Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action in the coastal gulf with Spanish mackerel and reds, snook, trout and blues on the flats of Gasparilla Sound and Sarasota Bay recently. Fishing was best for Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf during the week of 10/27. Water temperatures cooled by 5 degrees or more following a front and then fishing in shallow water got hot.
Fly angler Jeff Romine, from Tulsa, OK, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, Oct. 24th. It rained hard in the morning but we finally got our trip underway at about 11 AM. We fished into the afternoon and caught a few fish on deep grass flats with Ultra Hair Clouser flies before conditions deteriorated again later in the day. John Skivington, from NY, fished the coastal gulf off Siesta Key with me on Mon, Oct. 27th. He had fast action with big Spanish mackerel and little tunny on flies, CAL jigs and top water plugs. Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL, and his dad, Dennis Ondercin, from OH, fished the same area with me the next morning but the wind kicked up and forced us to fish inside after catching a couple of little tunny on a top water plug and a CAL jig. They caught a couple of reds and trout on CAL jigs in Roberts Bay in the afternoon. Finding a spot to fish out of the wind was a challenge.
Brenda Sandifer, from Tampa, FL, and her brother Jimbo Sandifer, from Lithia, FL, fished Gasparilla Sound with me on Wednesday. They had steady action catching numerous trout and 5 reds on DOA Deadly combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. Fly angler Clark Keator, from Orlando, FL, fished with me on Thursday. We fished deep and shallow grass flats and while the action wasn't fast we caught a few fish. Fly anglers Mark Eddy, from CO, and his guest Andy, fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Friday. They caught numerous Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on intermediate fly lines.
I fished the 4th annual Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers/Coastal Conservation Association's "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" on Saturday. I was also a co-director of the tournament along with Steve Gibson. MCFF club president, Bob Parker and former president, Capt. Pete Greenan also were part of the tournament committee. 33 anglers competed in two divisions and caught good numbers of a variety of species. At least 5 slams (snook, red and trout) were reported from north Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound. The event was followed by an awards BBQ, catered by The Oaks, at the Sarasota Outboard Club. Winners received handsome plaques and gift certificates from tournament sponsors Orvis, CB's Saltwater Outfitters, Economy Tackle, Casey Key Anglers & Outfitters, Cook's Sportland, All About Fishing, Fisherman's Edge, Discount Tackle Outlet and New Pass Grill & Bait shop. The top prize in each division was an 8-wt Orvis Helios fly rod donated by Orvis. The event, which is designed to be a low key, friendly fly fishing tournament, also raises money for CCA's conservation efforts and MCFF's Scholarship Fund. Full results can be viewed at http://mangrovecoastflyfishers.com/tournaments.php.
The following day Orvis held their Southeastern Guide rendezvous in Sarasota. Orvis-
Endorsed fly fishing guides and dealers from all over Florida and as far away as South Carolina were brought up to date on new products and received schooling in guide techniques. A special thanks to Orvis ELOG director (Endorsed Lodges, Outfitters and Guides) for the eastern US, Scott Mcenaney, for making the donation of the Orvis Helios rods for the "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" possible.
I was back on the water Tuesday morning with outdoor writer Frank Sargeant. Frank is recently semi-retired from the Tampa Tribune, but will still write a weekly column, as well as being an editor for Florida Sportsman Magazine. We fished the coastal gulf off Lido Key for a couple of hours and caught a few mackerel on top water plugs and CAL jigs before it got sloppy. We headed into Sarasota Bay where we caught and released more than 15 trout to 23", bluefish and a red on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. Wednesday's fly fishing trip in Sarasota Bay produced a couple of hookups with a red and bluefish.
Thursday's trip was a lot of fun when Jerry Clapp, from IN, and his friend, Gary Burbank, from OH, fished Sarasota Bay with me. Gary is a talented DJ and musician whom you may know as radio's "Earl Pitts, Umerikan". They caught and released numerous trout and an estimated 26" snook on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails. Jon Yenari and Kyle Ruffing, both from Sarasota, FL, fished Gasparilla sound with me on Friday. The action wasn't fast but they caught a few quality fish including bluefish, a jack and a nice redfish on flies. We waded during the afternoon and cast to lots of reds that weren't interested in eating. Bryan Beebe and his friend, John Damico, both from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. They had fast action with trout to more than 22" and bluefish to more than 4-pounds at Stephens Point, north of Long Bar and Bishops Point on flies, fly poppers and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Fishing should be good as tides will improve as we head towards a full moon on Nov. 13. The coastal gulf and deep and shallow grass flats of Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound should all be good options.
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
