Good Action on Sarasota Bay Deep Grass Flats
Capt. Rick Grassett
October 27, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
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, tripletail, false albacore (little tunny), blues, Spanish mackerel and jacks in Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf and trout and flounder in Gasparilla Sound on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos during the past couple of weeks.
Denis Clohisy, from Hudson, WI, fished Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf with me on Monday and Tuesday, 10/14 and 15. We found Spanish mackerel working on the surface in the coastal gulf but only a few false albacore. He caught and released an albie and several Spanish mackerel on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly before the action ended. He also caught and released a few trout and jacks at Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay on a fly popper/dropper combo with my Grassett Flats Minnow fly behind the popper.
I gave a couple of presentations on Fly Fishing the Coastal Gulf for False Albacore and Tripletail at the International Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF), Florida Fly Fishing Expo in Crystal River, FL on Friday and Saturday, 10/18 and 19. Fly fishing legends Flip Pallot and Chico Fernandez were on hand sharing their knowledge at the event, which featured fly casting, fly tying and numerous presentations on a wide range of fly fishing topics by some of the best in the sport. Vendors including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of fly fishing tackle, fly tying supplies, technical clothing and accessories displayed their latest products. Hell's Bay Boat Works had a boat on display and Flip even brought his personal Hell's Bay boat over. A good show!
Ron Race, from MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 10/21. We fished lighted docks before dawn where he caught and released several snook and trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. He also caught and released a couple of Spanish mackerel and trout at Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay and in the coastal gulf on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 10/22. We waded several flats on both sides of the bay and caught and released trout on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Minnow flies.
Mark Cornish and his father-in-law, Peter Johnson, both from Aspen, CO, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Wednesday, 10/23. They caught and released numerous trout and a nice flounder on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Minnow flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Tom Lamb, from Geneva, Switzerland and Roy Glah, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 10/25. We drifted deep grass flats along the east side of the bay from the Marina Jack flat to Stephens Point where they caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel and a black sea bass on CAL jigs with shad tails. They had good action catching and releasing jacks that had baitfish trapped in shallow water.
I fished the CCA/MCFF "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" with Capt. Andy Cotton, also out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, on Saturday, 10/26. Some of the best fly anglers in the area fished for a variety of species, including trout, reds, snook, flounder, pompano, blues and more. All fish were immediately photographed and released in the event which raises money for conservation and education projects of both organizations. We fished deep grass flats on the east side of Sarasota Bay where we caught and released trout, but not enough inches to win anything. Although they weren't tournament species in our division, we had good action catching and releasing blues, jacks and Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies. We also came across a couple of tripletail and were each able to catch and release one on Clouser and my Grassett Flats Bunny flies respectively. A great way to end the day!
Capt. Ray Markham, from Terra Ceia, FL, won the Open division (for guides) with a 59.5" slam (snook, red and trout) and Fred McClendon, from Lithia, FL, won the Fly Angler division with 351.25 points (snook and flounder). Several other slams were also recorded by other anglers in the event. Donors were Redfish Landing Guide Service, Orvis, CB's Saltwater Outfitters, Economy Tackle, Andy Thornal Co., Cortland fly lines, Logic Lures and Simms. Look for full tournament results in a separate article.
Following a cold front earlier in the week finally bringing some fall weather our way, King and Spanish mackerel, false albacore, tripletail and cobia should be good options in the coastal gulf. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and jacks or reds and snook in skinny water should also be good options.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Forecast for November 2013
As the water cools this month there will be many changes. You may find blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano mixed with trout on deep grass flats. You'll also find larger trout in skinny water along with reds. Snook will stage around bars and on shallow flats as they make their move towards winter areas. Action in the coastal gulf with Spanish mackerel, blues, false albacore, tripletail and more will explode!
You'll find snook staging around docks and bridges in the ICW and along sand bars and in potholes on shallow flats. They may be along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. I like CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms, surface walking top water plugs and DOA Baitbusters in shallow water for snook. CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms, DOA TerrorEyz, DOA shrimp and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, will work well around dock and bridge fender lights. Fish the strongest tides for the best action. I like the flats of north Sarasota Bay and the ICW between Sarasota and Venice for snook in November. Although snook season is open this month on the west coast of Florida, I have been asking my clients to continue to release snook to insure a full recovery from the freeze of 2010.
Reds will spread out on shallow grass flats in November. You'll find them along bars, in potholes or around docks. Look for them along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high, but they are just as likely to be roaming with mullet schools in shallow water. CAL jigs with shad tails, grubs or jerk worms and gold spoons should work well for reds in shallow water. Fly anglers may score with lightly weighted flies, such as Clousers, spoon flies or my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.
You may also find big trout along with reds in shallow water this month. Although anglers may keep one trout over 20", I release all trout over 20" since they are usually females that may be full of roe. The same lures and flies that you use for snook and reds in shallow water will also work for trout. You'll also find trout on deep grass flats in water from 3' to 7' deep. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs, DOA Deadly Combos or weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to locate trout. In addition to making a series of drifts to find fish, look for baitfish on the surface or birds to find them.
You may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder or pompano on deep grass flats this month. The techniques to find them is the same as for trout, although blues and Spanish mackerel may feed on the surface making them easier to find. Likewise with pompano, that may skip on the surface when you run or drift past them. When that happens, circle back upwind and drift back through the area, casting ahead of your drift. I like a 1/16-ounce chartreuse CAL jig head with a gold grub for pompano. You'll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon when toothy fish are around to keep them from biting you off. You may find flounder on a mixture of grass and sand, particularly on the edges of bars or in potholes.
There should be good action in the coastal gulf with false albacore (little tunny), Spanish and king mackerel, blues, tripletail or cobia. Look for Spanish mackerel, blues or false albacore feeding on the surface to find them. Diving terns or terns hovering just above the surface of the water and moving fast will give their presence away if they aren't on top. CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and top water plugs will work well. Fly anglers should score with small white flies, Ultra Hair Clousers, poppers or Crease flies. Look for tripletail around crab trap floats and cast DOA shrimp, CAL jigs with shad tails or DOA TerrorEyz to them. Cobia may also be found around crab trap floats, swimming on the surface or over structure. They will require medium-heavy spinning tackle or at least a 9-weight fly rod. Larger baits like DOA Baitbusters or CAL jigs with 5½" jerk worms should work well for cobia on spinning tackle. Fly anglers should score with wide profile baitfish patterns.
This a great month for fishing the flats or the coastal gulf. Since the action in the coastal gulf is seasonal and will end when it gets cooler, I like to fish there when conditions allow it. However, if that's not for you or if conditions won't allow it, there will be plenty of action for a variety of fish on shallow and deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail [email protected]
www.snookfin-addict.com
Target Species:
snook, reds, trout, false albacore, tripletail, Spanish mackerel
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