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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
November 8, 2003
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 11/2 through 11/8/2003
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released a variety of fish during the past week. Snook, trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish were caught and released on a variety of lures and flies in Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and “snook alley” in Venice. Most fish were caught with fly tackle, although some were caught with spinning tackle.
Fly angler Cliff Boylston, from Conyers, GA, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. The action was steady with numerous trout to 18” and ladyfish caught and released on Clouser flies on deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay. The best action was inside Big Pass and near Long Bar.
Dave Lincul, from Sewell, NJ, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Tuesday. Since the winds were light out of the east, we decided to check out the coastal gulf waters for Spanish mackerel and little tunny. It proved to be a good choice as we located breaking fish just outside the sandbar of Gasparilla Pass. We caught and released numerous Spanish mackerel and bluefish to 2-pounds and large ladyfish on Diamond Jigs and Chug Bug topwater plugs. Before the tide slowed and the frenzy ended, a group of dolphins and even a tarpon showed up for their share of the meal.
We moved to the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound where Dave caught and released a pair of snook to 27” on CAL jigs with shad tails. He lost a bruiser that we couldn’t turn before it made it to the mangroves and also caught and released numerous trout to 18”.
Sarasota winter residents, Norm and Francie Boardman, joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay on Thursday morning. Since conditions were near perfect for fishing the coastal gulf waters, we headed out New Pass and worked south to Point of Rocks. Although there was nothing showing on the surface, we marked some bait and blind cast Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies on an intermediate fly line into the area. They were rewarded with several Spanish mackerel to 2-pounds and bluefish. They also caught and released numerous trout and ladyfish on the same lures and flies on deep grass flats inside Big Pass before heavy thundershowers forced us off the water.
Fly anglers, Larry Ford from Longboat Key, FL, and Pete Molinari, from Sarasota, FL, joined me for an evening snook trip near Venice that evening. The action was steady and they caught and released about 10 snook to 23” on Grassett’s Grass Minnow flies.
Next week’s tides are favorable for fishing the flats. With the coastal gulf waters still in the high 70’s, we need a good front or two to cool the waters and get things fired up. Cooler water should mean more breaking Spanish mackerel and little tunny making them easier targets for fly anglers.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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