Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action during the week from Christmas to New Years Day. Fly anglers caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies in Sarasota Bay. Anglers using conventional tackle caught and released trout, reds, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish in Charlotte Harbor and Sarasota Bay. A strong cold front moved through on New Year's Day forcing the cancellation of the next couple of days of fishing and slowing the action dramatically.
Michelle Ford, from Nokomis, FL, and her dad, Ray Ford, from Brogue, PA, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Dec. 26th. They caught and released numerous trout to more than 20" and a pair of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. Brian and Joanne Shenstone, from Gross Pointe Woods, MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me the next day. They had fast action with bluefish, Spanish mackerel, trout and large ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on intermediate and sink tip fly lines. The best action was in Big Pass and on the west side of Sarasota Bay near Buttonwood Harbor.
Keith McClintock, From Lake Forest, IL, and his son Steve McClintock, from Pittsburgh, PA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. They had great action with trout, bluefish and 4 reds to 30" on CAL jigs with shad tails. We caught reds along sand bars on both sides of the bay. The best action with reds and trout was on the west side of the bay near Buttonwood Harbor. Fly anglers Nick Reding and Bob Harness, both from St. Louis, MO, fished some of the same areas with me on Saturday. Our main goal was to catch a redfish on a fly, but we had to settle for a few trout. My son, Bryan Gibson from Sarasota, FL, joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay on New Year's Eve day. We had fast action with bluefish, Spanish mackerel, trout and large ladyfish on diamond jigs and MirrOlure Top Dog, Jrs. in Big Pass and near Buttonwood Harbor.
A strong front pushed through Sarasota on New Year's Day plummeting air temperatures into the 30's and 40's and dropping water temperatures as low as 49 degrees. I cancelled the next 2 days of fishing before testing the waters again on Friday. Fly angler Damon Dunn, from the Chicago area, fished with me and we almost didn't launch the boat. Even though the forecast was better, the wind was 15 to 20-mph and the air temperature was in the mid 50's at the dock that morning. Water temperatures ranged from 49 degrees to the mid 50's and we found several stunned and dead fish (jacks, juvenile barracuda, snook, catfish and an estimated 60 or 70-pound goliath grouper). We spent some time trying to revive the Goliath grouper, but I don't know if we were successful. We persevered and caught a snook and a small gag grouper on a chartreuse/olive Ultra Hair Clouser fly at the Grouper Hole on the west side of Gasparilla Sound. Conditions were a little better on Saturday when Nick Reding joined me for another trip in Sarasota Bay. We started at 10:30 AM and the water temperature was in the mid 50's. We saw quite a few reds in north Sarasota Bay and caught one red and a trout.
The water temperature warmed back up to the low 60's by Sunday afternoon. With several warm days in the forecast, fishing should return to normal within a few days. Although our inshore water cools quickly due to its shallow depth, it also warms just as fast. This week's tides are favorable for tailing reds in Gasparilla Sound or reds in potholes in Sarasota Bay. Trout and bluefish should also be good options on deep grass flats.
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