Reds and Snook on Flies in Sarasota
Capt. Rick Grassett
September 7, 2012
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, scored a slam-catching and releasing reds, snook and trout on a fly in Sarasota Bay on a recent trip. In addition to Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf, we also had some shots at juvenile tarpon and jumped one in upper Charlotte Harbor.
I scouted upper Charlotte Harbor on Thursday, 8/30 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, 9/1 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!
Gary Mintz, from CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 9/4. We caught a few trout and ladyfish on Siesta Key lighted docks before dawn, but snook were finicky that day. 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
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Forecast for September 2012
Tarpon may be found in areas of Sarasota Bay, upper Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay this month. With their spawning duties completed, snook will stage around bridges, docks and seawalls and schools of big reds will roam the flats of north Sarasota Bay. Look for big trout in skinny water at first light and fish deep grass flats for trout and more later in the morning. False albacore (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel should feed in glass minnow schools along the beaches and near the mouth of Tampa Bay.
Tarpon fishing is a different game in September. Rather than the crystal clear waters of the coastal gulf, they will move to inside waters of upper Charlotte Harbor, Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay. The good news is that they go there to eat. I've had success in these areas by casting DOA Swimming Mullet and Baitbusters to rolling fish early in the morning. Also, look for tarpon and more feeding in ladyfish schools in the same areas. Work a fly or a DOA Baitbuster slowly around the edges of ladyfish schools for tarpon, if you work it too fast ladyfish will eat it before a tarpon has a chance. You might also find tarpon around bridges, cruising shadow lines at night or rolling on the surface in the morning.
You may find juvenile tarpon, from 10 to 30-pounds, in creeks and canal systems of upper Charlotte Harbor. I like to work a DOA TerrorEyz slowly along the bottom for the best action. Fly anglers should score with dark, wide profile flies fished on sinking lines.
Snook season remains closed this month on the west coast of Florida until September 2013 due to recent action taken by Florida FWC. I applaud their actions to protect snook, one of premier game fish. When fishing areas where snook are present, use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly with minimal handling. You will still find them in the surf this month and they will also begin to stage around docks, bridges and seawalls close to passes. Small white flies, DOA shrimp or CAL jigs should work for snook in the surf. Cast top water plugs and fly poppers along seawalls and around docks and bridges early in the day. There should also be good action around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW at night. The same lures and flies that work in the surf will also work at night.
Reds should be schooled up on shallow flats this month. After they've been pressured for a while they may be harder to find. Look for them in deeper water close to bars and the edges of flats. It will be easier to locate them when the tide is low and it is calm. Look for something as obvious as a boat wake or as subtle as a "nervous" patch of water when it is calm. I've also found them feeding on the surface like jacks with birds on them. Often they are not that easy to find and they can be very spooky. Once I've located a school of reds, I use a push pole to get ahead of them and position the boat to make a cast. A trolling motor can be used sparingly, however if you run it hard, vary the speed or turn it on and off, it is more likely to spook reds than at a continuous slow speed. Top water plugs or fly poppers may make a school show themselves. In addition to top water plugs I like a 1/16-ounce CAL jig head with a 5 ½" CAL jerk worm, which has a wider profile, when blind casting to find reds this time of year. Fly anglers should score with poppers, Gurglers or wide profile baitfish fly patterns such as Lefty's Deceiver or EP flies. The shallow flats of north Sarasota Bay are some of my favorite spots for reds.
You might also find big trout in skinny water in many of the same places you find reds. The best time will be at first light in the morning. Focus on bait and mullet schools to find them and cast CAL jigs with jerk worms, top water plugs or fly poppers and Gurglers for exciting strikes. There will be a very narrow window of action from first light until it gets bright out, so don't be late.
After it gets bright out, trout will drop into deeper water where you might find them feeding along with blues, ladyfish, jacks or even tarpon. Look for ladyfish feeding in glass minnow schools and if they will stay on the surface for a few minutes, blues, jacks, trout and even tarpon may join the fray. If you don't find feeding ladyfish, look for bait schools or bird activity to locate fish. When blind casting, focus on seams where grass meets sand and make a series of drifts, casting ahead of the drift with CAL jigs and shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos, fly poppers or a popper/fly combo to find fish.
This should be a good month for false albacore (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf or at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Look for surface activity, diving birds or breaking fish, to find them. Once you've located fish, set up ahead of the school and intercept them. Fly anglers should do well with 7 or 8-weight fly tackle and my Grassett Snook Minnow fly fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line. You should also be able to fish a popper on the same fly line. Spin anglers should do well with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms and small top water plugs. Spanish mackerel and false albacore schools usually do not mix, but you will need to add heavy fluorocarbon or wire for the mackerel. Also, look for early arriving king mackerel this month. Trolling with lipped plugs or slow trolling live baits around bait schools is a good way to find kings.
There will be a lot of options in September, from late season tarpon, to reds and trout on the flats or catch and release snook at night or in the surf. Inshore fishing will be best early in the day or in the dark, so plan to fish early in the day for the best action. One of my favorite things to do this month is to fish for false albacore. What a great fish to catch on a fly! Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Target Species:
reds, snook, trout, tarpon, false albacore, Spanish mackerel
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