Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Sept. 3, 2012

Catch of the Week
Karen Campbell, of Tampa, caught and released this snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing Siesta Key docks at night with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – Captain Rick Grassett urges anglers to catch and release snook before dawn and then move to the flats for trout and reds in Sarasota Bay next week. Tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor should also be a good option. Check the coastal gulf for false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel and more when sea conditions are calm, which Weather Underground predicts will be the case all next week.

Fishing Updates

REEL ladies fishing Tournament in Punta Gorda Sept. 29, 2012

• Join us for the third annual all ladies fishing tournament on Charlotte Harbor.
• Teams consisting of 3 female anglers will be challenged with catching 5 ladyfish & 1 redfish. The winners will be determined by the combined weight of their Ladyfish and Redfish.
• The weekend festivities will kick off on Friday evening with a Welcome Reception with hor d'oeuvres and a Silent Auction.
• Saturday’s fishing kicks off with a continental breakfast on the patio before our teams head down the harbor to catch their fish.
• 3:00pm Weigh In at Laishley Crab House with a Anglers Buffet with raffle before the Awards Ceremony
• Proceeds from raffle and auction to be donated to breast cancer research and support.
• For more information visit www.flatsmasters.com or call 941-637-5953

Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Since we didn’t get much rain or wind from tropical storm Isaac, which passed by on Monday, conditions were good by the middle of last week. Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, scored a slam-catching and releasing reds, snook and trout in Sarasota Bay and had a few shots at juvenile tarpon and jumped one in upper Charlotte Harbor.

I scouted upper Charlotte Harbor on Thursday and found good conditions. I located tarpon in a couple of areas and jumped one, on a rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz. These “river” tarpon, which average from 10 to 30-pounds, are a lot of fun on medium spinning tackle or an 8 or 9-weight fly rod! They are usually in deep water and although we sight cast to them rolling on the surface, we usually catch them lower in the water column, so getting your fly or lure down in the water column quickly is important. I do best with fast sinking plastic baits like the DOA Baitbuster and TerrorEyz. Depending on water depth, fly anglers should do best with fast sinking fly lines and flies that have a lot of action when stripped slowly, such as bunny flies.

Jay and Karen Campbell, from Tampa, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning and had good action fishing lighted docks on Siesta Key before dawn. Karen caught and released a slam-consisting of 3 reds, several snook and a trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly!

Catch and release snook before dawn and then moving to the flats for trout and reds in Sarasota Bay should be a good option next week. Tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor should also be a good option. Check the coastal gulf for false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel and more when sea conditions are good.

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 ridging across the northern waters will slowly settle southward toward the southern peninsula and southeast Gulf by mid-week and then remain across South Florida through the rest of the week. Winds and seas will remain generally light across the waters through the period.

Monday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming west 5 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Monday night will bring northeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/09/03Mon02:21 a.m.2.25H

2012/09/03Mon09:25 a.m.0.55L

2012/09/03Mon03:16 p.m.2.06H

2012/09/03Mon09:21 p.m.1.01L

Tuesday

South winds around 5 knots then becoming west in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters smooth. Isolated thunderstorms. Tuesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots then becoming southeast after midnight. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/09/04Tue02:44 a.m.2.34H

2012/09/04Tue10:09 a.m.0.51L

2012/09/04Tue04:01 p.m.1.91H

2012/09/04Tue09:45 p.m.1.13L

Wednesday

Southeast winds around 5 knots then becoming southwest around 10 knots in the afternoon. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Wednesday night will bring southwest winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/09/05Wed03:13 a.m.2.39H

2012/09/05Wed10:57 a.m.0.51L

2012/09/05Wed04:53 p.m.1.76H

2012/09/05Wed10:10 p.m.1.25L

Thursday

Southwest winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the morning then scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. Thursday night will bring west winds around 5 knots. Bay and inland waters smooth.

2012/09/06Thu03:47 a.m.2.41H

2012/09/06Thu11:53 a.m.0.54L

2012/09/06Thu06:02 a.m.1.62H

2012/09/06Thu10:36 p.m.1.36L

Friday

West winds around 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop. Scattered thunderstorms.

2012/09/07Fri04:28 a.m.2.38H

2012/09/07Fri01:02 p.m.0.58L

2012/09/07Fri07:46 p.m.1.54H

2012/09/07Fri11:06 p.m.1.45L

Solunar Forecast