Good Flats Action in Tampa Bay
Capt. Rick Grassett
April 12, 2015
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 trout, jacks, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and cobia in Sarasota Bay on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and top water plugs and snook, reds, trout and flounder on flies and CAL jigs with shad tails in Tampa Bay during the past couple of weeks.
Bill Moore and grandson Kevin Reilly, from Libertyville, IL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 3/30. Mike and Mickey Reilly, also from Libertyville, IL, fished with Capt. Andy Cotton on the family trip. We fished deep grass flats on the east side of the bay and caught and released trout to 21", Spanish mackerel and a bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Longboat Key and Sarasota winter residents, Nick Reding and Mike Perez, fished the south shore of Tampa Bay with me on Tuesday, 3/31. We waded and fly fished, catching and releasing several trout to 4-pounds, redfish and flounder on my Grassett Flats Minnow and Clouser flies.
Anna Maria Island and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday, 4/1. We fished deep grass flats on the east side of the bay and near Long Bar. The trip started slow but turned on towards the end. They had great action with trout to 18" and Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines. On the last couple of drifts of the day, Gary caught and released a cobia and Bill caught and released a 10-lb jack that had him well into his backing!
Greg Baumeyer and his son, Wyatt, from IL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday, 4/2. We also worked deep grass flats and caught and released trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Fly anglers fished deep grass flats on both sides of Sarasota Bay with me a couple of days during the week of 4/6. We caught and released trout and jacks on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.
Longboat Key winter resident, Nick Reding, fished the south shore of Tampa Bay with me a couple of days that week. We waded and fly fished, catching and releasing several trout and a couple of reds on my Grassett Flats Minnow and Clouser flies.
The best trip of the week was when Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, and Doug Manning, from Largo, FL, fished Tampa Bay with me on Friday, 4/19. They caught and released 7 or 8 snook, an equal amount of flounder and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. Bill caught and released his personal best snook, a 36", 16-lb fish that I had to run down with the push pole to keep him from getting spooled. A great snook!
I was the instructor for a CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, 4/11. This was the last fly fishing school until fall. Look for dates for the fall schedule for Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing schools or Orvis Fly Fishing 101 events at www.cbsoutfitters.com or contact them at (941) 349-4400 or [email protected] for more info.
Look for reds, snook, flounder and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. You may find trout, Spanish mackerel, blues or pompano on deep grass flats, particularly close to passes. You may find early arriving tarpon in the coastal gulf.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
www.snookfin-addict.com www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
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