Catch of the Week![]() |
|
Bill Flader, from WI, caught this nice Spanish mackerel on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly while fishing a Sarasota Bay deep grass flat with Capt. Rick Grassett. |
|
BRADENTON – The FWCC has named four license-free fishing days, April 6, June 1, June 8 and Sept 1. The FWCC has also proposed a 44-day recreational red snapper season for Gulf of Mexico state waters, set the 2013 recreational gag grouper season for Gulf of Mexico state waters, tabled a decision to create official saltwater game fish and sport fish designations and approved two changes to how gray triggerfish are managed in Gulf of Mexico state waters in an effort to help rebuild this overfished species. Capt. Rick Grassett recommends looking for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay and looking for reds around docks, in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high.
Fishing Updates
Get your fishing equipment ready for 2013 license-free days
Commission proposes 2013 Gulf recreational red snapper season in state waters
2013 gag grouper recreational season set for Gulf state waters
Commission discusses game fish, sport fish designations
Changes to rebuild Gulf gray triggerfish population approved
Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett
![]() |
Fred Netherton, from Ontario, Canada, caught this nice trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett. |
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano in Sarasota Bay on lures and flies during the past week. Water temperatures cooled to the low 60’s following the last front but there was still good action and variety on deep grass flats.
Keith McClintock and Victor Feldman, both from Ill., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. They caught and released trout, including several in the slot, and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails on deep grass flats near Long Bar. Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. We caught and released a few trout on deep grass flats near Buttonwood Harbor and at Stephens Point.
Conditions and action improved towards the end of the week. Bill Flader, from WI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. He had great action catching and releasing numerous trout to 19”, Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, pompano and bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies from the Middleground flat to Bishop Point along the west side of the bay. Fred Netherton, from Ontario, Canada, fished the same areas with me on Friday. He caught and released trout to 19”, several blues and a 3-pound pompano on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Look for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Also look for reds around docks, in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high. Catch and release snook fishing in the ICW at night should also be a good option.
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
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
Fishing Forecast
![]() |
To create a forecast specific to
your zip code visit |
High pressure will build across North Florida tonight then move off the mid Atlantic coast Monday. Winds will turn southeast and then southerly as the high moves further east by Tuesday. A much weaker cold front will move across the region Wednesday before stalling across South Florida.
Monday
East winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Monday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/02/18Mon01:53 a.m.-0.05L
2013/02/18Mon05:53 p.m.1.72H
Tuesday
South winds around 15 knots then becoming southwest in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Tuesday night will bring south winds around 10 knots then becoming east after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/02/19Tue03:08 a.m.-0.14L
2013/02/19Tue07:09 p.m.1.71H
Wednesday
North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 10 knots then becoming northeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/02/20Wed04:09 a.m.-0.23L
2013/02/20Wed11:37 a.m.1.08H
2013/02/20Wed02:28 p.m.1.01L
2013/02/20Wed08:25 p.m.1.73H
Thursday
East winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Thursday night will bring southeast winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2013/02/21Thu04:57 a.m.-0.3L
2013/02/21Thu11:54 a.m.1.14H
2013/02/21Thu03:48 p.m.0.94L
2013/02/21Thu09:28 p.m.1.79H
Friday
South winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2013/02/22Fri05:36 a.m.-0.34L
2013/02/22Fri12:10 p.m.1.19H
2013/02/22Fri04:43 p.m.0.82L
2013/02/22Fri10:19 p.m.1.84H
Solunar Forecast