Anglers fishing with me on my flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released snook, reds, trout, blues, little tunny, Spanish mackerel and flounder on DOA baits and flies during the past couple of weeks. The best action was in the coastal gulf off Sarasota and on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with a variety of species.
Sarasota winter residents, Norm and Francie Boardman, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday afternoon, 11/1. They caught a couple of blues to 4-pounds and several trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and Ultra Hair Clouser flies near Buttonwood Harbor. A high school classmate of mine from Seaford, DE, Allen Handy and his wife, Jessye, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 11/2. They caught and released numerous trout, several blues and a Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos at Stephens Point.
Outdoor writer and guide, Capt. Dave Lear from Tallahassee, FL, fished with me on Tuesday evening and Wednesday, 11/2 and 3. We were on a snook mission, so we fished the ICW near Venice on Tuesday evening and caught and released a few snook to 22" on Grassett Snook Minnow flies. We fished Sarasota Bay on Wednesday and caught and released snook and a flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails near Long Bar. A strong front moved through on Thursday forcing the cancellation of fishing that day. Bill and Scott Moore, from Libertyville, IL, fished the east side of Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 11/5. Despite cool and windy conditions, they had steady action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and a flounder on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs.
I fished the 6th annual MCFF/CCA "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" on Saturday, 11/6. Even though it was about 50 degrees with a north wind of about 15 mph, lots of fish were caught. Roger Williams, from Bradenton, FL fished with me and we had fast action with reds in north Sarasota Bay. We waded a sand bar and caught and released 6 reds to 23 ½". Dusty Sprague, from North Port, FL, was the winner of the Open division and Robert Fischer, from Tampa, FL was the winner of the Fly Angler division. This is a fun, low stakes fly fishing tournament designed to promote the sport and raise a little money for conservation.
Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding, wade fished in north Sarasota Bay with me a couple of days last week. He caught and released several reds and a sheepshead on one trip and a couple of blues and a snook on another trip on a baitfish fly pattern. Jon Yenari and Kyle Ruffing, both from Sarasota, FL, fished with me in the coastal gulf off Siesta Key on Tuesday, 11/9, and caught and released 6 little tunny to 12-pounds on glass minnow fly patterns. Later in the day, they caught and released a nice trout and a 4-lb bluefish on Clouser flies at Stephens Point. Bill Moore and his son, Mark, both from Libertyville, IL fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 11/12. They caught and released numerous trout to 22", a couple of reds, several blues and a Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos along the east side of Sarasota Bay.
Action should continue to be good in both Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf. Next week's tides will improve towards the end of the week as we head towards a full moon. If you are interested in learning to fly fish or if you already have some experience but want to improve your skills or correct problems, Capt. Ed Hurst and I will be the instructors for a CB's Saltwater Outfitter's Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. The school will cover fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. We will also cover leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Cost for the school, which will run from 9 AM to 4 PM, is $150 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact me or CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or cbsoutfitters@verizon.net to make reservations.
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
