ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum July 30, 2012

Posted Friday, August 28, 2015 12:00 am

Merab-Michal Favorite

Catch of the Week

Bailey Messner caught this hog snapper on a live shiner while fishing with Capt. Chad Gamble.

BRADENTON – Amberjack season is set to open Aug 1, 2012! Also, residents who utilize the Fort Hamer boatramp should be sure to attend the public workshop to discuss proposed improvements to Fort Hamer Park the night of August 1, 2012 at 6:30 in the cafeteria of Williams Elementary School. Too hot to fish? The countdown begins for this year's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, check out the complete lineup here!

Fishing Updates

Greater Amberjack Recreational Season to Open in Gulf

Greater amberjack will open for recreational harvest in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters Aug. 1. The season closes annually June 1.
The minimum size limit for greater amberjack in Gulf of Mexico waters is 30 inches fork length, which is measured from the tip of the fish’s closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail. In Atlantic state waters, the size limit is 28 inches fork length.
Recreational anglers may take one fish per person, per day. Reef fish gear rules apply when fishing for greater amberjack. In Gulf waters, this means anglers must use circle hooks and have a dehooking device and a venting tool on their vessel.
Using these tools will help increase a fish’s chance of survival if it is caught and returned to the water.

State waters in the Gulf extend from shore to nine nautical miles and in the Atlantic from shore to three nautical miles; federal waters extend from those boundaries to about 200 miles from shore.

County Seeks Public input for Proposed Ft. Hamer Boat Ramp Renovations

Manatee County will host a public workshop to discuss proposed improvements to Fort Hamer Park and boat ramp on Aug. 1, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Williams Elementary School, 3404 Fort Hamer Road in Parrish.
The proposed improvements will enhance Fort Hamer Park and the park area surrounding the rowing facility completed in 2010. Proposed improvements include:
Adding shell parking area on the park side, along with a paved parking area for boat trailers and a turnaround at the end of Fort Hamer Road
A new playground
Rebuilding an aging boat ramp and docks
Adding boat trailer parking by vacating the end of Ft. Hamer Rd. and creating a turnaround and good sized area of boat trailer parking
A kayak storage facility for the public
A paver block plaza-style area between the rowing building and restroom pavilion
Improved storm water and drainage system.
When complete, there will be 74 car spaces, four rowing team trailer spaces and 17 public boat trailer spaces.
For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.

Countdown to Sharkweek

Dive into this comprehensive guide to sharks. Learn over 100 shark facts, how conservation efforts are being made to save sharks and view photos of these amazing creatures.
Plus, watch video from past shark shows, including our popular Jaws Comes Home! And don't forget to Shark Yourself or play a Shark Puzzle -- we promise these games won't bite.
Check out the line up here.

Weekly Fishing Report by Captain Chad Gamble

Go deep, head West, ride into the sunset. Whatever way you want to say it, this is what you have to do for the best fishing right now. The water is just simply so hot in the bay, that the gulf’s deeper waters are holding some cooler temps that are yielding better fishing. We are catching grouper, snapper and flounder on the patch reefs inside nine miles. Small shiners and pinfish tend to be the best baits.

Right now, we are in the middle of a bait hatch and they are still too small to fish with for the most part. I am using whatever I can find to cast with a split-shot or two. A few more weeks should yield some larger shiners on the local grass flats. One thing that we have not seen yet in significant numbers are the Spanish sardines that usually show up in Sarasota bay this time of year. They may be late or never show at all, it’s tough to tell.

Last week, I had the pleasure of taking out the Messner’s to some of our local reefs. Sharon, Bailey, Mark, and Justin caught flounder, mackerel, grunts, and grouper, with one grouper being particularly large. We had a blast catching one of these goliath grouper in a new exciting way. Instead of using a rod and reel, we used a rope and some ”Messner Horsepower.“ These fish are incredibly strong and require a strong back and grip. I love doing things outside of the ”old fashioned way“ and it was a blast watching Justin pull this fish up so quickly. Enjoy the video!

Fishing Forecast

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High pressure will remain over the coastal waters into next week with continuing light winds and seas.

Monday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Monday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.

2012/07/30Mon10:25 a.m.2.71H

2012/07/30Mon07:02 p.m.-0.14L

Tuesday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/07/31Tue01:51 a.m.1.48H

2012/07/31Tue05:04 a.m.1.34L

2012/07/31Tue11:25 a.m.2.75H

2012/07/31Tue07:46 p.m.-0.13L

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/08/01Wed02:13 a.m.1.51H

2012/08/01Wed06:09 a.m.1.24L

2012/08/01Wed12:19 p.m.2.73H

2012/08/01Wed08:23 p.m.-0.05L

Thursday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Thursday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.

2012/08/02Thu02:32 a.m.1.56H

2012/08/02Thu07:07 a.m.1.12L

2012/08/02Thu01:08 p.m.2.65H

2012/08/02Thu08:56 p.m.0.09L

Friday