Monday, May 23, 2011

Sarasota Fishing Report 5-22-2011

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fishing Report
5/22/2011


 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, bluefish, redfish, a Spanish mackerel and jumped a tarpon during the past week. Last week’s west winds continued into the early part of this week forcing us to fish Sarasota Bay rather than tarpon in the coastal gulf, although action was good in Sarasota Bay.

My friends Russell and Annette Johnson, from Clovis, NM, and son Kyle and fiancée, Becky from Oklahoma City, visited Sarasota last week and fished with me on Tuesday and Wednesday. West winds kept us from tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf but Russell and Kyle had steady action with trout to 3-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails in Sarasota Bay on Tuesday. The best action was on deep grass flats on the west side of the bay. Russell and Annette fished with me on Wednesday and caught and released trout, bluefish, a Spanish mackerel and a red on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. West winds eased up and allowed us to fish the east side of the bay where they had good action at Stephens Point. Later in the week they tarpon fished with my son-in-law, Capt. Andy Cotton. They had a great day, jumping 4 tarpon and leadering 2 of them on live crabs off Siesta Key.

Bill Moore, from Libertyville, IL and his brother, Chris Moore from Coos Bay, OR, tarpon fished with me later in the week. Schools of  little tunny (false albacore) blitzed the beach one day off  of Longboat Key. Chris connected with one on a CAL jig with a shad tail and the fish made a smoking run! We found tarpon very finicky coming off the full moon and they repeatedly swam through our baits and refused them. They were in a better mood by Saturday when Chris jumped an 80-pounder and fought it to the boat after numerous jumps and an hour long battle. A hammerhead shark stalked our fish right at the boat but never attacked, so the fish swam off unharmed.

Tarpon should be in a better mood as we get further away from the full moon. Next week’s tides will improve towards the end of the week and fishing Sarasota Bay for trout, blues, redfish and more should also be a good option.

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



Russell Johnson, from Clovis, NM, caught and released this nice Sarasota Bay trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.



Chris Moore, from Coos Bay, OR, jumped this tarpon in the coastal gulf off Siesta Key while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.

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