Thursday, March 01, 2012

Sarasota Fishing Report 2-29-2012

Sarasota & Tampa Bay, FL Fishing Report
2/25/2012
by Capt. Rick Grassett


Shallow water action with reds was good during the past week. Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay and the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with catch and release snook, reds and trout on flies and jigs during the past week. We also caught a few scattered Spanish mackerel mixed with trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.

Glen Elia, from CT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday afternoon. The action wasn’t fast, but he caught and released a few trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly along the east side of the bay. Wes Demmon, from Chicago, fished Terra Ceia Bay with me on Tuesday. He caught and released 3 nice reds to 26” on CAL jigs with shad tails and about a dozen trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly. Tony Merlis, from NH, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. It was Tony’s first time fly fishing in saltwater and he did well. He caught and released trout to 17” and Spanish mackerel on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly along the west side of the bay.

The best trip of the week was when Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and Gary Roberts, from Bradenton, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Thursday. They caught and released 7 reds to 24”, 3 snook and a few trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. A great trip! With water temperatures in the low 70’s on shallow flats, especially in back country area, we are seeing snook moving onto shallow flats to feed.

Longboat Key and Sarasota winter residents, Nick Reding and Mike Perez, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. It was very windy, so we waded several flats and bars along the west side of Sarasota Bay and caught and released a pair of reds and a few trout on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

Next week’s tides are better early in the week and then get weaker as they shift to 2-tide days later in the week. Reds and trout should move over shallow grass at the top of the tide, especially on sunny afternoons. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW should also be a good option. Check the coastal gulf for Spanish mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), tripletail and more when conditions are good.

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



Wes Demmon, from Chicago, caught and released this nice red on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Terra Ceia Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

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