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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
January 16, 2005
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
SW Florida Fishing Report for 1/9 through 1/16/2005
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released a variety of fish during the past week. Fly anglers scored with snook and a bluefish while spin anglers connected with trout and ladyfish.
Fly anglers, David Schofield from Elmira, NY, and Rob Klein, from Boca Raton, FL, snook fished in the ICW near Venice, FL on Saturday evening. There were plenty of snook around the dock lights, but they were very finicky. They caught and released 3 snook to 22” and a 3-pound bluefish on my Grass Minnow fly. Rob scored with his first fish ever, a snook, on a fly!
Longboat Key, FL residents Merrill Zinder and Irwin Pastor fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday morning. We had fast action with trout to 19” and big ladyfish on CAL jigs with grubs and shad tails. The best action was at the Marina Jack flat and near Bishop Point.
Capt. Ed Hurst and I, along with Aledia Tush, owner of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, and several other CB’s staff members traveled to Crystal River on Tuesday afternoon for the annual Orvis Southeastern Guide Rendezvous and dealer meeting. We were treated to a Cuban Pork Roast on Tuesday evening where Orvis-Endorsed guides from Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama swapped fishing stories over a cold beer. We reviewed new products for the current year and received pointers on fly casting instruction and guiding techniques.
Orvis Southeastern Regional Business Manager, Robert Bryant, and the Western Director of ELOG (Endorsed Lodges, Outfitters and Guides), Tom Evanson, joined me for a fly fishing trip in Sarasota Bay on Thursday. We were faced with 15 to 20-mph winds as a front approached but their casting skills were up to the challenge. They caught and released a pair of snook to 24” on my Flats Minnow fly near Buttonwood Harbor.
Friday morning was a wash out. I awoke to a downpour and 20 mph winds as the front pushed through our area. We rescheduled our trip planned for Charlotte Harbor until Saturday morning. Tom Lamb, from Sarasota, FL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me and although it wasn’t raining, we were faced with 15 mph + north winds and an overcast sky. The wind blew the water off the flats making it difficult to get to potholes or find a protected place to fish. Despite that, Tom did very well on trout near Cape Haze, catching more than 15 trout to 23” on CAL jigs with shad tails. The catch included 6 slot size fish with the biggest trout weighing in at more than 4-pounds.
Next week’s tides will be more favorable toward the end of the week as they become lower in the morning. Night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridge fenders should also be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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