Catch of the Week |
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Daniel Lewis caught this 18.5-inch flounder while fishing in Tampa Bay last week. |
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BRADENTON – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reviewed and discussed the current status of snook populations in Gulf and Atlantic waters at its June 12 meeting in Lakeland before deciding to allow the recreational harvest of Gulf of Mexico snook to reopen this September. The harvest of snook in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters has been closed since early 2010. The FWC also approved a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries.
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Nick Huff, from Utah, battles a "hot" fly rod tarpon in the coastal gulf off Sarasota while fishing 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 great action jumping numerous tarpon and catching and releasing several up to 100 pounds on flies and live baits in the coastal gulf during the past week.
Following Tropical Storm Andrea sea conditions improved and tarpon resumed their normal patterns early in the week. Fly anglers had numerous shots, jumped 4 tarpon and had long battles with a couple of them with Lefty Deceiver and Tarpon Bunny flies on Wednesday. A great day!
The Notari family, Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, Fla., his son Craig Notari and grandsons James, Peter and Christopher, all from Winnetka, IL tarpon fished with me and Capt. Jack Hartman on Thursday and Friday. Craig and Christopher fished with me on Thursday and had good action, jumping three tarpon and catching and releasing two of them. Christopher caught and released an estimated 50 to 60-pound tarpon on a live pinfish and also had a bite from a tarpon that surprised us at the side of the boat on a DOA Baitbuster. We moved to shallow water later in the morning where Craig hooked up and later caught and released an estimated 100-pound fish on a Deceiver fly. Capt. Jack also had great action with Terry, Peter and James on Thursday, jumping 5 fish and landing 1, on live pinfish! James caught and released a 120-pounder and Peter jumped an estimated 160-pound fish and got the fish close to the boat after a long battle.
It was windy out of the west on Friday but still fishable. Terry hooked a hot fish with me that day on a pinfish but it broke off at the end of a smoking run. Capt. Jack’s crew, Peter and James, jumped a couple of nice tarpon also on pinfish. With 11 tarpon jumped and 3 caught and released, including one on a fly, it was a great couple of days for the family group. “This was our best tarpon season in 15 years of fishing with Captain Rick!”-Terry Notari.
Depending on conditions, tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be good next week. Tarpon may not show well on the surface if it is rough. However if conditions aren’t good for tarpon in the gulf, there should be good action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds and big trout in shallow water early in the day. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW near passes should also be a good option..
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
Atlantic high pressure will remain in place over the coastal waters through the work week with sea breeze development expected each afternoon. Winds are expected to remain weak with relatively flat seas the next several days. Most shower and thunderstorm activity will remain over land areas the next few days.
Monday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring west winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming south around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/06/17Mon01:44 AM0.55L
2013/06/17Mon07:51 AM1.99H
2013/06/17Mon03:14 PM0.65L
2013/06/17Mon08:28 PM1.43H
Tuesday
South winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday nights will bring west winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming southwest around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/06/18Tue02:28 AM0.74L
2013/06/18Tue08:33 AM2.15H
2013/06/18Tue04:25 PM0.38L
2013/06/18Tue10:09 PM1.36H
Wednesday
Southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.
Wednesday night will brine west winds around 10 knots then becoming southeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.
2013/06/19Wed03:13 AM0.92L
2013/06/19Wed09:15 AM2.32H
2013/06/19Wed05:27 PM0.1L
2013/06/19Wed11:40 PM1.36H
Thursday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A chance of thunderstorms. Thursday night will bring orth winds around 10 knots then becoming east around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms.
2013/06/20Thu03:57 AM1.07L
2013/06/20Thu10:00 AM2.49H
2013/06/20Thu06:24 PM-0.16L
Friday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming northwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms.
2013/06/21Fri12:57 AM1.38H
2013/06/21Fri04:40 AM1.17L
2013/06/21Fri10:46 AM2.65H
2013/06/21Fri07:17 PM-0.35L
Solunar Forecast