Good Sarasota Bay Flats and Night Snook Action
Capt. Rick Grassett
January 31, 2014
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, blues, pompano and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and top water plugs and snook and blues at night on flies in the ICW near Venice during the past couple of weeks. Despite water in the low 60's, Spanish mackerel are still around with blues, trout and pompano in the mix.
Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 1/20. He caught and released trout, blues and ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies near Bishop Point. Anna Maria and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, also fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday morning, 1/21. They had steady action fishing deep grass flats with Spanish mackerel and trout at Stephens Point on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
The warmest water of the day is in the evening, especially when an outgoing tide flushes out water that is warmed on shallow flats by the afternoon sun. That was the case on Wednesday evening, 1/22, when Phil Rever, from Sarasota, FL and Steve White, from Raleigh, NC, fished the ICW near Venice with me. They caught and released a dozen or more snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. With the water temperature in the low 60's that night, snook were happy, healthy and swimming away strong when released. They also caught and released 5 or 6 blues in the 3 to 4-pound class and lost flies to a few others. Blues are often encountered in the cooler water that we have in winter in the same areas that we find snook at night. They are sometimes so aggressive in a spot that they can push the snook out, although it's not a problem since the blues fight as good as or better than the snook!
I monitor water temperature closely this time of year and when the water temperature dropped a little more on Thursday, 1/23, we decided it was best to cancel that night's snook fly fishing trip. Since snook may become stressed when water temperatures drop into the 50's, I avoid catching them at that time. More cold air poured in as another reinforcing front passed through on Friday morning, 1/24 and it was cold and windy. Since my fly fishing clients for that day are regulars who are here for several months we decided to wait for more civilized conditions.
It was a little warmer and less windy on Saturday, 1/25, when Marshall Dinerman, from Atlanta, GA, fished Sarasota Bay with me. We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where he caught and released numerous trout and a few blues on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and top water plugs.
My sister, Michelle Mumford and nephew, Eli Mumford, both from Dagsboro, DE and my wife, Karen and I fished Sarasota Bay on Monday, 1/27. We caught and released several nice Spanish mackerel on DOA Deadly Combos and Ultra Hair Clouser flies at the Middleground and Radio Tower flats. Bill Flader, from Madison, WI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 1/28. He had a great day with a fly rod catching and releasing numerous trout, large ladyfish and Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds on Ultra Hair and Coyote Clouser flies, fishing deep grass flats on both sides of the bay. The last fish of the day was the largest mackerel which quickly took him into his backing. A great way to finish!
A front came through on Wednesday, 1/29 when Bill Moore, from Libertyville, IL, fished Sarasota Bay with me. It was cool and cloudy with a north wind so we fished Stephens Point on the east side of the bay. An antique WWII bomber buzzed us while we fished. The things you see on the water! Despite tough conditions, Bill had good action with trout, ladyfish and a couple of pompano to 3 ½-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. Thursday and Friday, 1/30 and 31 were cool and rainy with not much sun, so no fishing.
I'll be a seminar speaker at the Florida Sportsman Fishing Show at the Lee County Civic Center on Bayshore Rd (east of I-75) in Ft. Myers, FL this Saturday and Sunday, Feb 1 and 2. I'll be on the Inshore Seminar Stage at noon each day with a Power Point presentation on "Winter Tactics with Lures and Flies". I'll also be at the DOA booth so stop by to say hello and check out the latest from Mark Nichols and DOA Fishing Lures. Show hours are 10 AM-5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM-4 PM on Sunday. For a discount coupon and more details visit www.FloridaSportsman.com/Expo .
Look for reds and big trout in potholes when the tide is low. They may also feed on shallow grass flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and more should continue to be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Forecast for February 2014
Trout and redfish should be a good shallow water option in Sarasota Bay this month. You may also find trout along with blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and flounder on deep grass flats. Silver trout may mix with spotted sea trout on deep grass flats close to passes. Look for sheepshead, flounder, reds and more around docks. Catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks in the ICW may be a good option if it's not too cold. Spanish and king mackerel and cobia may show up in the coastal gulf by the end of the month.
