Sarasota, FL Fishing Report
9/8/2012
by Capt. Rick Grassett

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 redfish , trout, Spanish mackerel, and blue runners in Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf on flies on a couple of trips during the past week.

Gary Mintz, from CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. We caught a few trout and ladyfish on Siesta Key lighted docks before dawn, but snook were finicky. We checked the coastal gulf and found lots of Spanish mackerel feeding on the surface off Siesta Key where he caught and released Spanish mackerel and blue runners on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Gary finished the morning strong with a nice red and numerous trout on a Clouser fly near Bishop Point. An instructional fly fishing trip later in the week was slow.

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. Snook are also moving onto shallow fats of Sarasota Bay. Juvenile tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor should be another 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

Gary Mitz, from CO, caught and released this big red on a Clouser fly while fishing Saraosta Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Amelia Island Fishing Report 9-2012

Amelia Island Fishing Report
September 2012
by Cpt. Lawrence Piper
Get away from it all and ......let's go fishing!

Our Summer Guests have come and gone... but NOW is the best time to be fishing Amelia Island waters! Fall fishing means better weather, less crowds, and great fishing. Follow all the action at the Amelia Island Fishing Report. Get away from it all and...Let's Go Fishing on The Angler's Mark!

August Report/September Forecast:
August started off with a bang with one of my senior customers blowing out the Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament Redfish category. We were treated to a sighting of one of the biggest deer I've seen in the area but catching of some nice Redfish was our prime objective. Sometimes the weather got in the way but usually it didn't have an affect on the great fishing. At one point we were catching Flounder on every trip. September should bring even better fishing to the area. Last year we had a couple of mornings in the high 60's, warming to the mid 80's - great weather. Flood tides beginning Sunday the 16th and running to Friday the 21st should make for some awesome tailing red trips! So if you want to Get Away From it All, give me a shout and we'll go fishing!

Fish Bites.....
Fun Friday Fishing - start your weekend early!
I've had a number of sole anglers request a "spot" on the boat so I've picked Friday September 21, 7am at Atlantic Seafood and will take the first (3) anglers who contact me. We'll plan to fish a 1/2 day (4 hours), $115 each angler. I've gotta have (3) to make it worth launching the boat. As always, I provide the bait, tackle, rods, reels, and fishing license - all you need to do is bring a hat and sunglasses! There's a good tide on that date so it should be a great fishing day!

The First Coast Fly Fishers will meet Monday September 10th at 7pm at the Jacksonville Mariott located near the intersection of I-95 and J. Turner Butler Blvd. Come early and practice your casting on the pond!



Young angler makes BIG catch: This young angler is only 7 years old -watch how he plays this big Red perfectly. Read all about it on Amelia Island Fishing Reports.

The Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament had some movement this month with Paul Desire taking over 1st place in the Redfish category with a 30 1/2" fish. Paul picked up this fish with a top water Bite-a-Bait lure fished over some oyster beds. Mike Maron moved into second place in the Redfish category with a 28 3/4" fish. Ryan Leshinski moved into first place of the Flounder category with a 20" Flounder caught on a mud minnow and jig at a creek run out.

Capt. Lawrence Piper
The Anglers Mark
Amelia Island, Florida
904-557-1027
lwpiper@comcast.net
theanglersmark.com   

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report 9-2012

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report


Hurricane Isaac swung well to the west of us but still brought plenty of rain and high winds to the area. The water levels in the Lagoons rose nearly one foot but have since receded and are holding about six inches higher than they were pre-storm.

The question on may people's minds is what effect, if any, it had on the algae bloom that has been plaguing our region. I travelled over 70 miles through both the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon this week and saw a wide range of conditions. Some areas are so cloudy you can barely see six inches while others have crystal clear water. The stained water still has fish in some areas but they are certainly harder to see unless they are tailing. The good news is that all the fish I found were happy to eat a variety of lures and flies even with a full moon overhead.

Trout fishing last month was especially productive. Large trout could be found both on the shallow flats and along sandbars. DOA 5.5" CAL tails with a Woodies Rattle landed the most fish.



