Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Nov. 26, 2012

Catch of the Week
Noelle Beauchamp and her dad Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, fished potholes on a shallow Sarasota Bay grass flat with Capt. Rick Grassett where Noelle caught and released this big red on a weedless rigged CAL shad tail.

BRADENTON – As the weather cools, the FWCC warns boaters to be on the lookout for manatees. Becoming a commerical fisherman just got easier for veterans! There are tons of fishing related events on the forefront! With water cooling into the mid 60’s, shallow water fishing for reds should be good this week. 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 may also find trout, bluefish, flounder and more on deep grass flats.

Fishing Updates

As weather cools, Florida manatees move to warmer waters

• Now that the weather outside is chilly, Florida manatees are migrating to warmer waters. They swim in search of a warm winter refuge such as freshwater springs or canals adjacent to power plant outflows.
• With many of the seasonal manatee protection zones going into effect on Nov. 15, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions boaters to be vigilant about slowing down and watching out for manatees. In Broward County, some slow speed zones formerly active only on weekends are now in effect every day during the cold season. November is designated as Manatee Awareness Month because of this seasonal migration.

Becoming commercial fishermen to get easier for Florida vets

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will be honoring Florida’s heroes on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, by implementing changes to commercial licensing requirements. The changes will make it easier for Florida veterans and veterans with disabilities to enter the commercial fishing industry.
• Governor Rick Scott said, “We have a tremendous opportunity not only to give thanks to the men and women that served our nation so courageously, but also to provide them with more support so they can pursue careers in fishing here in Florida. This initiative will expand job opportunities for our veterans and get more folks involved in the commercial fishing industry, which is a win-win for Florida.”
• The Commission adopted the changes at its September meeting and made a formal announcement of the changes in a media event on Nov. 9.
• “I am excited to be extending this opportunity to the men and women who so bravely served our country,” said Commissioner Charles W. Roberts III. “Job creation and Florida’s economy are priorities for everyone, including the FWC. Our hope is that more of Florida’s veterans and veterans with disabilities, especially those who have recently returned from active duty, will be able to partake in the commercial seafood industry and benefit from this opportunity.”
• The changes will modify income requirements for many of Florida veterans seeking a commercial restricted species endorsement, which allows commercial harvesters to fish for and sell species that are designated as restricted.

Swamp Heritage Festival Dec 1

• The Swamp Heritage Festival scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center (33000 E. Tamiami Trail Ochopee) shines a spotlight on the inhabitants of south Florida, whose rugged strength and pioneering spirit contributed to the shaping of today’s unique and diverse culture. Through living history demonstrations, informative presentations and exhibits, everyone can learn what daily life was like in such a remote, and at times, inhospitable place. These unique chapters in American history add to the wide and colorful tableau that comprises our shared past and present. Free admission; call 239-695-4758 for more information.

 Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Patrice Camillieri, from France, caught and released this tripletail on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while fishing the coastal gulf 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, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and reds in Sarasota Bay and tripletail in the coastal gulf on lures and flies during the past week.

Patrice Camillieri, of France, fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Monday and Tuesday. Conditions were rough in the coastal gulf on Monday, but he still managed catch and release a couple of tripletail to four-pounds on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. We also had a couple of shots at false albacore (little tunny) that day but they didn’t stay up very long. With a low tide about noon, we fished potholes on the east side of Sarasota Bay where he caught and released trout to 19-inch and a 23-inch red also on the same fly.

Conditions weren’t much better in the coastal gulf on Tuesday morning, cool and windy with a 2.5 feet swell. We had a few shots at a tripletail, but we didn’t see any albies at all. We found some protected shallow water to fish in Sarasota Bay where he caught and released another nice red on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

Scott Tilton, from MN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday morning, his first time fly fishing in salt water. We fished deep grass flats close to the passes where he caught and released ladyfish and a nice bluefish on Clouser flies fished on a sink tip fly line.

Bill Beauchamp and his daughter, Noelle, from Bradenton, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We fished deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where they caught and released numerous bluefish to 4-pounds, trout to two-pounds, a Spanish mackerel and a flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails and grubs. We also fished shallow flats on both sides of the bay where they caught and released 4 reds to 7.5-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails and weedless rigged CAL shad tails.

Tim Louis, from MI, and his dad, Don Louis from Nokomis, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Saturday. Despite being rough in the coastal gulf, we had shots at a couple of tripletail with a fly. We fished a couple of deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where they caught and released Spanish mackerel to 3-pounds and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.

With water cooling into the mid 60’s, shallow water fishing for reds should be good this week. 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 may also find trout, bluefish, flounder and more on deep grass flats.

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

Surface high pressure will build in over the northern Florida Peninsula through tonight. The high will shift east into the western Atlantic on Monday with winds veering around to the east then southeast and south on Tuesday as the high moves further to the east over the Atlantic. Another cold front will move through the waters during Tuesday night and Wednesday with winds shifting to the north and northeast in the wake of the front. Strong high pressure will build in over the eastern U.S. Late Wednesday into Thursday...with an increasing northeast to easterly flow setting up over the waters as the gradient tightens.

Monday

East winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming northwest during the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Monday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast 5 to 10 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/11/26Mon06:04 a.m. -0.21L

2012/11/26Mon12:42 p.m. 1.45H

2012/11/26Mon04:44 p.m. 1.17L

2012/11/26Mon10:19 p.m. 2.3H

Tuesday

East winds around 5 knots then becoming west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday night will bring north winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/11/27Tue06:39 a.m. -0.3L

2012/11/27Tue01:25 p.m. 1.42H

2012/11/27Tue05:10 p.m. 1.2L

2012/11/27Tue10:46 p.m. 2.34H

Wednesday

North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of sprinkles in the morning.Wednesday night will bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2012/11/28Wed07:12 a.m. -0.34L

2012/11/28Wed02:02 p.m. 1.39H

2012/11/28Wed05:35 p.m. 1.21L

2012/11/28Wed11:16 p.m. 2.36H

Thursday 

northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Thursday night will bring east winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2012/11/29Thu07:46 a.m. -0.35L

2012/11/29Thu02:34 p.m. 1.35H

2012/11/29Thu06:03 p.m. 1.19L

2012/11/29Thu11:49 p.m. 2.36H

Friday

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

2012/11/30Fri08:20 a.m. -0.34L

2012/11/30Fri03:04 p.m. 1.32H

2012/11/30Fri06:37 p.m. 1.16L

 Solunar Forecast