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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
January 22, 2005
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 1/17 through 1/22/2005
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action during the past week with snook, trout and bluefish. Reds, jacks and ladyfish rounded out the catch. The best action was fly fishing for snook and bluefish at night and trout on the flats of Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor.
My friend, Capt. Rick De Paiva from Ft. Myers, FL, joined me for an afternoon/evening trip on Monday. Yes, even fishing guides go fishing for fun. That’s why we’re in this business! We caught a few ladyfish and a trout or two on Clouser flies in Little Sarasota Bay just before dusk and then stopped by the Casey Key Fish House Restaurant for a “shore lunch” of fresh grouper sandwiches and seafood gumbo.
By the time we finished dinner, the tide was moving out good and snook were “popping” under the lights. We had non-stop catch and release action with snook and bluefish on a variety of flies for the next 3 hours. We weren’t counting, but I would guess we caught and released more than 30 fish including snook to 24” and a dozen bluefish to 3-pounds. DOA Fly Shrimp and Grassett’s Grass Minnow flies were the most productive.
The next afternoon, Steve Demarsh from Nokomis, FL, and Howard Davis, from Newton, MA, joined me for a trip in Little Sarasota Bay. They caught and released numerous ladyfish and a 19” trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. We also happened upon a big school of 4-pound jacks and caught and released several on jigs and a MirrOlure Top Dog, Jr. plug. Great action!
Sarasota winter resident, Harry Beaty, and his friend from back in Ontario, Canada, Paul Rotz, fished north Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. The water was cold at 55 degrees to start, but finally warmed to a toasty 57 degrees. Needless to say, the action was slow to start, too. They caught and released ladyfish, trout and a bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails. Included in their catch were 3 slot-size trout from 17”- 20”. The best action was on the flats near Big Pass and Bishop’s Point.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and Dave Kinnamon, from Milwaukee, WI, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Friday. The weather and water conditions were absolutely beautiful, although the water was still cold early in the day. They caught and released more than 20 trout to 23”, with 1/3 of the fish in the slot. They also connected with 3 reds to 24’ and a shark in skinny water. All fish were caught on weedless-rigged CAL shad tails with the best action being outside of Bull and Turtle Bays on trout and in Gasparilla Sound on the reds.
Fishing is largely dependent on weather this time of the year and we are expecting another front on Sunday. Fishing afternoons may be a better option following a front. Next week’s tides are favorable for reds and trout on the flats and snook at night.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grasset
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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