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 trout and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay and tripletail in the coastal gulf on lures and flies during the past week.

Capt. Chris Myers, of Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters (www.floridafishinglessons.com) , fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Tuesday. Chris guides in the Mosquito Lagoon area of Florida, focusing on sight fishing for big reds, trout and black drum with lures and flies. He was the speaker at the Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers meeting that evening and gave a very nice presentation on fly fishing his area. We fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota for tripletail and found more than a dozen. He caught and released 4 tripletail to 9-pounds on DOA shrimp and my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. The 9-pounder is the largest tripletail caught on my boat so far this fall.

Phil and Brenda Rever, from Sarasota, FL, fished the coastal gulf with me on Wednesday. Conditions weren't great to start, foggy and windy, but by late morning the sun broke out and the wind dropped a little and gave us a chance. We had shots at 7 or 8 tripletail and Phil connected with several of them on my Grassett Flats Minnow and EP flies.

Sarasota winter resident Norm Boardman fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. We fished deep grass flats on the east side of the bay with an Ultra Hair Clouser fly on sink tip fly line. Norm caught and released numerous trout and a couple of Spanish mackerel including a 4-pounder.

Tripletail should remain a good option in the coastal gulf when conditions are good. You should find trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, flounder and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. With water now in the mid 60's, shallow water fishing for reds should also be good. Look for them in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or higher on shallow grass flats at the top of the tide.

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

Fish Species: Tripletail, Spanish mackerel, trout
Bait Used:
Tackle Used:
Method Used:
Water Depth:
Water Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Capt. Chris Myers Sarasota DOA shrimp 9 pound tripletail caught and released with Capt. Rick Grassett.
Capt. Chris Myers Sarasota DOA shrimp 9 pound tripletail caught and released with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Norm Boardman Sarasota Bay fly Spanish mackerel caught and released with Capt. Rick Grassett.
Norm Boardman Sarasota Bay fly Spanish mackerel caught and released with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Do you want to leave a comment? Login or register now to leave a comment.


No comments so far

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