Sarasota Bay Fishing Report

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fishing Report for 4/10/2011
Catch and release night snook action has been hot! 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 snook, trout and Spanish mackerel during the past week. Fly anglers fishing the ICW at night near Venice averaged more than 20 snook to 27” per trip. Action slowed a little on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay following recent rains and wind. Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay with me caught and released trout and Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.

Tom Allen, from Sarasota, and Jim Madson, from Phoenix, AZ and Bozeman, MT, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. They caught and released numerous trout to 18” and a couple of Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies along the east side of Sarasota Bay. Anna Maria Island winter resident, Dick Stevens, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. He also caught and released trout to 18” on Ultra Hair Clouser flies along the east side of the bay. Pierre Fortier and his friend, Alex, both from Quebec, snook fished with me that evening. They caught and released more than 20 snook to 24” on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly in the ICW near Venice.

Denis Clohisy, from Hudson, WI, and Brian McInnis, from Sarasota, also fished a couple of night snook trips with me last week. They caught and released more than 20 snook per trip to 27” on my Grassett Snook Minnow and Gurgler flies. They also fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday where they caught and released numerous trout to 18” on Clouser flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Everette and Sherry Howell, from Nashville, TN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday afternoon. The action wasn’t fast, but they caught some quality trout to 2 ½-pounds in skinny water on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly and CAL jigs with shad tails along the west side of the bay. I was the instructor for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitter’s Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday.  Due to the busy season ahead of us, this was the last school until fall.  If you are interested in learning to fly fish or honing your skills you can contact me for private instruction or info on future schools.
Next week’s tides will improve towards the end of the week as we head towards a full moon. Fishing the flats for trout, reds and more or snook at night should be good options.


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



Denis Clohisy, from WI, caught and released this 27" snook on a Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing the ICW at night near Venice with Capt. Rick Grassett.



Sherry Howell, from Nashville, TN, caught and released this nice trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.