ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Dec. 31, 2012

Catch of the Week
Ryan Franco, from Atlanta, GA, caught this nice trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Several species of grouper will close to recreational and commercial harvest starting January 1 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including Monroe County. A weak cold front moves into the northeast Gulf Tuesday night and become stationary through Thursday. Capt. Rick Grassett says shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should also be good next week as the full moon wanes. 

Fishing Updates

Seasonal grouper closure starts Jan. 1 in Atlantic, Monroe Co. waters  

• Several species of grouper will close to recreational and commercial harvest starting Jan. 1 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including Monroe County. This seasonal closure includes gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin and tiger grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby.
• Several species of grouper will close to recreational and commercial harvest starting Jan. 1 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including Monroe County. This seasonal closure includes gag, black, red, yellowmouth, yellowfin and tiger grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby. State waters in the Atlantic are from shore to three nautical miles out.
• The harvest of these species of grouper in Atlantic state waters will remain closed through April 30, reopening May 1. The harvest closure was established to ensure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic grouper species.
• A similar closure will also take effect in federal waters of the Atlantic.
• Grouper information, including Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic grouper regulations, is available online. Go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “Saltwater” then “Recreational Regulations” and “Grouper.”

Ned Franco, from Atlanta, GA, caught this nice Spanish mackerel on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Weekly Fishing Report by 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 and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay and trout in Gasparilla Sound on lures and flies during the past week.

Ryan Franco and his dad, Ned Franco, both from Atlanta, Ga., fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, Christmas Eve day. With the water temperature six or seven degrees cooler following the last front and a slow tide in the afternoon, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, they had steady action with Spanish mackerel and trout, including several slot size fish, on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.

A strong front pushed through early on Wednesday followed by 20 mph winds, so we didn’t fish that day. Glenn Elia, from Milford, Conn., and his son, Greg, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday. They caught and released trout to 19 inches and had numerous shots at reds in shallow water with flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.

Andy Berman, from the Chicago area, and his son, Scott, fished Sarasota Bay with me on an instructional fly fishing trip on Friday. We covered the basic fly cast and shooting line and they did well enough to catch and release a few trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies at the Middleground flat and Stephens Point.

You should find trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Shallow water fishing for reds and big trout should also be good next week as we head away from a full moon. Look for them in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or higher on shallow grass flats at the top of the tide. 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 www.wunderground.com

High pressure north of the waters this afternoon moves into the Atlantic Monday. A weak cold front moves into the northeast Gulf Tuesday night and becomes stationary through Thursday.

Monday

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

2012/12/31Mon01:02 a.m.2.0H

2012/12/31Mon09:05 a.m.-0.41L

2012/12/31Mon03:14 p.m.1.27H

2012/12/31Mon08:22 p.m.0.73L

Tuesday

Southeast winds around 10 knots then becoming south in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday night will bring southeast winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2013/01/01Tue01:46 a.m.1.87H

2013/01/01Tue09:36 a.m.-0.29L

2013/01/01Tue03:38 p.m.1.36H

2013/01/01Tue09:19 p.m.0.64L

Wednesday

South winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Wednesday night will bring south winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2013/01/02Wed02:36 a.m.1.68H

2013/01/02Wed10:11 a.m.-0.14L

2013/01/02Wed04:11 p.m. 1.47H

2013/01/02Wed10:27 p.m.0.54L

Thursday

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

2013/01/03Thu03:35 a.m.1.46H

2013/01/03Thu10:48 a.m.0.04L

2013/01/03Thu04:48 p.m.1.58H

2013/01/03Thu11:44 p.m.0.4L

Friday

Northwest winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms.

2013/01/04Fri04:50 a.m.1.21H

2013/01/04Fri11:27 a.m.0.26L

2013/01/04Fri05:30 p.m.1.7H

 Solunar Forecast