Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: June 16, 2014

CATCH OF THE WEEK

Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL, and his dad, Dennis Ondercin, from Ohio, landed several tarpon while fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota with Capt. Rick Grassett last week.

BRADENTON -- The FWC is requesting help locating several species of rare birds including, southeastern American kestrels, burrowing owls and painted buntings. The FWC is also holding regional workshops to inform local governments on ways to protect gopher tortoises. Tarpon fishing should be good next week as we head away from a full moon. Catch and release snook fishing should be good in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes.

FISHING UPDATES

Help the FWC locate rare upland birds

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) requests the public’s help in locating three species of rare birds during their breeding seasons. The southeastern American kestrel, the burrowing owl and the painted bunting are rare and declining species that are often overlooked by traditional monitoring programs such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey.
• People are encouraged to use the FWC's new Rare Bird Registry to quickly map locations where they observe these species, with the option to upload photos and additional comments. It’s quick and easy to use. Data submitted will be used by FWC scientists to identify important breeding areas for these species as well as estimate the size of their populations.

Workshops set for gopher tortoise conservation

• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding regional workshops to present information on opportunities for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises in Florida.
• The goal of these workshops is to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species.

 

WEEKLY FISHING REPORT BY CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

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 with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action jumping numerous tarpon and landing several in the coastal gulf and catching and releasing trout and bluefish in Sarasota Bay on DOA Baitbusters, live baits and flies during the past week.

 

Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL and his dad, Dennis Ondercin, from OH, tarpon fished all week long with me. They had great action jumping 14 tarpon and landing 3 during the week. Even though conditions deteriorated towards the end of the week as a west wind pattern roughed up the water and caused numerous thunderstorms, the action was good through Thursday. We drifted live crabs and baitfish while waiting to cast DOA Baitbusters and live crabs to passing schools. The DOA Baitbuster was on fire, accounting for ½ of the tarpon jumped! In addition to doing a great job with the fish, they also did a great job shooting photos while I was handling their fish. Friday was too rough to fish the coastal gulf for tarpon in my boat. We tried to fish Sarasota Bay, but were chased off the water by a large thunderstorm before we even got started.           

 

Fly angler Frank Angelona, from WV, fished with me on Saturday. Due to the rough water in the coastal gulf on Thursday and Friday, we planned to fish Sarasota Bay and possibly tarpon later in the day if conditions in the coastal gulf improved. He caught and released several trout and bluefish on a Half & Half fly (Half Clouser & Half Lefty’s Deceiver) fishing deep grass flats on the west side of the bay. Conditions improved by late morning, so we went to the gulf to check conditions for tarpon fishing. We were pleasantly surprised to find the swell was way down and although visibility wasn’t great, it was fishable. We only stayed a short time, but had several shots. Frank laid a back cast down to a small school of tarpon trying to sneak by only 20’ behind us and jumped one on a tarpon bunny fly. A great way to end the week!

 

Tarpon fishing should be good next week as we head away from a full moon. Catch and release snook fishing should be good in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. Fishing deep grass flats for trout, blues and more should also be a good option. Look for reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars 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

 

Fishing Forecast

High pressure has shifted north and extends across central Florida into the Gulf Coast waters. This will allow for decreasing winds over the coastal waters the next few days. Winds will be predominantly from the east through the middle of next week. Afternoon sea breeze to set up along the coastline causing a more onshore flow by early in the afternoons however. Threat of thunderstorms will exist along the sea breeze boundaries with locally higher winds and seas.

Monday

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

2014/06/16Mon05:13 AM1.43H

2014/06/16Mon09:14 AM1.17L

2014/06/16Mon03:08 PM2.52H

2014/06/16Mon11:27 PM-0.19 L

Tuesday

East 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. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2014/06/17Tue05:55 AM1.51H

2014/06/17Tue10:31 AM1.14L

2014/06/17Tue04:09 PM2.27H

Wednesday

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

2014/06/18Wed12:14 AM0.02L

2014/06/18Wed06:36 AM1.63H

2014/06/18Wed12:01 PM1.07L

2014/06/18Wed05:21 PM1.96H

Thursday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

2014/06/19Thu01:00 AM0.26L

2014/06/19Thu07:19 AM1.78H

2014/06/19Thu01:38 PM0.92L

2014/06/19Thu06:49 PM1.67H 

Solunar Forecast