Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Jan. 9, 2012

Catch of the Week

Diane Muhlfeld, from Sarasota, Fla., caught this Sarasota Bay pompano on a CAL jig with a gold grub while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – The manatees are in trouble again, but it’s not the fishermen’s fault as much as the cold weather—accounting for 112 deaths! Recent cold snaps have enticed manatees to congregate in warm weather refuges near power plants so watch out! Take your pick of seafood festivals this weekend; two big ones will take place in both Key West and Apalachicola. A cold front will approach and move across the waters on Wednesday with increasing winds and seas expected along and ahead of the front. Surface high pressure will build over the waters Thursday and Friday

Fishing Updates

Annual Manatee Death Count Shows Cold Weather an Unusually Big Factor Again

• A cold-related die-off of manatees in early 2011 set the stage for a third straight year with high numbers of deaths for the species. Biologists with the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) documented 453 manatee carcasses in state waters in 2011.
• During the past three years, biologists documented the highest levels of cold-related manatee deaths, with the "cold stress" category accounting for 112 in 2011, 282 in 2010 and 56 in 2009. In the previous five years, cold stress accounted for an average of 30 manatee deaths per year.
• The total number of reported manatee deaths in 2011 was the second-highest on record. Biologists documented a record 766 manatee deaths in 2010 and recorded the third-highest total of 429 in 2009.

Manatees Move to Find Food; Area Boaters Cautioned

• Recent cold fronts have very high numbers of manatees concentrated in warm-water refuges near power plants in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions boaters to be on the lookout for manatees moving into the Intracoastal Waterway to feeding areas. Boaters should slow down and strictly obey posted speed restrictions in manatee protection zones.
• "As the weather warms, large numbers of these mammals will be moving out of warm-water refuges and headed toward feeding areas," said FWC law enforcement Capt. David Schaeffer. "That's when the greatest danger from boat strikes occurs. This pattern will repeat itself as winter cold fronts come and go."
• The FWC and its law enforcement partners will be increasing patrols and strictly enforcing manatee-protection zone speed limits to aid the animals during this period when they are most vulnerable to vessel strikes.

7th Annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival 

• The seventh annual Keys Seafood Festival will be held Jan. 14, 2012 at Bayview Park
• In Key West, Fla. Bayview Park is located at the corner of Truman Avenue and Jose Marti Drive. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and promotes Florida seafood and the Keys’ commercial fishing industry. Live entertainment, children's activities. Admission is free, and parking is $5.
• For more information call (305) 872-9026 or email: vickigale@bellsouth.net

Apalachicola Oyster Cook-Off 

• The oyster cook-off will be held January 14, 2012
 at Riverfront Park in  
Apalachicola, Fla. 
 The 2nd Annual  Oyster Cook-Off is a one-day event with fabulous food, awesome music, fun for kids, and oyster recipe contest. 
• For more information email: marsg3tt3r@aol.com


Port Salerno Seafood Festival 

• The sixth Port Salerno Seafood Festival is a one-day eventon Jan. 28, 2012 in Port Salerno with seafood, music, arts and crafts and fun for everyone. The festival features delicious seafood, seafood-related events and entertainment from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Port Salerno commercial fishing dock.
• For more information email jeanneinfl@bellsouth.net

Weekly Fishing Report with Capt Rick Grassett

Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland, caught this nice Sarasota Bay flounder on a CAL jig with a root beer/gold grub while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett

A strong front passed through our area early last week dropping air temperatures below freezing and plummeting water temperatures by almost 10 degrees. However, after a few days of sun, water temperatures climbed back into the 60s and action resumed. 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, pompano, flounder, Spanish mackerel and reds on jigs and flies during the past week.

Keith McClintock and his grandson, Garrett Anderson, from Ill., got out with me on Monday morning just as the front passed through. Due to a strong wind forecast, we fished Little Sarasota Bay from Point Crisp to Spanish Point. They caught and released trout to 17 inches and ladyfish on CAL jigs with shad tails. Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We waded a sand bar in north Sarasota Bay and Nick caught and released 5 reds to 24 inches on my Flats Minnow fly. A great trip!

Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland, his daughter Diane Mulfeld, from Sarasota, and Roy Glah, from Conn., fished the Middleground flat in Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning. They caught some quality fish; three pompano, two flounder, a Spanish mackerel and several trout on CAL jigs with grubs.

Next week’s negative low tides in the morning should concentrate reds and trout in potholes of north Sarasota Bay. With Spanish mackerel still present in Sarasota Bay, it may be worth checking the coastal gulf for Spanish mackerel, fales albacore (little tunny) and tripletail when conditions are good.

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

Fishing Forecast 

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

Surface high pressure will hold over the region through tonight then move into the western Atlantic during Monday and Tuesday as low pressure develops over the lower Mississippi River valley. A cold front will approach and move across the waters on Wednesday with increasing winds and seas expected along and ahead of the front. Surface high pressure will build over the waters Thursday and Friday with a tight gradient keeping winds and seas elevated through the period.

Monday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots becoming west around 5 knots late in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots in the evening then becoming east in the late evening and overnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/01/09   Mon    07:39 a.m.     -0.66   L

2012/01/09   Mon    02:08 p.m.     1.1      H

2012/01/09   Mon    06:13 p.m.     0.82    L

Tuesday

Southeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a slight chance of showers.

2012/01/10   Tue     12:00 a.m.     2.16    H

2012/01/10   Tue     08:11 a.m.     -0.63   L

2012/01/10   Tue     02:26 p.m.     1.14    H

2012/01/10   Tue     07:03 p.m.     0.72    L

Wednesday

Southwest winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring west winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. There will be a chance of showers in the evening.

2012/01/11   Wed   12:44 a.m.     2.09    H

2012/01/11   Wed   08:44 a.m.     -0.54   L

2012/01/11   Wed   02:46 p.m.     1.22    H

2012/01/11   Wed   07:57 p.m.     0.61    L

Thursday

West winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the late morning and afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Thursday night will bring north winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2012/01/12   Thu      01:32 a.m.     1.96    H

2012/01/12   Thu      09:17 a.m.     -0.4     L

2012/01/12   Thu      03:12 p.m.     1.33    H

2012/01/12   Thu      08:57 p.m.     0.49    L

Friday

North winds around 15 knots diminishing to 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop becoming a light chop late in the afternoon.

2012/01/13   Fri        02:24 a.m.     1.75    H

2012/01/13   Fri        09:50 a.m.     -0.2     L

2012/01/13   Fri        03:41 p.m.     1.46    H

2012/01/13   Fri        10:04 p.m.     0.36    L

Solunar Forecast