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 trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay on flies, DOA Deadly Combos, CAL jigs with shad tails and top water plugs, during the past couple of weeks. The best action continued to be with blues in the 3 to 5-pound class, Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds and trout on flies, top water plugs and DOA's on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Large ladyfish and jacks in the mix also kept fly and light tackle anglers busy.
Jack McCulloch, from Lakewood Ranch, FL, sons Jack and Mike and 6-year old grandson, Canon, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 12/23. We fished deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where they caught and released trout to 20" and jacks on DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.
The action continued after Christmas when Joe Murphy and his son, Zach, from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 12/27. Chris Cunis, from CO, and his father-in-law, Bill Watson, from Lake Placid, FL, also had good action in Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday, 12/28. Although the water was rougher on the west side of the bay, that's where we had the best action with big blues and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies. Chris finished the trip strong, catching and releasing several blues in the 4 to 5-pound class and large ladyfish on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly fished on a sink tip fly line. It's a lot of fun to catch fast swimming, strong fish on flies and lures, particularly fly poppers and top water plugs. A Spanish mackerel or large ladyfish can quickly take you to the end of your fly line or into the backing. Bluefish can slug it out with the best of them and they jump, too!
Glenn Elia and his son Greg, from CT, fished Stephens Point and near Bishop Point in Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 12/30. They caught and released blues to 4-pounds and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies, top water plugs and CAL jigs with shad tails. Keith McClintock, from IL, his son Steve, from Pittsburgh, PA and grandson Garrett Anderson, also from IL fished the same areas with me on New Year's Eve day on Tuesday, 12/31. They also caught and released trout and blues on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Greg Smith and his son, Alex, both from MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday morning, 1/2. With a front approaching there was a strong south wind, which gave us some protection along the west side of the bay. They caught and released 6 or more large blues and a couple of jacks to 4 1/2-pounds on top water plugs, which are very effective for trout, blues, jacks and more on deep grass flats. Schools of blues are roaming the flats searching for baitfish and the sound of the top water plug or fly poppers, which simulates a baitfish struggling at the surface, helps them zero in on our lures.
A strong front pushed through on Thursday afternoon/evening and the wind blew 20 mph out of the north on Friday. Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL, was supposed to fish Sarasota Bay with me that day but we pushed the trip back to Saturday, 1/4. We fished the west side of the bay and caught and released several blues to 5-pounds and Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds on fly poppers and top water plugs. With an almost 10 degree drop in water temperature we weren't sure what to expect, but the hearty blues were still feeding aggressively despite the change.
Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and more should be a good option next week. Also look for big trout and reds in skinny water. They may be in potholes or edges of bars when the tide is low or cruising on shallow grass flats when the tide is high.
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
