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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
November 14, 2004
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report for 11/7 through 11/14/2004
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action with reds, snook and trout during the past week, particularly early in the week. Fly anglers scored with reds and snook on the flats of Charlotte Harbor. Reds and snook were also caught on Sarasota Bay flats early in the week. A couple of anglers had slams on flies and lures.
Fly angler, Charlie Alexander from Osprey, FL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Monday. We found reds cruising and tailing on a shallow flat near Placida and Charlie caught a nice pair of reds in the 4 to 5-pound class on a white Grassett’s Flats Minnow fly. Another red was caught and released on a weedless-rigged CAL jerk worm.
Tom Meyers and David Fields, both from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. The action was slow to start, but we finished strong. They caught 3 reds to 24”, a couple of snook to 25”, trout to 17”, flounder and sheepshead on CAL plastic tails fished either on a 1/16 oz CAL jig head or rigged weedless near Buttonwood Harbor.
Mac and Sandy McGee, from Gloucester, VA, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday and Friday morning. They caught and released trout to 17”, ladyfish, bluefish and a Spanish mackerel at the Middleground flat, Stevens Point and near Buttonwood Harbor. John Klopp, from Winterhaven, FL, and his young son, Michael joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay on Wednesday afternoon. Michael was celebrating his 8th birthday and he did it in style, catching and releasing trout, ladyfish, big sailcats and a bluefish on Cotee jigs with grubs near Big Pass.
Fly angler, Nick Reding from Longboat Key, FL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday. We waded and sight-fished to tailing and cruising reds in the same area that I fished on Monday. They were tough, but Nick slammed with a small red, 4 snook to 24” and a few trout on white and brown Grassett’s Flats Minnow flies. The tide was high in the afternoon, so we fished from the boat where we had numerous shots at cruising reds on a sand bar, but no takers.
The action slowed at the end of the week. Friday afternoon’s trip produced only a few trout caught and released on jigs near Buttonwood Harbor. Fly angler, Jeff Barnum from Stratham, NH, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Saturday. We fished hard all day with not much action. The reds that had been working well earlier in the week were not as plentiful or aggressive. Jeff had a couple of follows from reds but no takers. He caught and released several trout to 18”, including one that was cut in ½ by a large bluefish on a silverside fly near Sandfly Key.
Next week’s negative low tides will be favorable for reds in potholes or tailing on shallow grass flats. Coastal gulf action with breaking Spanish mackerel and little tunny has been disappointing so far, probably due to warm water. That could take off at any time when the water temperature drops a few degrees.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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