Anglers fishing with me on the Snook fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor during the past 10 days. Fly anglers scored with trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish. In addition to those species, anglers using spinning tackle also caught and released big reds, little tunny and flounder. Fishing for trout was best in Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor while the best action with reds was in Sarasota Bay.
Fly anglers, Richard Ives from MI, and his brother-in-law, Bob, from VA fished Sarasota Bay with me on Jan. 8th. We worked lots false albacore in the coastal gulf off Lido Key, but they were up and down so fast that we couldn't do anything with them. We did catch and release one Spanish mackerel on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on an intermediate fly line before heading into Sarasota Bay and where we found some nice reds scattered along a sand bar near Buttonwood Harbor. Richard caught and released 3 on CAL jigs with shad tails while backing up Bob, who was casting a fly while I poled the boat. We finished the day with a dozen trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fishing deep grass near Whale Key.
The next day, Keith McClintock from Lake Forest, IL, and his son-in-law, Rick Anderson, also from IL, fished the same areas with me. Although the little tunny were still moving fast and not giving good shots, we could throw a top water plug far enough to get in front of them. Rick caught and released a nice little tunny on a MirrOlure Top Dog, Jr. before we headed for the reds. In addition to the reds, which were where we left them the day before, we also caught about 10 trout to 20" and about 6 nice blues to 4-pounds. They caught and released 8 reds to 28", including several over the slot. Everything was caught with CAL jigs with shad tails.
Fly angler, Capt. Joe Schwab from San Diego, CA, fished with me the next 2 days. Joe is a retired, big boat skipper who spent more than 20 years fishing marlin and tuna on trips from southern California to Baja, Mexico. After spending years chasing big marlin and tuna, Joe likes to relax now by sight fishing with a fly, so that was our plan. Although we saw quite a few reds in Sarasota on Thursday and had a few shots, we didn't get one to eat. We headed for Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor on Friday hoping to find tailing reds or sight fishing opportunities by wading sand bars. However, the weather turned on us as winds picked up and clouds moved in. We salvaged the day with trout, ladyfish and a bluefish caught and released in Gasparilla Sound with Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on an intermediate fly line.
The next 2 days were also spent in Charlotte Harbor with Sarasota winter residents, Tom Lamb and Lee Williams, on Monday and Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and Victor Feldman, from Champagne, IL, on Tuesday. Both parties caught and released trout to 21", several reds and snook to 24". The best day was Tuesday when we caught about 10 slot size trout to 21". Cal Jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos accounted for all the fish.
The wind cranked up ahead of an approaching front on Wednesday so I fished Little Sarasota Bay, which offers some protection from wind, with Manuel Pretti and Donald Chiappelli, both from PA. Despite 15 to 20-mph winds, they caught and released trout, ladyfish, flounder, reds and grouper. The best action was near Blackburn Point. All fish were caught with CAL jigs and shad or grub tails. I awoke to a driving rain storm on Thursday morning, forcing the cancelation of that day's fishing.
With water temperatures in the low 60's, no drastic temperature changes on the horizon for the next week and good tides as we head toward a full moon on the 22nd, fishing should continue to be good. Tides are favorable for reds and trout in potholes or tailing reds in Gasparilla Sound and reds, trout and more 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
