CATCH OF THE WEEK |
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Derek Harmer, from Orlando, FL, caught and released this snook on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing lighted docks in Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett. Capt. Rick Grassett photo. ![]() |
BRADENTON – Amberjack and gray triggerfish season reopened Aug 1 in Gulf state waters. A front will come in from the north but winds and seas are expected to remain below headline criteria. Capt. Rick Grassett recommends looking for reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars early during the the day. He says catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes.
FISHING UPDATES
Amberjack, gray triggerfish reopen Aug.1 in Gulf state waters
In both state and federal Gulf waters, greater amberjack must be larger than 30 inches when measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail to be harvested when the season is open. There is a daily bag limit of one fish per person.
Red tide causes large fish kill in northeast Gulf of Mexico
Gulf recreational red snapper season closed July 15 in state waters
FWC moves to simplify saltwater rules in 3 counties
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. |
Fly anglers fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, continued to have action with tarpon during the past week. In addition, spin fishing anglers caught and released snook, blues, trout and mangrove snapper on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos in Sarasota Bay.
Tarpon thinned out in the coastal gulf during the past week, but anglers still had a dozen or more shots per trip at fish on several trips early in the week. One tarpon, an estimated 90-pound fish, was caught and released on Friday.
Tom Harmer, from Sarasota, FL and his son, Derek Harmer from Orlando, FL, fished a predawn trip in Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. They caught and released 7 or 8 snook to 24” around lighted docks before moving to the flats at dawn. They also caught and released trout, blues and mangrove snapper on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos on deep grass flats on both sides of the bay.
Tarpon are thinning out in the coastal gulf but they are aggressive. Most are singles, doubles or small schools, which are post spawn fish that are hungry. As they thin out in the coastal gulf, they are moving to inside areas where you may find them rolling 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
A weak area of low pressure will track northward through tonight over the Florida Peninsula before moving away from the area Monday and Tuesday. In the wake of this low...high pressure will again take up position over the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico. Winds and seas will be below headline criteria the next several days although wind direction may be a bit erratic through tonight as the weak low moves northward through the region. Biggest concern will be higher winds and seas near thunderstorms.
Monday
Northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Monday night will bring west winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the evening.
2014/08/04Mon12:33 AM1.03L
2014/08/04Mon06:38 AM2.28H
2014/08/04Mon02:54 PM0.54L
2014/08/04Mon08:51 PM1.41H
Tuesday
Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring west winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms.
2014/08/05Tue01:19 AM1.18L
2014/08/05Tue07:35 AM2.36H
2014/08/05Tue04:12 PM0.37L
2014/08/05Tue10:45 PM1.42H
Wednesday
West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring northwest winds around 10 knots diminishing to around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2014/08/06Wed02:18 AM1.29L
2014/08/06Wed08:39 AM2.47H
2014/08/06Wed05:19 PM0.18L
Thursday
Northwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms.
2014/08/07Thu12:02 AM1.48H
2014/08/07Thu03:28 AM1.34L
2014/08/07Thu09:44 AM2.59H
2014/08/07Thu06:15 PM0.03L