Offshore Fishing - What's biting
New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach Offshore Fishing Forecasts by Capt. Ron Neff
JULY 2009
The bottom fishing has been exceptional no cold water upwelling yet. There are a lot of species to be had out there and anyone who tells you this particular species is all that’s biting has not been fishing lately. Bag the traditional pattern for this season. The old salts are scratching their heads right now wondering what tomorrow will bring on the troll or bottom bite.
So far this summer season the grouper, snapper bite has been good along the nearshore waters. The troll bite nearshore has produced dolphin, wahoo, many sailfish, some kings, and a marlin was raised 10 miles off the beach in absolutetrip while kingfish trolling. Go Fishing it’s the only way to catch some fish. Be Safe and bend a rod.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
The bottom fishing in January and February here offshore Ponce inlet is very good. We have an excellent bottom fishery here and some of the biggest grouper and snapper come from our offshore bottom fishing areas.
The inshore reefs are holding big grouper and as many red snapper and triggerfish and amberjacks as anyone could ever want to catch. Be aware, know the regulations, FWC is in full.
You can count on some cobia to be around a few kingfish and maybe a dolphin or two. For consistence head to the Gulf Stream maybe, stop and catch an amber jack or two off a wreck and then throw out a sailfish spread and troll some baits. You never know on a good day in the past after we would limit the boat on bottom fish or just catch as many as the clients wanted then we would go sail fishing. On a decent day you can end up raising quite a few if, you are in between cold fronts and possibly catch a stray wahoo and a few dolphin. We have even caught a rare tuna on the western edge of the Gulf Stream this time of year. Be aware there may be black fin tuna around which there is no size or catch limit and are excellent table fare.
Clarification on Grouper Regulations for South Atlantic Federal Waters
December 22, 2008 Southeast Fishery Bulletin
FB08-068
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack McGovern, or John.McGovern@noaa.gov
727-824-5305, FAX 727-824-5308
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
On December 19, 2008, NOAA Fisheries Service notified the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) of its decision not to implement an interim rule proposed to address overfishing of South Atlantic gag, red grouper, and black grouper. Therefore, the current South Atlantic grouper regulations remain unchanged.
The South Atlantic Council intended for the interim rule to be in effect January 1, 2009, until replaced by long-term measures proposed through Amendment 16 to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (Amendment 16). Procedural requirements delayed the potential publication of this interim rule substantially beyond the requested effective date of January 1, 2009.
NOAA Fisheries Service determined the limited conservation benefits gained by implementing the South Atlantic interim rule behind schedule do not justify the costs fishermen would incur while awaiting a final decision on the rule. The Council’s long-term plan for addressing overfishing and protecting spawning grouper species in Amendment 16 is undergoing Secretarial review. A notice will publish in the Federal Register this week announcing the opportunity for public comment on Amendment 16.
Please contact NOAA Fisheries Service Office of Sustainable Fisheries for a copy of Amendment 16 or for information on how to comment on the amendment and associated rule during the review process at:
NOAA Fisheries Service
Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701
FAX: 727-824-5308; Phone: 727-824-5305
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: December 22, 2008
Jack McGovern, or John.McGovern@noaa.gov
FB08-068
727-824-5305, FAX 727-824-5308
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov
NOAA Seeking Public Comment on Amendment 16 to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan
Comment Period Ends February 23, 2009
Request for Comments
Written comments on Amendment 16 must be received no later than 5:00 pm, EST, February 23, 2009, in order to be considered by NOAA Fisheries Service. See the
Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.
Addresses
Electronic copies of the DEIS may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Service Web site at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov, the e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Web site at http:///www/safmc.net, or:
NOAA Fisheries Service
Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
September
Coming out of our summer time fishing pattern we will start seeing more quality bottom fish, and maybe even a start of a fall dolphin run.
Things will start changing fast as will the weather. Cobia will start showing as well as kingfish and bonito, barracudas will still be inside 20 miles from shore. The inside bottom fishing will pick up as we finally see the last of this years cold water upwelling. Grouper and snapper will start moving back inside the shallow reefs and ready to take a bait. When our trip takes us farther offshore to the ledges and the deep water out 100-300 feet of water expect some big bottom fish to eat some choice live baits.
July and August
In July and August, the calm hot days in Florida heats up the offshore waters off the East Central Region of Florida. The wind is light for the most part during these hot days of summer, which in turn may cause an upwelling, bringing up colder water from the deep, which many anglers do not like. If you find yourself in these conditions, try to locate the warmer spots, they will be loaded with fish. These fish will suspend above the cool upwelling water and will be very hungry and active. This time of year also brings with it many fish to catch on troll or on the bottom. They all may not be the prime desirable species but they put a bend in a rod just like any other fish and are not bad table fare. There will of course be some desirable species around to pick at. After all a bend in the rod and the fight of a fish is fun no matter what you catch.
Starting way outside on the east side of the Gulf Stream with visions of yellow fin tuna dancing in our minds, keeping us awake for days on end until we get to make the long journey out there. You will not be disappointed they will be there. Be ready and keep an eye out for the birds giving up their position. You can troll for these fish with typical tuna baits like cedar plugs, woodies, marauders, islanders, or you can chum them up. It is up to you. There will be plenty of other species like Dolphin, Wahoo, Marlin, Sailfish and other game fish species mixed in ready to take your bait. For those going across the stream be careful and catch them up.
The west side of the Gulf Stream will have a little bit of action with bigger than life Wahoo, a few smaller Dolphin on occasion, but the most consistent bite will definitely be the bottom bite in the deeper water. Quite a few nice Scamp Grouper, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Gag Grouper, and various bottom dwellers will be chewing hard out in the deeper waters past 150ft out to 300ft. Amberjack will also be there to give a good pull on the line.
Near shore waters inside of 25 miles offers steady rod bending fun. King mackerel are a good steady target since there are plenty of them around and are more than willing to eat at your bait. Barracuda, Bonito, little Tunny or False Albacore, and believe it or not a lot of decent Amberjack are caught while trolling for Kingfish. When the upwelling gets near shore and the east wind pushes the Gulf Stream real close, on occasion we even get a chance at a Dolphin and Black Fin Tunas in our near shore waters. Do not give up on the bottom bite all together. Find a warm spot; it will stick out like a sore thumb with the baitfish on the surface and all the predators around them. The normal bottom fish tend to suspend over the cold water. Never forget on the full moon the mangrove snapper will be chewing hard.
The best bets for fishing would be Yellow fin tuna fishing on the other side of the Gulf Stream. Save your money for what is usually a very expensive day fuel wise. The nighttime full moon snapper bite in July is a good bet with calm seas, cooler evening temperatures, and no sunburn spelling good times and good catches. The king fish bite close to shore is a very fun time and as far as offshore trips go, the most cost effective fuel wise because you do not have to go far to find these fish. The last thing I would consider is a deep water bottom trip as it is a roll of the dice whether or not the Gulf Stream will have your favorite deep water bottom spots encased in 4 knots of current so check your sea surface temperature charts on the position of the Gulf Stream before you go. With the calm weather, nighttime sword fishing could be a possibility. Pick your poison and go for it but remember watch for those afternoon thunderstorms. Be careful, have fun, and bend a rod or two.
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