Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: March 4, 2013

Catch of the Week
Linda Foy, from Twin Bridges, MT, caught and released this nice bluefish on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Next weekend is the second largest Florida Keys event: Marathon Seafood Festival! Contributing Capt. Rick Grassett said tides will improve towards the end of next week as we approach a new moon. Since water temperatures have dropped sharply following a couple of strong fronts last week, afternoons should fish better than mornings. You should find trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. You may also find blues and Spanish mackerel in passes when the tide is moving. 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.

Fishing Updates

Marathon Seafood Festival March 9-10

• The second largest Florida Keys event with over 24,000 attendees in 2011 and growing every year. The festival is the premier event for great seafood and entertainment in the Florida Key. Bring the whole family for two days exciting food, entertainment, and fun.
• The event will take place in Marathon Community Park at 200 36th Street Marathon Fla. For more information call 1-800-262-7284.

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Tony Merlis, from NH, caught and released this nice flounder on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while wading a sandbar in 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 flounder in Sarasota Bay on lures and flies during the past week.

Dick Reece, from Dayton, Ohio, and Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, Ill., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. It was a windy day, but we found some protection along the west side of the bay. They had good action catching trout to 18 inches, including 7 or 8 in the slot, and several blues to three pounds drifting deep grass flats near Bishop Point on CAL jigs with shad tails. A front passed through on Tuesday and with the wind gusting to more than 25-mph that morning, we decided to reschedule.

Linda Foy, from Twin Bridges, Mt, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. We fished the west side of the bay near Bishop Point. We caught and released four or five Spanish mackerel and several blues and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.

Anna Maria Island and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. Action was a slower than Wednesday, but they caught and released trout and a Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies on deep grass at the Middleground flat and near Bishop Point.

Fly anglers Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, Fla., and Tony Merlis, from NH, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We had a brisk northwest wind and very little sun as another front moved through. We waded a sand bar and I poled several shallow flats on the east side of the bay. Despite tough conditions they caught and released a few trout and a nice flounder on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

I spoke on “Saltwater Fly Fishing” and helped my friends at the DOA Fishing Lures booth at the News Channel 8 “Outdoors Expo & Boat Show” (formerly the “Frank Sargeant Outdoors Expo & Boat Show”) on Saturday. Retailers, manufacturers and fishing and hunting experts shared their knowledge and showcased new products at one of the biggest annual outdoor shows in the southeast. DOA’s hot new bait, the Airhead, has a wide profile and an enticing wiggle that is sure to drive fish crazy!

Tides will improve towards the end of next week as we approach a new moon. Since water temperatures have dropped sharply following a couple of strong fronts last week, afternoons should fish better than mornings. You should find trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. You may also find blues and Spanish mackerel in passes when the tide is moving. 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. 

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 www.wunderground.com

Strong northwest to west winds will continue Small Craft Advisory conditions over the waters through this evening. Winds and seas will begin to subside later tonight. A cold front will move across the waters Tuesday night with increasing northwest winds and building seas likely creating Small Craft Advisory conditions on the waters Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Monday

North winds around 10 knots then becoming northwest around 5 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Monday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/03/04Mon12:26 a.m.-0.21L

2013/03/04Mon04:41 p.m.2.05H

Tuesday

South winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming southwest around 15 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Tuesday night will bring outhwest winds 5 to 10 knots then becoming west around 15 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers after midnight.

2013/03/05Tue01:54 a.m.-0.26L

2013/03/05Tue05:57 p.m.1.99H

Wednesday

Northwest winds around 20 knots. Bay and inland waters choppy. A slight chance of showers in the morning. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2013/03/06Wed03:15 a.m.-0.34L

2013/03/06Wed07:31 p.m.1.96H

Thursday

North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Thursday night

will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/03/07Thu04:18 a.m.-0.39L

2013/03/07Thu11:23 a.m.1.2H

2013/03/07Thu03:07 p.m.1.01L

2013/03/07Thu08:59 p.m.1.97H

Friday

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/03/08Fri05:08 a.m.-0.38L

2013/03/08Fri11:40 a.m.1.28H

2013/03/08Fri04:27 p.m.0.82L

2013/03/08Fri10:09 p.m.1.97H

Solunar Forecast