Snook season remains closed this month, so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. Since they are temperature sensitive, I won't target them following strong fronts when water temperatures dip below 60 degrees. However, I have had some great night trips catching and releasing snook on flies in the ICW at night this time of year. Since larger baitfish aren't that plentiful this time of year, snook will gorge themselves on glass minnows and shrimp. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DOA shrimp or CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms will all work well.
You may also find snook in rivers, creeks or canals this month. Fishing may be good in these areas on a blustery day when it isn't fit to fish anywhere else. I like wider profile flies and lures in these areas due to the baitfish that may be found there. Fly anglers should score with wide profile baitfish patterns, such as Lefty's Deceiver, fished on a sink tip fly line. Spin anglers should do well with CAL jigs and jerk worms, DOA Baitbusters or suspending plugs. Fish the deep spots, usually on outside bends, for the best action.
You might find reds in potholes or along the edges of bars and shallow flats when the tide is low. As the tide rises, they will feed higher on shallow flats, particularly on sunny afternoons. I like 1/16-ounce CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms for reds in shallow water. If it is too shallow or grassy to fish an exposed hook, a Mustad or Owner weedless hook will allow you to fish plastic baits in these areas. Fly anglers should score with lightly weighted flies, like Clousers or my Grassett Flats Minnow, with weed guards on floating lines with 10'-12' leaders. You may also find big trout in skinny water in the same places you find reds. The same lures, flies and techniques that you use to target reds will work for big trout in those areas. I release all trout over 20" since they are usually females and I feel that they are important to the health of our trout fishery.
You'll also find trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. I like flats that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. Flats that are close to passes, such as the Midleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats, are often good choices unless the water is dirty. Following fronts, silted up water will cover deep grass flats close to passes, often affecting fishing in those areas. You may also find silver trout on deep grass flats close to passes. Last January, the flats inside of Big Pass held lots of silver trout.
There are other good grass flats in Sarasota Bay that are on points or around bars, such as Stephens and Bishop Point and near Longboat Key Moorings, Long Bar and Buttonwood Harbor. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails, DOA Deadly Combos or weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to locate trout. Once you've located them you can shorten your drift or anchor on them.
In addition to trout, you may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder or pompano, depending on water temperature and conditions, on deep grass flats. The technique to find them is the same as for trout, although there may be other clues. Pompano may "skip" on the surface when you drift or run past them giving their presence away. When that happens, set up a drift upwind of where you saw a pompano and cast ahead of your drift. Blues and Spanish mackerel may force bait out of the water or feed on the surface. You may need to add heavy fluorocarbon or wire when blues and mackerel are mixed with trout on deep grass flats.
Fishing docks is another good option this time of year, especially when the tide is low. You might find reds, sheepshead or flounder under docks. I like docks that are deep (3' or more) and have a good tidal flow. Fish the end of long piers to find the deepest water. Also, look for big boats moored on docks or on boat lifts, which is also an indication of deeper water. Older docks with lots of barnacle and oyster growth usually hold more baitfish and predators. I like CAL jigs with shad tails, grubs or jerk worms or weighted flies fished on sink tip fly lines when fishing docks. Be sure to let your jig or fly get down close to the bottom. Tipping a jig with small piece of fresh shrimp will up your odds for sheepshead. If you use too much it will ruin the action of your jig.
There may be some action in the coastal gulf by the end of the month with king and Spanish mackerel and cobia. When the water warms to the high 60's to low 70's, these fish will move into our area from the south as they migrate north. Look for Spanish mackerel on the surface or in passes. Cobia may be swimming on the surface, around buoys, channel markers and crab trap floats or over structure. You should find silver trout over grass or structure in areas such as Point of Rocks off Siesta Key.
