Sunday, September 02, 2012

Sarasota Fishing Report 9-1-2012

Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report
9/2/2012
by Capt. Rick Grassett


Since we didn’t get much rain or wind from tropical storm Isaac, which passed by on Monday, conditions were good by the middle of last week. Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, scored a slam-catching and releasing reds, snook and trout in Sarasota Bay and had a few shots at juvenile tarpon and jumped one in upper Charlotte Harbor.

I scouted upper Charlotte Harbor on Thursday and found good conditions. I located tarpon in a couple of areas and jumped one, on a rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz. These “river” tarpon, which average from 10 to 30-pounds, are a lot of fun on medium spinning tackle or an 8 or 9-weight fly rod! They are usually in deep water and although we sight cast to them rolling on the surface, we usually catch them lower in the water column, so getting your fly or lure down in the water column quickly is important. I do best with fast sinking plastic baits like the DOA Baitbuster and TerrorEyz. Depending on water depth, fly anglers should do best with fast sinking fly lines and flies that have a lot of action when stripped slowly, such as bunny flies.

Jay and Karen Campbell, from Tampa, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning and had good action fishing lighted docks on Siesta Key before dawn. Karen caught and released a slam-consisting of 3 reds, several snook and a trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly!

Catch and release snook before dawn and then moving to the flats for trout and reds in Sarasota Bay should be a good option next week. Tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor should also be a good option. Check the coastal gulf for false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel and more when sea conditions are good.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB’s Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com


Karen Campbell, from Tampa, FL, caught and released a slam, including several reds, snook and a trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing Siesta Key docks at night with Capt. Rick Grassett.


Karen Campbell, from Tampa, FL, caught and released this snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing Siesta Key docks at night with Capt. Rick Grassett. Jay Campbell photo.

No comments: