ishing Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum May 14, 2012

Catch of the Week

Sam Mumpower of Rome, Ga. A 25-inch sea trout was caught on the flats of Perico Bay on live shiner.

BRADENTON – This weekend is the Sam Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament. Late registration begins at 5:50 p.m. on Friday. Offshore fishing begins directly after the Captain's meeting on Friday. Inshore fishing begins with a shotgun start on Saturday. Weigh-in festivities begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Bradenton Yacht Club.  

Fishing Updates

The Sam Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament is tremendously proud to announce the formation of a new Fly Fishing Division. Now in addition to the traditional Inshore and Offshore divisions, the fly angler can join in on the fun. Brought back this year, due to several offshore species closures, are Cubera snapper and Billfish releases. By encouraging the offshore boats to venture further, we anticipate large tuna, wahoo and dolphin at the weigh-in. Also: for the first time last year, the Crosthwait Memorial Education Fund was able to provide five scholarships to youth who fish the event. The Bradenton Yacht Club is generously hosting the event again this year, and will be providing the fantastic venue that will be enjoyed by the whole community.

¥Friday May 18th Late Registration begins at 5:50 p.m. and Captain Meeting is 7:30 p.m. Terrific food and drink available.

¥Offshore fishing begins at 12:00 p.m. and they can begin fishing directly after the Captain Meeting on Friday.

¥Inshore fishing begins with a shotgun start Saturday morning May 19th.

¥Fly Fishing is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday May 19th.

¥Weigh-in & festivities are Sunday May 20th. Beginning at 1 p.m. 

On Sunday, the big screen will be monitoring the photo release entries live as they are judged, and the weigh-in scale will be a center of activity throughout the afternoon.  Great Food & Drink, Public Auction, Raffles, Vendors and displays all add to the festive atmosphere under the big tent.

The Bradenton Yacht Club is open to the public for the event. 4307 Snead Island Road, Palmetto, FL. 941-722-5936. For details see www.crosthwaitfishing.com

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett 

Anglers fishing the coastal gulf and Tampa Bay with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, jumped a pair of tarpon on flies and had numerous shots at tarpon during the past week. We also caught and released several bonnethead sharks and a large southern stingray on live crabs while tarpon fishing.

Mike Perez, from Sarasota and Richmond, IN, tarpon fished a couple of days with me during the past week. We fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota one day and despite rough conditions he had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly. It was too rough to fish the gulf on his second day, but we found some protected water in Tampa Bay where Mike and his guest, Darren Dimick, from Sarasota, had good action. They caught and released a pair of bonnethead sharks and a large stingray on live crabs while spin fishing early in the day. They switched to fly fishing later in the day and each jumped a tarpon on a black Lefty’s Deceiver fly. Both fish were on for about 30 minutes and were close to the boat before the hook pulled on one and the other wore through the 80-pound bite tippet.

 On a couple of other trips in the coastal gulf off Sarasota we had numerous shots at tarpon with flies, DOA baits and live bait and caught and released another bonnethead shark on a live crab. Large schools of tarpon are becoming more plentiful as we head towards a new moon later in the month.

Look for schools of tarpon at first light in the morning in deeper areas along beaches. Spin anglers should score with live crabs, pinfish, DOA 4“ shrimp, Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet. Fly anglers should do best fishing shallower water later in the day when visibility is best with baitfish fly patterns such as Lefty’s Deceiver and EP flies. Reds, trout in Sarasota Bay and catch and release snook in the surf or around lighted docks and bridges close to passes at night should also be good options.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett

Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

(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

Surface high pressure from the western Atlantic ridging west southwest across the south Central Peninsula will remain in place through the upcoming week as a weakening cool front stalls and washes out across the Panhandle and Northern Peninsula. A weak pressure pattern under the high will support a light southwest to west wind flow with an enhanced onshore sea breeze component developing along the coast each afternoon.

Monday

South winds around 5 knots becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Monday night will bring southeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/05/14Mon03:11 AM0.38L

2012/05/14Mon09:41 AM1.76H

2012/05/14Mon04:16 PM0.82L

2012/05/14Mon09:32 PM1.51H

Tuesday

South winds around 5 knots becoming west around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring west winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

2012/05/15Tue03:54 AM0.56L

2012/05/15Tue10:08 AM1.91H

2012/05/15Tue05:16 PM0.53L

2012/05/15Tue10:52 PM1.47H

Wednesday

West winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday night will bring northwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/05/16Wed04:32 AM0.72L

2012/05/16Wed10:33 AM2.05H

2012/05/16Wed06:04 PM0.29L

2012/05/16Wed11:58 PM1.45H

Thursday

Northwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring north winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/05/17Thu05:05 AM0.87L

2012/05/17Thu10:57 AM2.16H

2012/05/17Thu06:45 PM0.09L

Friday

North winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/05/18Fri12:54 AM1.44H

2012/05/18Fri05:34 AM1.0L 

Solunar Forecast