CATCH OF THE WEEK |
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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
Lionfish-reporting app successful, plus 250 users sporting new lionfish shirts
FWC recovers 299 sea turtle eggs from poacher
WEEKLY FISHING REPORT BY CAPT. RICK GRASSETT
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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