Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had fast action with trout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish recently. In addition we also caught and released snook, redfish and a legal grouper in skinny water!
Fly anglers, Steve Koerner from CO, and his cousin, Peter Widmann from CA, fished Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay with me last Wednesday through Friday. They had fast action with trout and ladyfish on deep grass flats. They also caught and released several bluefish and Spanish mackerel and a pair of snook. We fished Ultra Hair Clouser flies at Stephen's Point, in Big Pass and near Buttonwood Harbor in Sarasota Bay and near Blackburn Point in Little Sarasota Bay. On a couple of days, they caught and released about 30 fish on flies. We snook fished on Thursday evening in the ICW from Blackburn Point to Albee road and only caught one snook. A slow tide was the likely culprit for the slow snook fishing.
Ken Hart, from Winterhaven, FL, and his son, Corbin, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Saturday. They caught and released numerous trout, a snook and a red, to complete their slam. They used CAL jigs with a variety of plastic tails to fish potholes at the bottom of the tide. The highlight of the trip was on the last cast of the day. I was poling a shallow flat at the bottom of the tide in Terra Ceia Bay when some glass minnows scattered and a wake pushed up on the edge of the flat. Corbin made a good cast and hooked up to a fish that screamed off about 50 feet of line. It seemed a little strange when the fish buried up in some thick sea grass at the edge of the flat. After freeing the fish and one more run, we were amazed to see a legal (24" & 7-pounds) gag grouper come to the side of the boat. Although I had caught a legal grouper at the same spot on a fly several years prior, it was still a nice surprise!
Howard Bensel and his girlfriend, Deb, both from PA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We spent most of our time in Big Pass catching and releasing bluefish and large ladyfish on Diamond jigs and MirrOlure Top Dog, Jrs. They caught and released more than 25 fish, mostly blues, before the action finally slowed. We spent the rest of the trip fishing the west side of the bay where they caught and released several trout, ladyfish and a 3-pound bluefish on DOA Deadly combos.
A front pushed through our area on Monday evening, dropping the air temperature into the 50's. The water temperature will also drop and fish will be on the move for the next couple of days. By the end of the week, temperatures will moderate and the water will warm back up. In the meantime, fishing may be better in the afternoon. Tides will be favorable later in the week and next week for tailing reds in Gasparilla and Pine Island Sounds.
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
