ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Oct. 1, 2012

Catch of the Week
Jack McCulloch, from Englewood, FL, caught and released this 27-inch snook on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing the back country of Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission issued an executive order that the bag limit for oysters be lowered to 10, 60-pound bags per person, which is half as much as the previous amount. The fifth annual Ben Gullett Mullet Invitational and fish fry will be held on Oct. 12 and 13, then the Fall Fly Fishing Challenge will be held the next weekend. 

Fishing Updates

Bay County oyster bag limit lowered for October

• The commercial bag limit for oysters in Bay County will be lowered to 10 60-pound bags per person or vessel, whichever is less, starting Oct. 1. This change will be in effect for the month of October only and is being made through an executive order by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Before the change, the bag limit was 20 bags per person or vessel. This change does not apply to active oyster leases.
• This change was requested by the Bay County Commission and Bay County oyster harvesters to better sustain commercial oyster harvesting opportunities in the waters of Bay County.

Fifth Annual Ben Gullett Mullet Invitational and Fish Fry

• The fifth Annual Gullett Mullet Invitational and Fish Fry is scheduled for October 12 and 13th and is sponsored by Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association, Inc. and the Gullett Family to benefit outdoor activities for youth such as the Annual Jerry Hill Memorial Kids’ Fishing Tournament.
• To register for the mullet fishing tournament, call 792-8314 for a registration form. The contestants will attend a Captain’s Meeting on Friday, October 12, 6:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Point Civic Association, 637 43rd St. Blvd. W., Palmetto. Weigh-in will begin on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
• An old fashioned fish fry will be served on Saturday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the Palmetto Point Civic Association for $10 a plate and is open to the public. Diners will have choice of smoked or fried mullet, hush puppies, cheese grits, slaw, cookie and tea. For fish fry tickets call 792-8314.
• The event on Saturday, October 13 will also include a mullet cast netting contest, salt water and fresh water fly tying demonstrations, silent auction and other activities of interest to fishing enthusiasts. 

 Fall Fly Fishing Challenge

• The Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers and Sarasota Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association will hold their 8th annual Fall Fly Fishing Challenge Oct. 27.
• The catch, photo and release event will feature an Open Division for guides and anglers fishing with guides (all anglers are eligible to compete in the Open Division}, and a Fly Angler Division (no guides).
• In the Open Division, eligible species include snook, redfish and spotted seatrout. Those in the Fly Angler Division will fish for a variety of species, including snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, bluefish, ladyfish, flounder, snapper, jack crevalle, pompano and permit based on a points-per-inch system.
• Entry fee is $50 and includes an awards barbecue at Ken Clark Auditorium, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
• Tournament applications are available at area tackle shops or online at http://ccaflorida.org and http://mangrovecoastflyfishers.com.
• Competitors’ meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Trader Vic’s, 351 N. Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota.
• For information, call Rick Grassett at (941) 923-7799 or Steve Gibson at (941) 284-3406.

 Destin Seafood Festival October 5-7, 2012

• The "Heritage on the Harbor" event is bringing the festival back to its roots along the stretch of the Destin Harbor with no admission fee and no fencing. Fun for all ages, the event also kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo and features great seafood, local entertainment, children's activities, and a variety of arts and crafts vendors. 
• The festival will take place in Destin Harbor.

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Jack McCulloch, from Englewood, FL, caught and released this false albacore (little tunny) on a CAL jig with a jerk worm while fishing the coastal gulf off Boca Grande 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 and jacks in Sarasota Bay, false albacore (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf off Sarasota and false albacore, trout, redfish and snook in Gasparilla Sound and the coastal gulf in that area during the past week.

Bill Rhodes, from Hernando Beach, Fla., fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Monday. Large schools of Spanish mackerel fed in glass minnow schools while smaller schools of false albacore busted baits around the edges of mackerel schools. He caught and released a couple of albies to about 8-pounds and several Spanish mackerel on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.

John Stenger and his son, Jeff, from KY, fished shallow and deep grass flats along the east side of Sarasota Bay and near Buttonwood Harbor with me on Tuesday. They caught and released trout and jacks on DOA Deadly Combos, CAL jigs with a variety of tails and top water plugs.

It was a ”go to Mexico“ kind of day and the action was good in the coastal gulf on Wednesday. In addition to numerous schools of false albacore and mackerel, a couple of big kings were spotted skyrocketing through bait. Small schools of albies were moving fast and not staying up long, but several fish to about 8-pounds were caught and released on flies.

Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, Ill., and Jack McCulloch from Englewood, Fla., fished Gasparilla Sound with me on Friday. They started the day off with a bang landing a couple of 10-pound false albacore on CAL jigs with jerk worms and shad tails in the coastal gulf before we headed for the back country. They had steady action catching and releasing trout, flounder, redfish and snook on CAL jigs with a variety of tails. Jack finished the day strong with a 27-inch snook on a CAL jig with a shad tail.

Fishing for false albacore, Spanish mackerel and more in the coastal gulf will continue to get better as the water cools and baitfish schools become more concentrated. Shallow water fishing for reds, trout and snook should also improve as it gets cooler. Tarpon of all sizes should be another good option in upper Charlotte Harbor next week depending on conditions.

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

High pressure across the area will slowly shift east as a low pressure center over the lower Mississippi Valley moves slowly northeast into the Tennessee Valley over the next few days. A cold front associated with this low will move over the waters Tuesday and dissipate with high pressure building in over the Gulf waters mid to late in the week.

Monday

South winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Monday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.

2012/10/01Mon01:04 a.m.2.41H

2012/10/01Mon08:32 a.m.0.32L

2012/10/01Mon02:37 p.m.2.0H

2012/10/01Mon08:06 p.m.1.2L

Tuesday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming north after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/10/02Tue01:24 a.m.2.49H

2012/10/02Tue09:08 a.m.0.27L

2012/10/02Tue03:16 p.m.1.9H

2012/10/02Tue08:27 p.m.1.29L

Wednesday

Northeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/10/03Wed01:50 a.m.2.54H

2012/10/03Wed09:46 a.m.0.26L

2012/10/03Wed03:58 p.m.1.8H

2012/10/03Wed08:49 p.m.1.35L

Thursday

East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/10/04Thu02:20 a.m.2.55H

2012/10/04Thu10:29 a.m.0.29L

2012/10/04Thu04:48 p.m.1.7H

2012/10/04Thu09:14 p.m.1.41L

Friday

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.

2012/10/05Fri02:55 a.m.2.52H

2012/10/05Fri11:20 a.m.0.36L

2012/10/05Fri05:54 p.m.1.63H

2012/10/05Fri09:43 p.m.1.47L

Solunar Forecast