Bill sight cast to this big trout with a DOA CAL

Average size trout could be hooked by the dozens using jigs and bucktails. Michael and his father enjoyed over an hour of non-stop catching using a 1/4 ounce jighead and a DOA curly tail. Barbless hooks made for quick catch and release action.



One of Michael's many seatrout

If the pinfish or puffers get too thick, switch to bucktails or a castmaster type spoon.

Unfortunately, the big tarpon that had been so prevalent before the storm seem to have moved on. Small tarpon can still be found in the creeks and canals and we have been catching quite a few on regular and tiny TerrorEyz.

The redfish bite this week was excellent. DOA shrimp, Baitbusters, Aqua Dreams pinfish spoon, bendback flies, and crab flies all caught fish. There is a huge variety of baitfish on the flats and the fish are feeding on anything they can get.



This big redfish ate a Baitbuster

During the next two months, the redfish will be very aggressive as they feast in anticipation of winter. This is one of the best times to catch them on topwater lures. Try to avoid using multiple treble hooks, especially on the trophy sized fish that must be released. These hooks can cause lots of damage to the fish. Use a DOA Baitbuster or refit your existing plugs with a single circle hook.

Schools of glass minnows can still be found by looking for diving terns. The ladyfish, jacks, trout, and sailcats can provide some great light tackle and fly fishing fun.


Upcoming Seminars

Saturday September 22, 2012 - 10:00 to Noon (Free Seminar) "Successful Saltwater Flats Angling Tactics" Instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn and Chris Myers. Located at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka

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.

Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report 9-1-12

Indian River Lagoon Coast Fishing Report
August 26, 2012
By Captain Tom Van Horn



Up Coming Event and Free Seminars
Thursday, September 6, 2012 - 6:30 to 8:30 pm (Free Seminar) "Fishing the Fall Mullet Run" Instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn and Chris Myers. Located at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka, Florida http://www.mosquitocreek.com

Saturday September 22, 2012 - 10:00 to Noon (Free Seminar) "Successful Saltwater Flats Angling Tactics" Instructed by Captains Tom Van Horn and Chris Myers. Located at Mosquito Creek Outdoors, 170 South Washington Ave. Apopka, Florida http://www.mosquitocreek.com


This Week's Fishing Report
Well the east coast of Florida dodged a bullet this weekend as Tropical Storm Isaac swings further west into the Gulf of Mexico. As Isaac exits the Florida Keys, he is predicted to gain mussel and bring some well needed rainfall to the Mississippi watershed as a category 2 hurricane. As for us, squally weather will arrive this afternoon as Isaac's outer bands arrive and last through tomorrow.

As mention in my last report, my trusted Maverick skiff "Three Quarter Time" developed a fuel leak in the tank and is now located on dry dock receiving some much needed rest and recuperation. After 17 years of charters, Three Quarter Time will receive a new fuel tank and fuel system, new Minn Kota I-pilot and Talon, new Odyssey batteries and new bait pump system. In a few weeks when the makeover is complete, she will be back on the water as good as new.

Although I've been landlocked, I'm still getting some fishing in, and here what we found last week. In the Indian and Banana River Lagoons, the water is cleaning up some. The brown alga bloom seems to be letting up some, but sight fishing is still a challenge. Last week on a trip to the No-Motor Zone, we managed to catch 8 nice sea trout and a 26 inch redfish, blind casting 3 inch DOA Cal Paddle Tail Jigs.

Later in the week I made a near-shore run with my good friend Captain Chris Myers on a quest for tarpon ,and although the water condition were great, we covered 57 mile of beach and didn't have one descent shot at fish. The water temp along the beach was in the 78 to 80 degree range, so the cold water is still here. Maybe the rough water this weekend from Isaac will turn the bite around. Soon, the mullet will begin their fall migration and thing will fire up.

As always, if you need more information or have questions please contact me.


Good luck and good fishing,

Captain Tom Van Horn
Mosquito Coast Fishing Charters
www.irl-fishing.com
407-416-1187 Cell

For all of your outdoor needs, visit Mosquito Creek Outdoors at www.mosquitocreek.com, it's where your adventure begins.