Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum Nov. 12, 2012

Catch of the Week
Jeff Weir, from Estero, FL, caught and released this nice red at dusk on a CAL jig with a grub while fishing a shallow Sarasota Bay flat with Capt. Rick Grassett.

BRADENTON – 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 for false albacore, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and more in the coastal gulf should resume when conditions stabilize. Shallow water fishing for reds, trout and snook should also continue to improve as it gets cooler.

Fishing Updates

Mom and Tot Adventure Programs Nov 16 and Dec 14

• Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center will offer Mom and Tot Adventure Programs, providing free nature activities for moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers and children. 
• Programs are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. November 16 and December 14 at Alligator Creek Preserve (10941 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda.)
• These programs are provided by a grant from the Mosaic Company Foundation. No registration is necessary. For more information call 941-575-5435

Sandsculpting Championship Nov 16

• Watch artists build incredible creations using nothing but sand, water and ingenuity Nov. 16 at the Fort Myers Beach Holiday Inn (6890 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach). Last years’ event featured 16 sculptors from three continents, and this year’s Championship promises to be even more exciting. This will be the largest sand sculpting competition in the state. Tickets are $5 per person. For more information for on how to participate, visit www.scandcuptingfiestival.com.

Swamp Heritage Festival Dec 1

• The Swamp Heritage Festival scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center (33000 E. Tamiami Trail Ochopee) shines a spotlight on the inhabitants of south Florida, whose rugged strength and pioneering spirit contributed to the shaping of today’s unique and diverse culture. Through living history demonstrations, informative presentations and exhibits, everyone can learn what daily life what like in such a remote, and at times, inhospitable place. These unique chapters in American history add to the wide and colorful tableau that comprises our shared past and present. Free admission; call 239-695-4758 for more information.

 Weekly Fishing Report by Capt. Rick Grassett

Mike McAdaragh, from Longboat Key, FL, caught and released this big bluefish on a Grassett Flats Bunny fly while fishing shallow water in Sarasota Bay 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, caught and released reds, trout and blues in Sarasota Bay and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf on flies and lures during the past week. A front moved through on Tuesday morning, cooling things down and dropping water temperatures by a few degrees. Although it was cool and windy for a couple of days following the front, we had good action with reds in shallow water.

John Weir, from Atlanta, GA, and his brother, Jeff Weir from Estero, FL, fished the coastal gulf and Sarasota Bay with me on Monday afternoon. They had good action in the coastal gulf with Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and top water plugs. John caught and released his first fish on a fly in saltwater – a nice mackerel! We also fished shallow water in north Sarasota Bay where they caught and released trout and a nice red on a CAL jig with a grub.

Mike McAdaragh, from Longboat Key, FL and Frank Wright, from Lakewood Ranch, FL, fished the coastal gulf with me on Tuesday morning just ahead of a front. They had good action with Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and top water plugs before the squall line pushed through. We took cover for a short while, but found the gulf rough after the front passed through. However, we headed into Sarasota Bay where they caught and released trout and a bluefish to 4-pounds on DOA Deadly Combos Mirrodines and my Grassett Flats Bunny fly along the west side of the bay.

With a NW breeze on Wednesday morning, fishing the gulf wasn’t an option when Ron Cordes, from Englewood, FL, fished with me. We fished the east side of Sarasota Bay where he caught and released numerous trout on Clouser flies. We fished shallow water where Ron caught and released his first red on an Enrico Puglisi fly. With trout and a red under our belt, we fished docks with sink tip fly lines and my Flats Bunny fly and Ron caught and released a small snook to complete his slam!

Dick and Carol Dunn, from Ft. Collins, CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday morning. They had steady action with trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. Tim Graham, from Nokomis, FL, and Dale Vollrath, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday morning. It was cool but that didn’t stop the reds from eating. They caught and released 3 reds to 25” and a few trout to 18” on CAL jigs with shad tails in shallow water on the east side of the bay.

Shallow water fishing for reds and trout should continue to improve as it gets cooler. Catch and release snook fishing with jigs and flies around lighted docks at night in the ICW should also be a good option. Fishing for false albacore, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and more in the coastal gulf should resume when sea conditions improve.

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

A strong area of high pressure from offshore New England extending southwest to the northern Gulf will keep the local pressure gradient tight with a breezy easterly wind flow across the Gulf waters the rest of tonight through early Monday. The high will weaken and shift east during Monday and Monday night as a weak cold front approaches from the west through Tuesday with diminishing winds expected. The cold front will dissipate over the region during Tuesday night as high pressure once again builds to the north of the waters Wednesday through Friday.

Monday

East winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Monday night

will bring east winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/13Tue06:34 AM-0.41L

2012/11/13Tue01:07 PM1.66H

2012/11/13Tue05:30 PM1.24L

2012/11/13Tue11:03 PM2.72H

Tuesday 

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/13Tue06:34 AM-0.41L

2012/11/13Tue01:07 PM1.66H

2012/11/13Tue05:30 PM1.24L

2012/11/13Tue11:03 PM2.72H

Wednesday 

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop. Wednesday night willl bring northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay and inland waters a moderate chop.

2012/11/14Wed07:24 AM-0.53L

2012/11/14Wed02:06 PM1.57H

2012/11/14Wed05:59 PM1.3L

2012/11/14Wed11:44 PM2.78H

Thursday 

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/15Thu08:15 AM-0.55L

2012/11/15Thu03:08 PM1.48H

2012/11/15Thu06:30 PM1.31L

Friday

Northeast winds around 10 knots. Bay and inland waters a light chop.

2012/11/16Fri12:28 AM2.76H

2012/11/16Fri09:08 AM-0.47L

2012/11/16Fri04:13 PM1.41H

2012/11/16Fri07:07 PM1.31L

 Solunar Forecast