Sarasota Fishing Report 1-15-2012

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report
1/15/2011
by Capt. Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor during the past week with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released reds, trout and  pompano on jigs and flies. Action was better later in the day due to cool water.

Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We waded several bars in north Sarasota Bay and Nick caught and released 3 reds and several trout on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. Longboat Key winter resident, Pat Decastro, fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Tuesday. We spent a couple of hours hunting false albacore (little tunny) and tripletail in the coastal gulf. Despite good conditions and water temperature of 69 degrees we didn’t find anything. We fished several deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay and Pat caught a few trout up to 18” but the action was slow.

Wednesday was windy as a front blew through, but it didn’t change conditions drastically on Thursday. Keith McClintock and Victor Feldman, from IL, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday and had a good day. They caught 4 reds up to 4-pounds, a 3 ½-pound pompano and numerous trout on CAL jigs with shad and grub tails and DOA Deadly Combos.

Trout and reds should continue to be good options in skinny water in Sarasota Bay. In addition to trout, look for pompano, blues and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats. Afternoons may fish better than mornings due to cool water.

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



Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, waded a Sarasota Bay sandbar with Capt. Rick Grassett and caught and released this red on a Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

 

Pat Decastro, from OH, caught this upper slot Sarasota Bay trout on a Clouser fly while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.

 

Victor Feldman, from IL, caught and released this red out of a pothole on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.