I hosted a group of 7 anglers; Mike Perez, from Sarasota and Richmond, IN, Les Fulcher, from Longboat Key, Joe Bursel, from Sarasota, Tony Johnson, from Venice and Seth Koch and Lon Rubin, from Philadelphia, PA, on my annual trip to Andros South Bonefish Lodge from 5/4-11. Weather was good and we had good action with bonefish most days. Anglers caught and released 15 to 20 bonefish per boat per day on the better days with numerous fish in the 5 to 7-pound class during the week.
I have been hosting a group at Andros South in late April or early May for the last 8 or 9 years. Andros Island is quick and easy to get to and is very safe. In addition to my annual spring trip I am also considering adding a fall trip to Andros South. Advantages of fall fishing are bigger fish and fewer bugs. If you have an interest in either of these trips, feel free to contact me for more information. Images and a full report of the trip can be seen on the Destination Trips and Photo Gallery pages of my web site at the following links, http://snookfin-addict.com/trips.htm and http://www.snookfin-addict.com/photos.htm .
Back at home in Sarasota, 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 in Sarasota Bay and snook at night in the ICW near Venice on flies during the past week. We also had lots of shots at tarpon in the coastal gulf and caught one on a fly.
Tyler Barrus, from Dillon, MT and Nick Huff, from UT, fished with me Monday through Friday, 5/13-17. Tyler is a fly fishing guide at Crane Meadow Lodge in Twin Bridges, MT, where I have hosted a group of fly anglers in late summer for the last 13 years. He's a good friend and a great guide who knows all the technical aspects of western trout and steelhead fishing. He and Nick are both great fly anglers. Although sea conditions weren't too bad on Monday, 5/13 we had heavy cloud cover and very little visibility for tarpon in the coastal gulf. We gave it a try and had a few shots but decided to fish shallow water in Sarasota Bay in the afternoon. They caught and released a few trout, including a 3-pounder, on Clouser flies near Buttonwood Harbor.
Light conditions improved on Tuesday, 5/14 and although it was rough in the afternoon they had shots at singles, doubles and large schools of tarpon that day. Conditions improved even more on Wednesday, 5/15 and it all came together for them. Nick hooked up with a nice fish out of a small school of tarpon on a Lefty's Deceiver fly. He got multiple jumps from the tarpon, estimated at 100-pounds, and had the fish next to the boat when she wore through the 80-pound bite tippet after a long battle. Well done!
We snook fished in the ICW near Venice for a few hours on Wednesday evening, 5/15. It was fun watching Tyler and Nick cast flies far up under docks and apply their technical trout fishing skills to catching snook. They had good top water action catching and releasing about 10 snook on Gurgler flies. After Nick's tarpon on Wednesday, we focused on tarpon on Thursday and a short day on Friday, 5/16 and 17. Conditions were good and they had numerous shots at tarpon and a few follows but no bites. With tarpon it is usually the right cast to the right fish that scores!
Tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be good next week as we approach a full moon. Look for reds and big trout in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW from Sarasota to Venice should also be a good option.
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.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com