Hot Southwest Florida Shallow Water Flats Action
Capt. Rick Grassett
March 14, 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, reds, Spanish mackerel, pompano and bluefish in Sarasota Bay on flies and CAL jigs with shad tails, snook at night in the ICW near Venice, trout and snook in Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande on flies and snook and reds in the Terra Ceia area on CAL jigs with shad tails during the past couple of weeks. Water temperatures warmed into the low 70's and fish turned on in shallow water.
Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay with me during the week of 3/2 caught and released trout, pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. We worked deep grass flats on both sides of the bay using Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Sarasota winter resident, Mike Perez, fished Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Wednesday, 3/4. We waded several bars and flats and Mike caught and released trout and snook on my Grassett Flats Minnow and Clouser flies.
I was the instructor for a CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, Mar 7th. The next school will be on Mar 28. Cost is $150 per person and includes the use of Orvis fly tackle, a text book and lunch. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or [email protected] to make reservations.
David Morgan, from Sarasota, FL and a guest fished Sarasota Bay with me on Sunday and Monday, 3/8 and 9. We worked deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where they caught and released trout, Spanish mackerel, pompano, bluefish and a small cobia on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Mike Perez, from Sarasota, FL and Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, had good action while wading Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 3/10. We waded a shallow bar where they caught and released a couple of big trout, at 25" and 27", and a pair of reds on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. The largest trout, weighed in at more than 6 ½-lbs. I think trout this big are important to the fishery as breeders, so they are always handled gently and released on my boat. I spoke at Gator Ford in Tampa that evening with Capt. Mike Anderson, of The Reel Animals TV fishing show. The event was well attended and the crowd had some great questions about fly fishing at the Q & A format event.
The action got even better on Wednesday when Scott Heidler and his son Scott, both from Hudson, OH, fished the Terra Ceia area with me. We started the morning with a good snook bite, throwing CAL jigs with shad tails and top water plugs, which got even better as the day went on. They finished the day catching and releasing more than 30 snook, including 28" and 32" fish, and a couple of nice reds. A fantastic day of fishing!
Martin Marlow, from NY and his son, Bruce Marlowe from RI, snook fished with me on Thursday night, 3/12. Snook were feeding but being very picky so we stayed on the move, picking up a couple of fish at each spot before moving on. They caught and released more than a dozen snook to 24" on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly before the evening was done.
Alan Sugar and Ray Hutchinson, from MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday afternoon, 3/13. It was breezy to start but the wind laid down enough later in the day which allowed us to fish some spots in north Sarasota Bay. They caught and released trout, bluefish and ladyfish at the Radio Tower and Stephens Point flats on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Look for reds, snook and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. You may also find trout, blues, pompano or flounder on deep grass flats, particularly close to passes
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
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