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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
December 28, 2003
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 12/21 through 12/28/2003
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had great action with reds, trout and flounder during the past week despite water temperatures ranging from the mid 50’s to mid 60’s. Negative low tides concentrated fish in holes and troughs and made locating them easier if I could get to the spots. One of the most rewarding trips of the week was with a couple of youth fly anglers that could really fish well!
Bill Beauchamp and Larry Stanczuk, both from Bradenton, FL, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Monday. They had great action during the morning when the tide was very low. They caught 8 or 10 reds to 26”, a dozen flounder and several nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and Cotee jigs with grubs. In the afternoon, the action slowed as the tide got high enough to allow fish to scatter.
Tuesdays trip was even more action packed as Keith McClintock and son-in-law, Rick, both from Lake Forest, IL, and Victor Feldman, from Champaign, IL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me. The best action was in the backcountry of Bull and Turtle Bays, where they caught and released 15 reds, more than 30 trout and several flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails. We had the same situation with a negative low tide concentrating fish. Although the reds were “rats”, more than half of the trout were in the 18” to 20” class.
Tom and Jamie Minnick, from Cincinnati, OH, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Christmas Eve day. They had a great trip with me catching more than 20 bull reds and big blues in Sarasota Bay in September, so I’d already warned them it probably wouldn’t be the same. Tom was fishing left handed due to a broken right hand, but it didn’t slow him down a bit. They caught about 6 reds to 26”, several flounder and nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms.
After a nice Christmas at home with family, I was back on the water on Friday with Mary Mills, from Boca Raton, FL, and Dr. Andra Harris, from Del Ray Beach, FL. Mary is a former US Open and LPGA champion, who won three major tournaments during her career. We fished the Terra Ceia Bay are and found the fishing tough to start. Fish had moved from where I found them several days before but we finally got dialed into them. They caught and released a pair of snook to 24”, trout to 17”, ladyfish and jack crevalle on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and Cotee jigs with grubs.
Saturday morning’s trip was with fly anglers Ruth Lubchenco, her 8-year old daughter, Cora, and 12-year old son, Luke, from Glenwood Springs, CO. These kids could fly fish! They had great action with large ladyfish on Clouser flies in Little Sarasota Bay. They all caught fish and said they pull lots harder than the trout in Colorado! That afternoon, Steve Johnson, from Bradenton, FL, and Dane Wyatt, from Santa Fe, NM fished the same area with me. The afternoon sun had warmed the shallows around oyster bars and reds moved in to feed. They caught 4 nice reds between 24” and 26”, a 22” snook and several flounder on Cotee jigs with grubs.
Next week’s tides should be favorable for flats fishing. Low tides at midday will concentrate fish and they made feed better later in the day due to warmer water.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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