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 Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf and Spanish mackerel, blues, trout and jacks in Sarasota Bay on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and top water plugs during the past couple of weeks. With water temperatures ranging from the low 60's to low 70's the best action was with Spanish mackerel and blues in Sarasota Bay and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf.
Ted Carman, from CA, and Carey Ryerson, from CO, fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota and Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday, 12/8. We found some birds hovering over baitfish, deep in the water column in the coastal gulf which developed into a good Spanish mackerel bite. They had steady action for about 3-hours catching and releasing mackerel to 3-pounds on Ultra Hair Clouser flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and top water plugs. We fished deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay for the last couple of hours where they also had fast action with Spanish mackerel, trout and jacks on DOA Deadly Combos and Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Anna Maria and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, fished the coastal gulf with me on Monday, 12/9. We had a few shots at false albacore but they weren't staying up very long and were tough to get on. Conditions deteriorated so we moved into Sarasota Bay where they had steady action with trout and Spanish mackerel at Stephens Point on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Walt Poxon, from MN and Bill and Sue Poxon, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday morning, 12/11. They had steady action with trout and Spanish mackerel to 3-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland, Roy Glah, from Sarasota, FL and his son Bob Glah, from Aspen, CO, fished the same areas with me in the afternoon and had similar action.
Don Tase, from NH, and his son-in-law, Jessie, from CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 12/12. It was cool, foggy and windy but we found a few places to fish along the east side of the bay where they caught and released a few trout and jacks on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Bob and Diane Boswell, from the Orlando, FL area, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning, 12/14. A strong S-SE wind made fishing tough but we fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where they caught and released Spanish mackerel, trout and jacks on my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny fly, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Don and Linda Tase, from NH and son-in-law, Jesse Ramirez, from CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me again on Monday, 12/16. It was cool to start but warmed up fast. They caught and released Spanish mackerel, blues, jacks and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails at Stephens Point.
I fished with my friend, Capt. Rick Depaiva, in his home waters of Pine Island Sound later in the week. Capt. Rick knows his waters well and when conditions are right, fishing can be awesome there. With a full moon we targeted tailing reds on a negative low tide and despite breezy conditions, they tailed well. We had lots of shots at tailing reds, hooked 3 and landed 2, 1 on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly and another on a DOA crab. After seeing Rick's big red pounce on a DOA crab with no hesitation, I will be throwing that lure more often!
I also fished a day with my friend, Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL. We fished potholes and shallow grass flats from north Sarasota Bay to Palma Sola Bay and caught and released a few trout on Clouser flies. We were surprised to see an adult coyote, stalking birds and digging shellfish out of the bottom about a ½ mile from shore on an exposed flat. I've often seen raccoons prowling flats or shorelines but this is the first time I've ever seen a coyote on a saltwater flat.
Tommy Lewis, II and his son Tommy, from NC, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 12/20. They had good action catching and releasing trout, Spanish mackerel and blues on DOA Deadly Combos, CAL jigs with shad tails and top water plugs. The best action was with blues to 5-pounds on top water plugs in 2'-3' of water. Brian Logun, from Atlanta, GA, got in on the action, catching and releasing blues to 5-pounds on fly poppers and top water plugs in the same area with me on Saturday, 12/21. It was fun to watch schools of bluefish blow up on their fly poppers and plugs!
Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and more should be a good inshore option next week. Big trout are also moving into shallow water in Sarasota Bay where you may find them along with reds in potholes or on the edges of bars when the tide is low. Look for false albacore and tripletail in the coastal gulf when conditions are good.
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
