Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Aug. 26, 2013_copy

BRADENTON – The beginning of next month brings some exciting new things; snook season opens for the first time in three years and the Tampa Boat Show is the next weekend! Capt. Rick Grassett says that tarpon are thinning out in the coastal gulf, so it may require a lot of waiting for a few fish - but they are aggressive now so it should be worth the wait. Tarpon are also a good option around bridges at night and juveniles in creeks, canals and basins. Beat the heat by catch and release snook fishing before daylight in the ICW and then look for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and more in Sarasota Bay.

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

Fly anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota during the past week. As conditions improved tarpon became aggressive. We had numerous shots at tarpon each day, jumping 3, landing 1 and getting several other eats on Deceiver and Tarpon Bunny flies.

            

This time of year most tarpon have already spawned and instead of large schools there are numerous singles, doubles and small schools left in the coastal gulf. There are fewer tarpon, since many may have already moved into inside waters, however they are “happy”. You may need to wait long periods of time for a few shots at tarpon, which was the case last week, but they are usually quality shots at fish that will eat. If you have the patience for it, this action will continue for a while.

            

My friend Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, tarpon fished with me on Wednesday. Since I needed to be in Cape Coral on Thursday to have some work done on my boat by Action Craft, he invited me to fish tailing reds that afternoon in Pine Island Sound. We waded a bar at sunset and had a few shots at tailing reds. With our light just about completely gone, I caught and released a nice red on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly that Capt. Rick spotted tailing on a large stingray. What a way to end the day!

           

Tarpon action should continue in the coastal gulf  as long as sea conditions are good. Tarpon are thinning out in the coastal gulf so it may require a lot of waiting for a few fish, but they are aggressive now so it should be worth the wait. Tarpon are also a good option around bridges at night and juveniles in creeks, canals and basins. Beat the heat by catch and release snook fishing before daylight in the ICW and then look for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and more in Sarasota Bay.

 

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

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

Fishing Forecast 

A strong ridge of high pressure currently centered near the mid-Atlantic states will slowly weaken as it settles southward toward the eastern Gulf of Mexico during the next several days. Easterly winds will be enhanced during the evening and early morning hours the next couple of days. Winds will be strongest and potentially approach cautionary levels at times to the north of Tarpon Springs. By midweek the ridge will approach the area, allowing the gradient and resulting winds to diminish well below headline criteria.

Monday

Northeast winds around 10 knots in the morning then becoming variable 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Monday night will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2013/08/26Mon04:08 a.m. 2.33H

2013/08/26Mon11:56 a.m. 0.57L

2013/08/26Mon05:52 p.m. 1.65H

2013/08/26Mon11:01 p.m. 1.22L

Tuesday

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Tuesday night will bring east winds around 10 knots decreasing to 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2013/08/27Tue04:49 a.m.2.33H

2013/08/27Tue01:06 p.m.0.59L

2013/08/27Tue07:26 p.m.1.53H

2013/08/27Tue11:35 p.m. 1.35L

Wednesday

Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming variable in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/08/28Wed05:39 a.m.2.3H

2013/08/28Wed02:24 p.m.0.59L

2013/08/28Wed09:32 p.m.1.52H

Thursday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/08/29Thu12:25 a.m.1.45L

2013/08/29Thu06:46 a.m.2.26H

2013/08/29Thu03:42 p.m. 0.55L

2013/08/29Thu11:01 p.m. 1.59H

Friday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

2013/08/30Fri01:54 a.m.1.51L

2013/08/30Fri08:08 a.m.2.25H

2013/08/30Fri04:47 p.m.0.48L

2013/08/30Fri11:44 p.m.1.66H

Solunar Forecast