Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Dec. 17, 2012

Catch of the Week
Walt Poxon, from Minn., caught this pompano on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Recreational harvest of snook in all Atlantic waters will close 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 scouting out trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and on deep grass flatsy. Shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should also be good into next week. He said to 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. Tripletail should remain a good option in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.

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.

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, redfish, bluefish and pompano in Sarasota Bay on lures and flies during the past week.

Walt Poxon, from MN, and his brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Sue Poxon from Sarasota, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay on their annual trip with me on Monday. We fished deep grass at Stephens Point and along the west side of the bay from the Middleground flat to Buttonwood Harbor where they had steady action with trout, several blues and a pompano on CAL jigs with grubs.

Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. We waded sand bars and shallow flats on the west side of the bay and caught and released more than 25 trout to 20 inches on my Grassett Flats Minnow, EP and Deceiver flies.

Dick Combs, from Bartow, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. A front passed through on Wednesday evening, leaving us with breezy conditions. With a negative low tide that morning, we fished potholes and worked mullet schools for reds and trout. Fishing was challenging behind the front, but he connected with a couple of reds on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

Aledia Tush, owner of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, and her sister, Barbara Thompson, both from Sarasota, Fla., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. We fished deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where they caught and released trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.

You should find trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should also be good. 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. 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 western Atlantic will gradually push east of the region on Monday. A cold front will move across the waters Monday night and early Tuesday...with high pressure building behind the front Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. A strong cold front will push across the waters late Thursday and Thursday night. Strong high pressure will build back over the waters behind the cold front on Friday.

Monday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight.

2012/12/17Mon02:11 a.m.2.06H

2012/12/17Mon10:22 a.m.-0.26L

2012/12/17Mon04:48 p.m.1.32H

2012/12/17Mon09:52 p.m.0.87L

Tuesday

Northwest winds 10 to 15 knots becoming north in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Tuesday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots then becoming east after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/12/18Tue03:14 a.m.1.75H

2012/12/18Tue11:03 a.m.-0.02L

2012/12/18Tue05:23 p.m.1.44H

2012/12/18Tue11:24 p.m.0.74L

Wednesday

East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Wednesday night will brine southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/12/19Wed04:30 a.m.1.42H

2012/12/19Wed11:43 a.m.0.22L

2012/12/19Wed06:00 p.m.1.57H

Thursday

South winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to around 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers. Thursday night will brine southwest winds 10 to 15 knots then becoming northwest around 20 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters choppy. A chance of showers.

2012/12/20Thu12:58 a.m.0.55L

2012/12/20Thu06:11 a.m.1.16H

2012/12/20Thu12:23 p.m.0.45L

2012/12/20Thu06:39 p.m.1.7H

Friday

North winds around 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. A slight chance of showers.

2012/12/21Fri02:22 a.m.0.3L

2012/12/21Fri08:06 a.m.1.03H

2012/12/21Fri01:05 p.m.0.66L

2012/12/21Fri07:19 p.m.1.81H

 Solunar Forecast