Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released snook, redfish, trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel during the past week. The surface activity that we had in the coastal gulf about 10 days ago has slowed but the fish are still there holding over structure. Fly and spin anglers fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay had steady action with trout, ladyfish, bluefish, jacks and juvenile gag grouper. Trout fishing was good for spin anglers in Gasparilla Sound.
Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL, and I did some scouting in the coastal gulf off Siesta and Lido Keys on Monday. We found a few little tunny early off Siesta Key, but couldn’t get a good shot at them. However, we moved to the close reef off Lido Key and found fast action with Spanish mackerel to more than 3-pounds on Crease and Clouser flies.
The next day, I fished Charlotte Harbor with Mason Tush, Brian Reese and Justin Chevas, all from Sarasota, FL. They were enjoying a week’s stay at a condo in the Boca Grande area and a couple of days of guided fishing purchased at last year’s Sarasota CCA Banquet. My donated trip was part of the package. The morning was slow, but the action picked up in the afternoon. They caught and released numerous trout to 21”, a snook and a red to complete a slam on the boat. The best action was with top water plugs, DOA Deadly Combos and weedless-rigged CAL shad and curly tails near Sandfly Key and Whidden Creek.
Gordon Bentley, owner of Bentley’s Outfitters in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN area, fished with me on Wednesday. We fished the coastal gulf for a couple of hours and found nothing on the surface. Anglers trolling and fishing live bait at a couple of the artificial reefs off Lido were catching king and Spanish mackerel, so the fish were there. We came into Sarasota Bay where we caught and released jacks, ladyfish and trout with Clouser flies.
Bill Taylor, from NH, and Rob McDonald, from OK, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. We stopped off Siesta Key at first light and there were no breaking fish. However, they hooked a pair of king mackerel and a big shark on a MirrOlure Top Dog, Jr. The kings skyrocketed on the plugs, but didn’t stay hooked. The shark ate the plug all the way above 8" of wire! It only lasted about 15 minutes, but it makes me want to go back and cast Crease flies at first light when I have a chance. In Sarasota Bay they caught trout, ladyfish, jacks and sailcats on DOA Deadly Combos.
On Saturday, I was one of the participants in Andy Thornal Outfitters, of Winterhaven, FL, Fly Fishing Expo. Capts. Keiland Smith, Dan Malzone, John Kumiski and Tom Van Horn all did presentations on a variety of topics and participated in fly casting clinics. In addition, Capt. Bryon Chamberlin and Capt. Frank Rhodes, Leigh West and Steve Parker, all members of the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club and George Kremer tied flies throughout the day and also participated in the casting clinics. Orvis rep. Robert Bryant, from NC, and Allen Wyatt, with Andy Thornal Outfitters, were on hand to demo the new Orvis ZG Helios fly rods. Wow! These rods are going to be a hit. It is the lightest fly rod I have ever cast!
We had a small front come through this weekend and the air is a little cooler. This should jump start the fishing in the coastal gulf. Flats fishing should continue to get better as the water cools. There is still time to enter the MCFF/CCA “Fall Fly Fishing Challenge” to be held out of Ken Thompson Park on Oct. 27th. Contact me for more info.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
http://www.flyfishingflorida.net/ and http://www.snookfin-addict.com/
Brian Reese, from Sarasota, caught and released this 21" trout on a top water plug while fishing Charlotte Harbor with Capt. Rick Grassett.
CB's Saltwater Outfitter's manager, Mason Tush, caught and released this nice red on a weedless-rigged night glow CAL curly tail while fishing near Whidden Creek in Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Rick Grassett.
