Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Aug. 25, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Capt. Rick Grassett caught and released this big red at sunset on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while wading Pine Island Sound with Capt. Rick DePaiva.

BRADENTON – Weather Underground is predicting small craft conditions and thunderstorms caused by Tropical Storm Cristobal during the first of the week. FWC researchers are seeking tarpon data from Florida anglers by way of a "finger print," or DNA sample, taken from the tarpon during the catch. Researchers are especially interested in tarpon larger than 30 inches.A new lionfish app has successfully been utilized by more than 2,500 people to report lionfish sightings.Law enforcement marine units will be participating in an annual "Stay Sober or Get Pulled Over" in local waters over the upcoming long weekend. 

FISHING UPDATES

FWC tarpon researchers seek data from north Florida anglers

• The strength, stamina and fighting ability of a “silver king” make tarpon one of Florida’s most popular game fish. Experience the thrill! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants people to reel one in to the side of their boat and help us with the Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study.
• Tarpon DNA helps scientists learn more about the fish’s rich life history, from its anatomy to its catch history. Each year, willing anglers supply the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute with DNA “fingerprint” data from tarpon and then release them to jump and challenge anglers another day. The FWRI especially needs DNA samples from fish larger than 30 inches hooked in northeast and northwest Florida.

Lionfish-reporting app successful, plus 250 users sporting new lionfish shirts

• See or catch a lionfish? Report it. That’s what many lionfish hunters have been doing, thanks to the new Report Florida Lionfish app. Released to the public May 28, the app has been downloaded by more than 2,500 people. The first 250 to successfully report their lionfish catch or sighting received an interactive Lionfish Control Team T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life on your smartphone.
• In addition to the app, data can also be submitted online at MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Report Lionfish.”
• Lionfish are an invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s reefs and wildlife.

FWC recovers 299 sea turtle eggs from poacher

• Nearly 300 sea turtle eggs were returned to the beach and reburied Friday after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) caught a man poaching them from a beach in St. Lucie County.
• James Odel McGriff, 55, of Riviera Beach, was arrested and booked into the St. Lucie County jail.

 

WEEKLY FISHING REPORT BY CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

 

Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, battles a tarpon jumped on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay reported good action on deep grass flats with trout, blues, jacks and more on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and flies during the past week. Reds are also beginning to school on Sarasota Bay flats. It is easier to find them when the tide is low. Look for wakes or patches of nervous water when it is calm or slick spots when there is a chop to find schools.

 

My friend, Capt. Rick DePaiva, invited me to fish Pine Island Sound with him on Wednesday afternoon. Tides were right for reds to tail on shallow grass as the tide bottomed out at about 5 PM, which gave us a window to fish the falling tide and then the incoming just before dusk. We had some shots at reds and snook on the outgoing tide, but as the tide hit low the water slicked off and conditions got right. We got out and waded as reds “snaked” their way back onto a shallow flat, crawling through the exposed grass. I caught and released a 30” red on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly with only a 20’ cast. Very rewarding!

 

Look for schools of reds staging on edges of bars and flats or tailing on shallow grass flats when the tide is low. There should still be some action with tarpon in the coastal gulf. However as they thin out in the coastal gulf, they are moving to inside areas where you may find them rolling on deep grass flats or in passes at first light. You also should find trout, blues and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Catch and release snook fishing should be good in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes.

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

 

Fishing Forecast

Interaction between high pressure centered over the north central Gulf of Mexico and Tropical Storm Cristobal near the Bahamas will produce a tight gradient for the next few days. Winds will veer around northeast direction and increase to small craft exercise caution over the northern waters after midnight tonight. These conditions will then spread south across the remainder of the waters during late Monday night and Tuesday...with small craft conditions likely in the northern offshore waters. In response to stronger winds...seas will build up to 4 to 5 feet in the outer zones and 2 to 3 closer to the coast. Scattered thunderstorms are possible each afternoon... developing over land and moving southwest over the coastal waters during the late afternoon and evening hours. All mariners should closely monitor the latest forecasts and tropical weather outlooks and advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center.

Monday

Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots increasing to around 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Monday night will bring Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2014/08/25Mon01:45 AM1.81H

2014/08/25Mon07:23 AM1.01L

2014/08/25Mon01:10 PM2.42H

2014/08/25Mon08:25 PM0.51L

Tuesday

Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2014/08/26Tue01:58 AM1.89H

2014/08/26Tue07:59 AM0.89L

2014/08/26Tue01:44 PM2.36H

2014/08/26Tue08:47 PM0.6L

Wednesday

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2014/08/27Wed02:13 AM1.99H

2014/08/27Wed08:35 AM0.78L

2014/08/27Wed02:19 PM2.28H

2014/08/27Wed09:10 PM0.7L

Thursday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming south after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2014/08/28Thu02:33 AM2.11H

2014/08/28Thu09:15 AM0.69L

2014/08/28Thu02:57 PM2.18H

2014/08/28Thu09:34 PM0.81L

Friday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2014/08/29Fri02:58 AM2.22H

2014/08/29Fri09:58 AM0.62L

2014/08/29Fri03:40 PM2.05H

2014/08/29Fri10:00 PM0.92L