife species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed a new conservation model at its meeting today in Apalachicola.
• Creating the Imperiled Species Management Plan will define measurable objectives and actions to manage and conserve these animals to keep them part of Florida’s wildlife forever.
• Staff updated Commissioners on how they will integrate broad conservation strategies with specific actions for each wildlife species. The Imperiled Species Management Plan will include habitat conservation; wildlife management; measurable objectives (including timeframes); possible incentives, potential rule recommendations; and consideration of economic, ecological and social impacts.
• “This approach is smart thinking,” said FWC Chairman Kenneth Wright.
• Typically, the FWC has developed and implemented separate management plans for individual species such as the bald eagle, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise and Florida manatee. With the Imperiled Species Management Plan, the FWC will retain that focus while recognizing the efficiency of developing integrated strategies that positively affect multiple species, for example those sharing a seaside marsh or upland scrub habitat.
• Opportunities for input from stakeholders and the public will be sought as components of the Imperiled Species Management Plan begin to be rolled out in draft form in 2013.
• “By identifying both the common elements and specific actions needed to promote survival of 60 species, Florida can achieve broad long-term conservation success for wildlife such as the little blue heron, Eastern chipmunk and Florida sandhill crane,” said Laura Barrett, the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Plan Coordinator.
• “The Imperiled Species Management Plan will give stakeholders and the public a broad conservation vision of what the FWC plans to achieve for 60 species that have been listed as state-threatened or species of special concern,” Barrett said.
• The FWC adopted a new conservation model in September 2010 to evaluate the status of species listed as state-threatened or species of special concern. The Commission-approved process first called for developing a Biological Status Review (BSR) for each species. The BSRs, independently reviewed by outside scientists and the public, reported on what was happening to each species, and made a recommendation on whether the species met criteria to:

Remain or become listed as threatened;

• Remain a species of special concern until further data could be gathered; or
• Be removed from the list of state-threatened species.
• The BSRs and their listing recommendations are available at MyFWC.com/ImperiledSpecies.

John Freeman, Jr., from Osprey, Fla., caught this red on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing a Gasparilla Sound sand bar with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Weekly Fishing Report by 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 and redfish in Gasparilla Sound on lures, snook and blues in the ICW near Venice and tripletail in the coastal gulf on flies during the past week.

Sarasota winter resident Tom Lamb and John Freeman, Jr. from Osprey, Fla., fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Monday. They caught and released trout to 18-inches, including several slot sized trout, and a couple of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.

Bill Rhodes, from Hernando Beach, Fla., fished the ICW near Venice with me on Tuesday night. He caught and released seven or eight snook to 26 inches and a couple of blues to 5-pounds on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.  We fished the coastal gulf on Wednesday where he caught and released a couple of tripletail on shrimp fly patterns and had numerous other shots at tripletail. Great sight casting opportunities!

 A strong front moved through on Thursday evening and with the wind at 35 mph out of the northwest on Friday morning, we rescheduled that trip. Fishing may be challenging for a couple of days following the front, but shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should be good next week as we approach a full moon. Look for them in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or higher on shallow grass flats at the top of the tide. You should also find trout, bluefish and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Tripletail should remain a good option in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.

 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

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

Fishing Forecast 

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

A ridge of high pressure over the coastal waters tonight and Monday will move eastward away from Florida Monday night. Low pressure will develop over the northwest Gulf Coast states on Tuesday and lift north and northeast up through the Tennessee Valley Tuesday night. This will drag a cold front into the northeast Gulf by early Wednesday morning which will swing southeastward through the waters on Wednesday. High pressure will build back into the region behind the front for Thursday and Friday.

Monday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots...becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring southwest winds 5 to 10 knots...becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/12/24Mon05:10 a.m.-0.34L

2012/12/24Mon12:10 p.m.1.15H

2012/12/24Mon03:22 p.m.1.03L

2012/12/24Mon09:17 p.m.2.03H

Tuesday

Southeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Tuesday night will bring south winds around 10 knots increasing to around 15 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters becoming a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers after midnight.

2012/12/25Tue05:51 a.m.-0.46L

2012/12/25Tue12:57 p.m.1.18H

2012/12/25Tue04:04 p.m.1.06L

2012/12/25Tue09:54 p.m.2.07H

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 20 knots becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters choppy. A chance of showers in the morning...then a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2012/12/26Wed06:28 a.m.-0.53L

2012/12/26Wed01:33 p.m.1.18H

2012/12/26Wed04:43 p.m.1.06L

2012/12/26Wed10:31 p.m.2.1H

Thursday

North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Thursday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/12/27Thu07:03 a.m.-0.56L

2012/12/27Thu02:00 p.m.1.16H

2012/12/27Thu05:20 p.m.1.02L

2012/12/27Thu11:07 p.m.2.12H

Friday

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

2012/12/28Fri07:34 a.m.-0.56L

2012/12/28Fri02:20 p.m.1.15H

2012/12/28Fri05:59 p.m.0.96L

2012/12/28Fri11:43 p.m.2.12H

 Solunar Forecast