Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released snook, trout, tripletail, false albacore (little tunny), blues, Spanish mackerel and jacks in Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf and trout and flounder in Gasparilla Sound on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos during the past couple of weeks.
Denis Clohisy, from Hudson, WI, fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Monday and Tuesday, 10/14 and 15. We found Spanish mackerel working on the surface in the coastal gulf but only a few false albacore. He caught and released an albie and several Spanish mackerel on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly before the action ended. He also caught and released a few trout and jacks at Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay on a fly popper/dropper combo with my Grassett Flats Minnow fly behind the popper.
I gave a couple of presentations on Fly Fishing the Coastal Gulf for False Albacore and Tripletail at the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF), Florida Fly Fishing Expo in Crystal River, FL on Friday and Saturday, 10/18 and 19. Fly fishing legends Flip Pallot and Chico Fernandez were on hand sharing their knowledge at the event, which featured fly casting, fly tying and numerous presentations on a wide range of fly fishing topics by some of the best in the sport. Vendors including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of fly fishing tackle, fly tying supplies, technical clothing and accessories displayed their latest products. Hell's Bay Boat Works had a boat on display and Flip even brought his personal Hell's Bay boat over. A good show!
Ron Race, from MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 10/21. We fished lighted docks before dawn where he caught and released several snook and trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. He also caught and released a couple of Spanish mackerel and trout at Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay and in the coastal gulf on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 10/22. We waded several flats on both sides of the bay and caught and released trout on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Minnow flies.
Mark Cornish and his father-in-law, Peter Johnson, both from Aspen, CO, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Wednesday, 10/23. They caught and released numerous trout and a nice flounder on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Minnow flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland and Roy Glah, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 10/25. We drifted deep grass flats along the east side of the bay from the Marina Jack flat to Stephens Point where they caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel and a black sea bass on CAL jigs with shad tails. They had good action catching and releasing jacks that had baitfish trapped in shallow water.
I fished the CCA/MCFF "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" with Capt. Andy Cotton, also out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, on Saturday, 10/26. Some of the best fly anglers in the area fished for a variety of species, including trout, reds, snook, flounder, pompano, blues and more. All fish were immediately photographed and released in the event which raises money for conservation and education projects of both organizations. We fished deep grass flats on the east side of Sarasota Bay where we caught and released trout, but not enough inches to win anything. Although they weren't tournament species in our division, we had good action catching and releasing blues, jacks and Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies. We also came across a couple of tripletail and were each able to catch and release one on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Bunny flies respectively. A great way to end the day!
Capt. Ray Markham, from St.Petersburg, FL, won the Open division (for guides) with a 59.5" slam (snook, red and trout) and Fred McClendon, from Lithia, FL, won the Fly Angler division with 351.25 points (snook and flounder). Several other slams were also recorded by other anglers in the event. Donors were Redfish Landing Guide Service, Orvis, CB's Saltwater Outfitters, Economy Tackle, Andy Thornal Co., Cortland fly lines, Simms and Logic Lures. Look for full tournament results in a separate article.
Following a cold front earlier in the week finally bringing some fall weather our way, King and Spanish mackerel, false albacore, tripletail and cobia should be good options in the coastal gulf. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and jacks or reds and snook in skinny water should also be good options.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.snookfin-addict.com
