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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
October 8, 2005
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest FL Fishing Report for 9/26 through 10/8/2005
Spin anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key caught and released mainly snook along with scattered trout, jacks, sheepshead and a red in Little Sarasota Bay during the past couple of weeks. Fly anglers scored with juvenile tarpon in the 15 to 25-pound class in the Peace River and canal systems of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.
Jason Puckett, from Sarasota, Fl and his cousin, Justin Suarez from NJ, fished Little Sarasota Bay with me early in the week of Sept. 26. We fished a couple of hours before daylight for snook and then moved to the flats. The action wasn’t fast, but Justin not only caught his first snook but had a slam as well. We pitched DOA shrimp, Tiny TerrorEyz and Deadly Combos around docks, bridges and on the flats.
Fly anglers John Alvarez and Jeff Solis, both from southern CA, fished a couple of days for juvenile tarpon in the Peace River with me later in the week. They caught and released 2 out of 3 tarpon jumped on Enrico Puglisi Finger Mullet and bunny flies fished on fast sinking fly lies and stripped slowly along the bottom.
John and Jeff, a fly fishing guide in the Baja region of Mexico, were in the area as exhibitors at the Shallow Water Fishing Show in Sarasota on Oct. 1st and 2nd. John’s company, Fly Tubez, sells a fly line management system that incorporates tubes into a mat that holds your fly line loops on the deck of your boat. We tested it on my boat and it does a nice job.
Mark Castlow, of Castlow Productions, assembled an impressive line up of vendors and seminar speakers for his Shallow Water Fishing Show headlined by Lefty Kreh and Flip Pallot. Many major manufacturers and retailers of fly and conventional fishing tackle and everything that goes along with it were present. The highlight of my weekend was when I got to sit in on an interview with Lefty and Flip as they discussed and reminisced about the early days of saltwater fly fishing.
Earle “Roo” Wood, III, from Easton, MD and his family group including his Dad and a couple of cousins fished with Capt. Ed Hurst and I in Little Sarasota Bay on Tuesday morning. Several snook, a jack and a sheepshead were caught and released on my boat on DOA shrimp, Tiny TerrorEyz, CAL jigs and Deadly Combos. Anglers on Capt. Ed’s boat caught and released snook, redfish and ladyfish.
Thursday’s trip in the same area with a fly angler came up empty. The tide was good, the water looked good and the angler did a great job covering mangrove shorelines, sand and oyster bars with a variety of flies, but it just wasn’t happening. I spent Friday up in the Terra Ceia Bay area as a camera boat filming an episode of The Outdoor Channel’s TV show “Shallow Water Angler”. My friend, Capt. Ray Markham and host, Florida sportsman magazine editor Jeff Weakley, fished from one boat while I followed along with the cameraman/director. They had fast action with numerous snook and a pair of pompano on a variety of jigs and soft plastic baits.
Next week’s tides should be favorable for reds and snook on the flats, particularly toward the end of the week. Juvenile tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor should also be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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