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Stone crab season opens Oct. 15! The federal government shutdown may impact people’s outdoor recreation plans in Florida if they are destined for federal parks and wildlife refuges. Capt. Rick Grassett says anglers should catch and release snook fishing before daylight and then look for reds, trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more in Sarasota Bay. Action with false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel and more should begin in the coastal gulf any time now.
Stone crab season opens Oct. 15 in state, federal waters
Shutdown doesn’t limit all outdoor recreationists’ activities
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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 catching and releasing snook, trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel and jacks on flies, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails in Sarasota Bay during the past week. The best action was with snook around lighted docks.
Mason Tush and Tim Palmer, of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, fished with me on Wednesday morning. With a strong outgoing tide, we opted to snook fish before dawn, which proved to be a good choice. They caught and released more than a dozen snook to 23”, a slot red and several jacks on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly and CAL jigs with shad tails. They also caught and released several trout and jacks near Stephens Point on DOA Deadly Combos and a popper/dropper fly combo rig, a foam popper with either a small Clouser or my Grassett Snook Minnow fly behind it. Adding sound to your lure or fly often makes a difference.
Steve St. Peter and Bob Klutts, both from Lakewood Ranch, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where they had steady action with trout, including a 3-pound, 22” trout, on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. Joe Brinkmeyer and his friend, Bob, from Cincinnati, OH fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. They caught and released a few trout, jacks and a Spanish mackerel near Stephens Point on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Catch and release snook fishing before daylight and then fishing Sarasota Bay for reds, snook, trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more should be a good game plan. King and Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), tripletail and cobia should also be good options in the coastal gulf.
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
The remnants of Karen are expected to merge with a cold front and track eastward through Monday. The remnants of Karen will move out over the Atlantic Tuesday as the front moves into the coastal waters and weakens. High pressure will then build in from the north during midweek.
Monday
Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms may increase winds and seas. Monday night will bring southwest winds around 10 knots then becoming variable around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms may increase winds and seas.
2013/10/07 Mon 01:35 a.m. 2.63 H
2013/10/07 Mon 09:26 a.m. 0.09 L
2013/10/07 Mon 03:38 p.m. 1.89 H
2013/10/07 Mon 08:41 p.m. 1.31 L
Tuesday
Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms may increase winds and seas. Tuesday night will bring north winds around 10 knots then becoming northeast around 5 knots after midnight. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/10/08 Tue 02:11 a.m. 2.7 H
2013/10/08 Tue 10:18 a.m. 0.08 L
2013/10/08 Tue 04:39 p.m. 1.75 H
2013/10/08 Tue 09:09 p.m. 1.39 L
Wednesday
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/10/09 Wed 02:52 a.m. 2.7 H
2013/10/09 Wed 11:19 a.m. 0.13 L
2013/10/09 Wed 06:00 p.m. 1.63 H
2013/10/09 Wed 09:40 p.m. 1.47 L
Thursday
North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated showers in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/10/10 Thu 03:42 a.m. 2.63 H
2013/10/10 Thu 12:30 p.m. 0.2 L
2013/10/10 Thu 07:53 p.m. 1.59 H
2013/10/10 Thu 10:24 p.m. 1.54 L
Friday
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2013/10/11 Fri 04:46 a.m. 2.5 H
2013/10/11 Fri 01:47 p.m. 0.28 L
2013/10/11 Fri 09:23 p.m. 1.65 H
Solunar Forecast