Anglers fishing with me from August 28th through Sept. 10th had good action with a variety of fish. Fly and spin anglers caught and released reds, snook and trout and jumped several tarpon in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor. I also fished the Keys and caught several bonefish.
Bill Roth, from Longboat Key, FL, and Chuck Finlon, from Bradenton, FL, tarpon fished with me in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda canals and the Peace River on Aug. 28th. They jumped a pair of tarpon to 20-pounds and had several other bites on DOA TerrorEyz.
Bill also fished with me on Sept. 3rd in Sarasota Bay with his wife, Ann, and daughter, Kerry, from Columbus, OH. They had decent action with trout, ladyfish, jacks, small gag grouper and redfish on DOA Deadly Combos from Stephens Point to Long Bar. Another day that week in Sarasota Bay was similar.
Jon Grimes, from TN and Ernie Varvoutis, from Lighthouse Point, FL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Saturday, Sept. 2nd. The best action was early when we found a nice school of reds in Placida Harbor and Ernie and Jon doubled. They caught and released reds of 26" and 28" on a MirrOlure She Pup and a MirrOlure fly. The MirrOlure fly has a red and white head of spun deer hair with large eyes and a long hackle tail that mimics the action of a 52M MirrOlure.
Fly angler, Tim Dunagan and his girlfriend, Brooke Redmond, both from Valdosta, GA. fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Labor Day, Sept. 4th. Tim scored a slam with the fly rod with a Clouser and my Flats Minnow fly in Gasparilla Sound near Sandfly and Devilfish Keys. Way to go Tim!
The following week, I traveled to Islamorada, in the Florida Keys, to participate in the Islamorada-Sarasota Shootout a "for fun" fishing tournament that pits Sarasota anglers against anglers from Islamorada in flats, reef and offshore divisions. Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL, and I fished with Capt. Duane Baker on Wednesday, Sept. 6th. Rusty jumped a tarpon and I lost a big bonefish when the hook pulled.
The next two days, Aledia Tush, owner of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, and I fished with Capt. Duane. Thursday was a banner day with 5 bonefish and a permit landed. I caught and released 3 bones to 25" on flies while Aledia caught a pair of bonefish and a nice permit with live shrimp and crabs on spinning tackle. Despite all our efforts, Islamorada won the event 21 to 13, based on a point system. The event, which has been going on for 11 years, is as much a social event as a fishing tournament so a good time was had by all.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
