Sarasota Fishing Report 3-1-2011

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fishing Report
2/26/2011
Action continues to improve in Sarasota Bay as water temperatures have warmed to the high 60’s. 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 big trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano during the past week. The best action was with big “gator” trout in skinny water early in the week.

Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and his son, Steve McClintock from Pittsburgh, PA, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. They had good action at Stephens Point and on the west side of the bay near Buttonwood Harbor with trout, Spanish mackerel and a couple of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. Fly anglers Reagan Whitlock, mom Amy Whitlock and Reagan’s friend Lewis Steele, all from GA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. They had good action with trout, including a 26”, almost 6-lb “gator” that Louie caught and released, and Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad and grub tails.

One of the best trips of the week was when Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding and I, waded a couple of sand bars in Sarasota Bay on Tuesday. He caught and released a redfish and about 20 trout, most over the slot, including several in the 4 to 6-pound class on a crab Clouser fly (olive, tan and white). It is some of the best fly fishing action for “gator” trout that I have seen in quite a while!

Tides shifted to 2 tides towards the end of the week and action slowed a little. Sarasota winter resident, Harry Beaty, and his grandson Ryan, from Ontario, Canada, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. They had steady action with trout and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails on deep grass flats on both sides of the bay.

Bill Cody and sons, Will and Ned, from Syracuse, NY, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. They caught trout to 18”, Spanish mackerel, and pompano on CAL jigs with shad tails fishing deep grass flats on both sides of Sarasota Bay. Fly anglers John and Linda Baker, from Anchorage, AK, fished the Terra Ceia area with me on Friday. We were on a redfish mission and although we saw a few, we didn’t get them to eat our flies. They caught and released trout and ladyfish on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly and a CAL jig with a shad tail.

Tides improve next week as head towards a new moon on March 4th. Fish shallow grass flats of Sarasota Bay for “gator” trout and reds or snook at night in the ICW for the best action. Also, check the coastal gulf when conditions are good for Spanish mackerel, little tunny, tripletail and more.

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


Lewis Steele, from GA, caught and released this 26" (almost 6-pounds) trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding, waded a flat in Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett and caught and released this big trout on a Clouser fly.