Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout, bluefish and reds during the past couple of weeks. Reds and trout moved into shallow water recently following several fronts that dropped water temperatures into the high 50's and low 60's. Negative low tides concentrated fish in potholes along sand bars giving us some sight casting opportunities. In addition, trout and bluefish have been plentiful on deep grass flats.

Parker Platt, from Brevard, NC, and Bernard Matthey, from Switzerland, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, Nov. 24th. They caught and released trout and bluefish on deep grass flats and a redfish on CAL jigs with shad tails on the east side of Sarasota Bay. Paul and Petra Schultz, from PA, fish the same areas with me on Tuesday. Since reds and snook were our goal, we fished skinny water along the east side of the bay. They caught a redfish and a couple of nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.

Mike Penny and his daughter's boyfriend, David, both from Atlanta, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Wednesday. They caught a pair of reds and a few trout on CAL jigs with shad tails fishing sand bars near Bull and Turtle Bays. One of the reds was sight fished out of a small school of reds cruising on white sand on top of a sand bar. Bill Beauchamp and his daughter Noelle, both from Bradenton, FL and Noelle's boyfriend Richard, from Arizona, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. They caught and released trout, bluefish and a pair of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. We fished deep grass flats at Stephens Point and Bishops Point for the trout and blues and skinny water near Long Bar for the reds.

Sarasota winter residents, Harry Beaty and Tom Schalk, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. They had action with trout and blues at Stephens Point and one red along the east side of the bay. The best trip of the week was with Charlie Rutherford, from Blacksburg, VA. We spent most of our time in shallow water along the east side of the bay hunting for reds and we found lots of them. Charlie caught and released 4 reds to 30', a pair of trout to more than 20' and a small snook to complete his slam. With reds and trout under our belt, I ventured into a creek where we found several snook along a sunny, protected mangrove shoreline.

We are at a great time of the year for fishing reds and trout in skinny water. Negative low tides concentrates them in potholes providing sight casting opportunities. Tides will improve next week as we head towards a full moon on Dec. 12th. Reds may tail on shallow grass flats in Gasparilla Sound and will be concentrated in potholes in the same area and also in Sarasota Bay.

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

Fish Species: Reds, trout and bluefish
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Noelle Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, caught and released this nice red on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.
Noelle Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, caught and released this nice red on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Charlie Rutherford, from Blacksburg, VA, caught and released thsi nice trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.
Charlie Rutherford, from Blacksburg, VA, caught and released thsi nice trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.


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Rick Grassett

About The Author: Captain Rick Grassett

Company: Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

Area Reporting: Soutwest Florida

Bio: Capt. Rick Grassett, owner of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc., is a full time fishing guide and outdoor writer based in Sarasota, FL. He has been guiding since 1990 and is an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter fly fishing guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota. Specializing in fishing with flies and lures on light spinning tackle, Capt. Rick fishes the bays, back country and coastal gulf waters from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor in his 18' Action Craft flats boat. He is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified fly casting instructor. Destination fishing trips are another specialty of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service. Capt. Rick has lead groups of fly anglers to remote fishing locations around the world. Crane Meadow Lodge, MT, Los Roques, Venezuela, Andros Island Bonefish Club and Bonefish Bay Club in the Bahamas are several destinations where he has hosted groups in the past. Capt. Rick is a field editor for Saltwater Angler magazine and a monthly columnist for the Tampa Tribune. He has written articles for The Fisherman magazine and Orvis News. In addition to writing for these publications, he has been featured in articles in Florida Sportsman, Sportfishing, The Fisherman and Fly Fishing in Saltwater magazines. Capt. rick's web site, www.snookfin-addict.com features weekly fishing reports, current photos and and monthly fishing forecasts. He also maintains a second website that is specific to fly fishing and fly casting instruction, www.flyfishingflorida.net.

941-923-7799
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Rick Grassett