Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Aug. 5, 2013

BRADENTON – 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

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Fishing Forecast 

High pressure will ridge across South Florida as a weak cold front gradually dissipates just north of the waters through Tuesday. High pressure will then lift north of the area returning easterly winds for the rest of the week. Winds and seas are expected to remain below headline thresholds through the period.

Monday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms. Monday night will bring west winds around 10 knots then becoming north around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

2013/08/05Mon01:54 a.m.1.57H

2013/08/05Mon06:13 a.m.1.25L

2013/08/05Mon12:08 p.m.2.49H

2013/08/05Mon08:04 p.m.0.16L

Tuesday

Northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

Tuesday night will bring north winds around 5 knots then becoming northeast around 10 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/08/06Tue02:09 a.m.1.6H

2013/08/06Tue06:53 a.m.1.16L

2013/08/06Tue12:45 p.m.2.5H

2013/08/06Tue08:31 p.m.0.21L

Wednesday

East winds around 5 knots then becoming northeast in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 5 knots then becoming east after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/08/07Wed02:22 a.m.1.66H

2013/08/07Wed07:33 a.m.1.05L

2013/08/07Wed01:20 p.m.2.47H

2013/08/07Wed08:56 p.m.0.29L

Thursday

Southeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring east winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/08/08Thu02:36 a.m.1.75H

2013/08/08Thu08:14 a.m.0.94L

2013/08/08Thu01:58 p.m.2.41H

2013/08/08Thu09:21 p.m.0.38L

Friday

East winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms.

2013/08/09Fri02:54 a.m.1.87H

2013/08/09Fri08:58 a.m.0.84L

2013/08/09Fri02:38 p.m.2.31H

2013/08/09Fri09:47 p.m.0.49L

Solunar Forecast