Catch of the Week | |
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Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club member Denise Bruner, from Tampa, Fla., caught and released her first tripletail, at more than 6-pounds, on an EP fly while fishing the coastal gulf off Sarasota with Capt. Rick Grassett.. |
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BRADENTON – As the weather cools, the FWCC warns boaters to be on the lookout for manatees. November 17 marks the start for closures for Apalachicola commercial oyster harvests. Becoming a commerical fisherman just got easier for veterans! There are tons of fishing related events on the forefront! This weekend, take the kids on a road trip to Charlotte Harbor for Mom and Tot aquatic adventures, or the sandsculpting festival in Fort Myers.
Fishing Updates
As weather cools, Florida manatees move to warmer waters
Weekend closures begin Nov. 17 for Apalachicola Bay commercial oyster harvesters
Becoming commercial fishermen to get easier for Florida vets
Mom and Tot Adventure Programs Nov 16 and Dec 14
Sandsculpting Championship Nov 16
Swamp Heritage Festival Dec 1
Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett
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Kirk Grassett, from Middletown, Del., caught and released this tailing red on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly while fishing Pine Island Sound with Capt. Rick DePaiva. |
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 reds and trout in Sarasota Bay and Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny) and tripletail in the coastal gulf on flies and lures during the past week. I also fished Pine Island Sound with a friend one day where we caught and released tailing reds.
Sarasota winter residents, Tom Lamb and Roy Glah, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We started in New Pass where we found Spanish mackerel feeding on the surface. They caught numerous Spanish mackerel to 3-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails before moving into Sarasota Bay. We fished deep grass flats along the west side of the bay where they caught and released trout to 18 inches on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Denise Bruner, from Tampa, Fla., was the winner of a trip that I donated to the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club. She fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Tuesday and had great sight fishing action with tripletail, catching and releasing four tripletail to more than 6-pounds on EP flies. She also caught and released a false albacore and had fast action with numerous Spanish mackerel on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. A great day!
Longboat Key and Sarasota winter residents, Nick Reding and Mike Perez, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. We waded several flats and bars on both sides of the bay where they caught and released a red and several trout to more than 3-pounds on my Grassett Flats Minnow and Clouser flies.
My brother, Kirk Grassett from Middletown, Del., visited for a few days and fished with me Wednesday through Saturday. It was cool, overcast and windy but we still managed to have good action. Mike Perez joined us to fish the coastal gulf off Sarasota on Thursday. We found the false albacore very tough to get on that day, but fortunately tripletail were plentiful and aggressive. We caught and released numerous Spanish mackerel and 3 tripletail that day on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly, including an 8.5-pounder.
Kirk and I were the guests of our friend, Capt. Rick DePaiva from Ft. Myers, Fla., in Pine Island Sound on Friday. Coming off a new moon on Tuesday, tides were perfect for reds to tail on shallow grass flats that day. We caught and released 3 tailing reds to 26 inches and 1 red that was following a ray on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. Great sight fishing!
Kirk and I fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota on Saturday. Conditions still weren’t great to start but the sun popped out and the wind dropped for a couple of hours late in the morning, which was enough of a window for us to get on the false albacore. We caught and released 4 albies to more than 10-pounds on my Grassett Snook Minnow and Clouser flies. With a strong sea breeze coming up about noon, we headed into Sarasota Bay where we caught and released a few trout and a Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies along the west side of the bay.
Shallow water fishing for reds and trout should be good this week. Look for them in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low. Fishing for false albacore, Spanish mackerel and tripletail in the coastal gulf should also be good when conditions allow it.
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
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Surface high pressure north of the Gulf waters will remain in place through early this week as an area of low pressure off the southeast Atlantic coast this afternoon moves east over the open Atlantic waters. A tight pressure gradient between these two systems will support a breezy northeast wind flow with elevated seas over the Gulf waters through the period. A cold front will sweep south through the waters on Wednesday with elevated winds and seas expected in its wake through Thursday. Lighter winds and lower seas will return to the waters on Friday.
Monday
North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2012/11/19Mon03:19 AM2.13H
2012/11/19Mon11:55 AM0.07L
2012/11/19Mon06:52 PM1.52H
2012/11/19Mon11:34 PM1.23L
Tuesday
North winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Tuesday will bring north winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers.
2012/11/20Tue04:47 AM1.83H
2012/11/20Tue12:49 PM0.28L
2012/11/20Tue07:27 PM1.65H
Wednesday
North winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. A slight chance of showers. Wednesday night will bring north winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2012/11/21Wed01:28 AM1.01L
2012/11/21Wed06:38 AM1.6H
2012/11/21Wed01:39 PM0.48L
2012/11/21Wed08:00 PM1.8H
Thursday
North winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.
2012/11/22Thu02:53 AM0.7L
2012/11/22Thu08:23 AM1.48H
2012/11/22Thu02:25 PM0.67L
2012/11/22Thu08:30 PM1.94H
Friday
Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.
2012/11/23Fri03:55 AM0.39L
2012/11/23Fri09:47 AM1.45H
2012/11/23Fri03:06 PM0.84L
2012/11/23Fri08:59 PM2.07H
Solunar Forecast