Captain Favorite

Posted Thursday, June 18, 2015 12:00 am

Merab-Michal Favorite

Wes Thompson, Jason Richardson and Jason Berman catch a blue marlin

Catch of the Week

This blue marlin was caught on a Marlin Magic Papa Joe lure near Harbour Island in the Bahamas by Wes Thompson, Jason Richardson and Jason Berman.

Fishing Q&A: What kind of fish can you use to make ceviche and how do you make it?

Any white fish, either fresh or saltwater, can be used to make ceviche. Some people prefer "fatty" seafood, such as mackerel and pompano while others like the more delicate sole or mahi textures. Other species such as bass or red snapper may also be used. No matter what kind of fish you choose, ceviche is always at its best when the fish is freshly caught.

Once your main ingredient is in hand (citrus juice) skin the fish, fillet it, and cut it into chunks. You may try use the more traditional lime juice, lemon juice, half lime and half lemon, or a mixture of lime, lemon, and orange. Try to use only freshly squeezed juice because the botttled kind doesn't do the job as well.

Ceviche recipes vary in ingredients as well as their suggested marinating time, which can range from 30 minutes to 12 hours. I've found that an hour is usually plenty of time for any kind of fresh fish to be "cooked" by the fresh fruit juice's citric acid. The longer you marinate it, the softer it the meat becomes, so too much time may leave the fish with a mushy texture.

After the dish has marinated, you may either keep or drain off the liquid, depending on whether you prefer "wet" or "dry" ceviche.

Common Recipe:

Cut one pound of white-fleshed fish into half-inch cubes and squeeze the juice of six limes over them. Set the dish aside, while it marinates, chop one Bermuda onion, three tomatoes, and two jalapeno peppers very fine. Add 1/4 cup of olive or salad oil, four tablespoons of fresh cilantro or parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Brian Glock, from the Portland, OR area, caught and released this trout on a Clouser fly while fishing Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Weekly Fishing Forecast by Captain 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 on jigs and flies during the past week. A strong front with high winds came roaring through last Sunday morning, dropping water temperatures back into the low fifties and forcing the cancellation of a couple of trips. Cold water kept fish concentrated in channels, creeks and deep edges of flats. By the end of the week, conditions improved and water warmed back to the mid to high fifties.

Brian Glock from Portland, OR, and his dad Tim Glock from Cincinnati, OH, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Wednesday. We fished the edges of bars, creeks and potholes and they caught and released more than 15 trout to 18 inches on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails. Everette Howell, from Nashville, TN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday morning. Action was slow to start, but he caught and released about six trout on Clouser flies near Long Bar. Action improved that afternoon when Greg Smith and his son, Alex, from MI, fished the same areas with me and caught and released about 15 trout on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.

Andy Rotherham, from Alexandria, VA, caught and released about 15 trout to 18 inches near Cortez with me on Friday. He fished a channel with a 300-grain Orvis Depth Charge fly line and a heavily weighted olive Clouser fly to stay in the strike zone.

Trout season reopens today in the south region after a two month closure. Next week’s negative low tides should concentrate trout and reds in channels, creeks and potholes. Look for big trout and reds on shallow flats on sunny afternoons. Happy New Year and special thanks to all of my customers that fished with me during the past year!

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

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

Fishing Forecast

A cold front across the northern Gulf waters Sunday afternoon will slowly move south into the central and southern waters tonight and early on Monday. High pressure will build in over the eastern U.S. In the wake of the front on Monday. The high will shift east into the western Atlantic on Tuesday with the ridge axis extending back to the west across the north Central Peninsula. Another cold front will approach and move through the Gulf waters late Wednesday and Thursday, followed by high pressure building in from the north on Friday.

The new moon should bring some of the best fishing of the month during the first of the week. Water temperatures are in the upper fifties.

Monday
North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring winds around 10 knots from the east. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Fishing during the major solunar period from 12:01 p.m. - 2:01 p.m., or during minor times from 6:41 a.m. - 7:41 a.m. or from 5:20 p.m. - 6:20 p.m. will produce the very best results.
Tides: Low at 7:01 a.m. (-0.73), high at 2:10 p.m. (1.1), low at 5:01 p.m. (1.01), high at 11:05 p.m. (2.2).

Tuesday
East winds around 5 knots becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Tuesday night will bring winds around 5 knots from the north. Bay and inland waters smooth. Fishing during the major solunar period from 12:53 p.m. - 2:53 p.m., or during minor solunar periods from 7:29 a.m. - 8:29 a.m. and 6:18 p.m. - 7:18 p.m. will produce the very best results.
Tides: Low at 7:36 a.m. (-0.68), high at 2:28 p.m. (1.1), low at 5:53 p.m. (0.94), high at 11:47 p.m. (2.13).

Wednesday
East winds around 5 knots becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Wednesday night will bring winds around 5 knots from the southeast, becoming southwest toward morning. Bay and inland waters smooth. Fishing during major the solunar period from 1:42 p.m. - 3:42 p.m., or during minor periods from 8:11 a.m. - 9:11 a.m. and 7:16 p.m. - 8:16 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 8:08 a.m. (-0.59), high at 2:43 p.m. (1.12), low at 6:45 p.m. (0.86), high at 12:28 a.m. (2.03).

Thursday
West winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers. Thursday night will bring winds around 10 knots from the northwest. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers. Fishing during major solunar periods between 2:06 a.m. - 4:06 a.m. and 2:28 p.m. - 4:28 p.m., or during minor times from 8:48 a.m. - 9:48 a.m. and 8:11 p.m. - 9:11 p.m. will produce very good results.
Tides: Low at 8:37 a.m. (-0.48), high at 2:57 p.m. (1.17), low at 7:37 p.m. (0.77).

Friday
Northwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Fishing during major solunar periods from 2:50 a.m. - 4:50 a.m. and 3:12 p.m. - 5:12 p.m., or during minor periods from 9:22 a.m. - 10:22 a.m. and 9:05 p.m. - 10:05 p.m. will produce average results.
Tides: high at 1:09 a.m. (1.89), low at 9:05 a.m. (-0.36), high at 3:14 p.m. (1.25), low at 8:31 p.m. (0.68).