Anglers fishing with me on my flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, blues and redfish in Sarasota Bay on jigs and flies during the past couple of weeks. Very high tides towards the end of last week, as we approach a full moon on Sept. 23rd, made sight fishing for reds tough.
Scott Miller, from Wheeling, WV, fished a pre dawn snook/flats trip in Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 9/7. He caught and released numerous trout, including a 4 ½-pound, 25" fish caught and released near Long Bar on a DOA Deadly Combo. Snook didn't cooperate that morning but he caught and released numerous trout and a couple of small reds on CAL jigs around lighted docks on Siesta Key. Everette and Sherry Howell, from Nashville, TN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 9/10. They caught and released numerous trout and a bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails and Clouser flies at Stephens and Bishop Points in Sarasota Bay.
Steve Cohn, from Castlecrag, New South Wales, Australia, fished a pre dawn snook/flats trip in Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 9/17. The action was slow but he caught and released a snook on Siesta Key docks on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly and several trout on Clousers and a popper/Grassett Flats Bunny combo on deep grass flats on the east side of the bay.
The action picked up the next day when Vic Cook, from Columbus, OH, fished the same areas with me. He caught and released 4 or 5 snook to 23" on my Grassett Snook Minnow and a Gurgler fly. We also fished deep grass flats on the west side of the bay where he caught and released several trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly. Both anglers had shots at reds and had a couple of follows but no bites.
There is a hint of fall in the air. Mornings have been cool for the first few hours of the day which means fast action is just around the corner. Look for increased activity with snook around docks, trout and more on deep grass flats and reds and snook in skinny water. Spanish mackerel and little tunny should be good options in the coastal gulf. Tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor may also be a good option when conditions are right.
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
