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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
October 16, 2005
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 10/9 through 10/16/2005
Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitter’s on Siesta Key, had good action with a variety of species during the past week. Anglers using conventional tackle scored with tarpon, redfish, snook, trout, crevalle jacks, bluefish and pompano. Fly anglers caught and released snook, mangrove snapper and a sheepshead.
Keith McClintock and Barry Slee, both from Lake Forest, IL, fished with me on Monday and Wednesday. We fished the Peace River and canal systems of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte on Monday. They caught and released a 30-pound tarpon, one of 4 tarpon jumped. All of the tarpon ate a DOA TerrorEyz crawled slowly along the bottom.
Keith and Barry also fish the Charlotte Harbor area near Boca Grande with me frequently, but since lower Tampa Bay has been fishing well, they opted to fish that area on Wednesday. It proved to be a good choice, since we had fast action most of the day.
We fished the Terra Ceia area where they caught and released about 15 snook to 23”on CAL jigs. The highlight of the day was when we found a school of about 200 redfish with large jacks and bluefish mixed with them. With all the red tide that has been around north Sarasota Bay this fall, this was the 1st school of reds that I’d found this season. Keith and Barry doubled twice as we approached the school and one time I couldn’t resist throwing a MirrOlure She Dog, Jr. into the school and we tripled. Along with 5 big reds to 30”, we also caught a 5-pound jack and a 5-pound bluefish out of the school. We finished the day with a few more snook, another redfish and several trout. Most fish were caught on CAL jigs with shad tails.
George Brown, from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, and his guest, Jason Trochessett from Naples, FL, fished Charlotte Harbor near Boca Grande with me on Friday. George was the successful bidder on a 2-day fishing package in the Sarasota area at the Jacksonville, FL CCA banquet. Included in the package was a day of fishing with me, a day with Capt. Kelly Stillwell and lodging at Siesta Suites on Siesta Key. We had good action with snook, although fishing got slow in the middle of the day at the top of the tide. They caught more than a dozen snook to 26”, a small redfish, several mangrove snapper and a sheepshead. Most fish were on a bendback fly and the rest were on CAL jigs with shad tails and a gold spoon. Many of the snook were small, but they still smacked the fly or lure like the big boys!
On Saturday afternoon, Capt. Ray Markham and I fished a group of 4 anglers in the Terra Ceia area. Fly anglers, Michael and Laura Ekwall from NV, fished with me and Emory and Roy Jewell, from Tampa, FL, fished with Capt. Ray. We caught and released a few fish on a variety of flies, including snook, trout and mangrove snapper. Capt. Ray’s boat, with spin anglers, had good action with snook, trout, grouper and a nice redfish on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Next week’s strong outgoing tides in the morning should be good for snook and redfish on the flats. Reds may tail on shallow grass flats of Gasparilla and Pine Island Sound. In addition, juvenile tarpon action is reaching a peak in upper Charlotte Harbor.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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