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, flounder and redfish in skinny water along the east side of Sarasota Bay and in Gasparilla Sound on several trips during the past couple of weeks. Several fronts pushed through our area recently plummeting water temperatures into the high 50's and limiting daytime temperatures to 50' and 60's.
Mark Nichols, owner of DOA Fishing Lures, and Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, joined me for a trip on Thursday afternoon, 12/2. With temperatures in the low 40's and wind howling at 15 to 20-mph out of the north that morning, we took a civilized approach and waited for the sun to warm the water and the wind to subside a little. We worked potholes and deep edges of flats and bars along the east side of Sarasota Bay near Long Bar in the afternoon. We caught and released a pair of flounder, several trout, including an over-slot fish and a couple of reds on CAL jigs with grubs and shad tails. A Key Lime Pie CAL shad tail with a CAL jig head produced most of the fish. I fished a 1/16 oz jig head which allowed a slower presentation in the skinny water.
Joe Brinkmeyer, from Cincinnati, OH, and his friend, Bob, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday afternoon, 12/9. They caught and released a blue, redfish, flounder and a few trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and grubs along the east side of the bay and at the Middleground flat. Fly angler Carl Bettinger, from Albuquerque, NM, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Friday, 12/10. He caught and released about 10 trout, all of which were in the 2 to 2 ½-lb class on Clouser flies fished on an intermediate fly line. He caught the trout in deep, dark bottom areas of the ICW and in Bull Bay by fishing slow, near the bottom.
Sarasota winter resident, Jim Strouth, claimed his ½ day trip that I donated to the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club on Saturday morning, 12/11. We fished deep grass flats along the east side of Sarasota Bay and caught and released several trout and a bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
I was on the air waves recently with Allen Wyatt, of Andy Thornal Co. in Winterhaven, FL, and Capt. Keiland Smith on their "Awesome Fishing" radio program. You can hear the segment, "Nearshore and More with Capt. Rick Grassett", where we discuss rigging and fishing DOA baits, Rat-L-Trap plugs, fly fishing and view photos at www.AwesomeFishingRadio.com.
Until the water warms back up, afternoons may fish better due to warmer water. Fish jigs and flies slow, close to the bottom and focus on potholes, channel edges and drop offs for the best action.
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
