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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
March 19, 2006
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 3/11 through 3/19/2006
Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released a variety of fish from the Terra Ceia Bay area to Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor during the past week. Fly anglers scored with trout, pompano, redfish and ladyfish while those using spinning tackle caught trout, ladyfish, reds and a Spanish mackerel. The best action was in Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with trout and reds.
I fished the Terra Ceia Bay area last weekend on Saturday and Sunday with a fly angler one day and spin anglers the other day. We found lots of reds that wouldn’t eat anything. Fly angler, Gary Corson from New Sharon, ME connected with a red on my Flats Minnow fly, but that was the only bite we had from reds. Gary is an experienced angler and a fly fishing guide in the deep, woods of northern Maine, so he knew what he was doing. Anglers using spinning tackle caught and released several trout and ladyfish.
I fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with long time customers, Dick Reece from Dayton, OH, and Pat Campbell, from Toronto, OH, on Monday. We had a good trout bite, catching more than 25 trout, with about 1/3 of them in the slot including one over 4-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. I fished Little Sarasota Bay and Blackburn Bay on Tuesday with fly and spinning tackle. It was slow, with a few ladyfish on CAL jigs with shad tails and Ultra Hair Clouser flies. The highlight was a pompano caught and released with an Ultra Hair Clouser fly by Rob Smith, from Osprey, FL.
Wednesday’s trip with Bill Moore, from IL, in Charlotte Harbor had some quality fish. A front had pushed through the afternoon before and the wind was up, gusting over 20-mph on Wednesday morning, but by noon the wind was down and it was beautiful. Bill caught and released about 6 trout, all about 18”, a nice Spanish mackerel and a pair of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. We found the reds on outside sand bars of Gasparilla Sound and the trout in potholes in Placida Harbor.
Fly angler, Jim Ewoldt from St. Louis, MO, fished the same area with me on Thursday. Although conditions were near perfect, fishing was slower. Jim caught and released about a dozen trout, including one in the slot and a redfish on Clousers and my Flats Minnow fly. We waded a sand bar, where Jim had a half dozen or more good shots at reds cruising the bar. After numerous refusals, follows and them even putting their nose right on the fly, Jim caught and released a red on a tri-color, tan, chartreuse and olive Clouser.
We had another successful Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Saturday. Capt. Ed Hurst and I instructed 6 students from ages 16 to 80 and all made good progress by the end of the day. With fly fishing, as in a lot of other skill sports, a little practice goes a long way.
Next week’s two tide days are good ones with over 2 ½ feet of water moving. Fishing for reds and trout should be good on the flats of lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound. There are reports of Spanish mackerel and cobia showing up just off our beaches from Longboat Key to Casey Key. With water temperatures in the low 70’s, I think spring has sprung. Baitfish are becoming plentiful and fishing should get hot over the next few weeks.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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