February can be a tough month to fish. With frequent fronts and cool water, fish aren't always in an eating mood. If you're able to pick good tides combined with favorable weather conditions, you should be successful. If you don't have that luxury, you might do better by sleeping in and fishing later in the day when it's warmer. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for February 2014
Trout and redfish should be a good shallow water option in Sarasota Bay this month. You may also find trout along with blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and flounder on deep grass flats. Silver trout may mix with spotted sea trout on deep grass flats close to passes. Look for sheepshead, flounder, reds and more around docks. Catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks in the ICW may be a good option if it's not too cold. Spanish and king mackerel and cobia may show up in the coastal gulf by the end of the month depending on conditions.
Snook season remains closed this month, so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. Since they are temperature sensitive, I won't target them following strong fronts when water temperatures dip below 60 degrees. However, I have had some great night trips catching and releasing snook on flies in the ICW at night this time of year. Since larger baitfish aren't that plentiful this time of year, snook will gorge themselves on glass minnows and shrimp. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, glass minnow patterns or Shrimp Gurglers will all work well.
You may also find snook in rivers, creeks or canals this month. Fishing may be good in these areas on a blustery day when it isn't fit to fish anywhere else. I like wider profile flies in these areas due to the baitfish that may be found there. Fly anglers should score with baitfish patterns, such as Lefty's Deceiver or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny, fished on a sink tip fly line. Fish the deep spots, usually in bends in the river, for the best action.
You might find reds in potholes or along the edges of bars and shallow flats when the tide is low. As the tide rises, they will feed higher on shallow flats, particularly on sunny afternoons. Fly anglers should score with lightly weighted flies, like Clousers or my Grassett Flats Minnow, with weed guards on floating lines with 10'-12' leaders. You may also find big trout in skinny water in the same places you find reds. The same flies and techniques that you use to target reds will work for big trout in those areas. I release all trout over 20" since they are usually females and I feel that they are important to the health of our trout fishery.
You'll also find trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. I like flats that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. Flats that are close to passes, such as the Midleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats, are often good choices unless the water is dirty. Following fronts, silted up water will cover deep grass flats close to passes, often affecting fishing in those areas. You may also find silver trout on deep grass flats close to passes. Last winter the flats inside of Big Pass held lots of silver trout.
There are other good grass flats in Sarasota Bay that are on points or around bars, such as Stephens and Bishop Point and near Longboat Key Moorings, Long Bar and Buttonwood Harbor. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with weighted flies, like my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny, on sink tip fly lines to locate trout. Once you've located them you can shorten your drift or anchor on them.
In addition to trout, you may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, flounder or pompano, depending on water temperature and conditions, on deep grass flats. The technique to find them is the same as for trout, although there may be other clues. Pompano may "skip" on the surface when you drift or run past them giving their presence away. When that happens, set up a drift upwind of where you saw a pompano and cast ahead of your drift. Blues and Spanish mackerel may force bait out of the water or feed on the surface. You may need to add heavy fluorocarbon or wire when blues and mackerel are mixed with trout on deep grass flats. I like to use Ultra Hair Clouser flies, tied on long shank hooks leaving a portion of the hook shank exposed as a bite guard, when toothy fish are around.
Fishing docks is another good option this time of year, especially when the tide is low. You might find reds, sheepshead or flounder under docks. I like docks that are deep (3' or more) and have a good tidal flow. Fish the end of long piers to find the deepest water. Also, look for big boats moored on docks or on boat lifts, which is also an indication of deeper water. Older docks with lots of barnacle and oyster growth usually hold more baitfish and predators. I like weighted flies, like Clousers, fished on sink tip fly lines when fishing docks. Be sure to let your fly get down close to the bottom.
There may be some action in the coastal gulf by the end of the month with Spanish mackerel and cobia depending on conditions. When the water warms to the high 60's to low 70's, these fish will move into our area from the south as they migrate north. Look for Spanish mackerel on the surface or in passes. Cobia may be swimming on the surface, around buoys, channel markers and crab trap floats or over structure. You should find silver trout over grass or structure in areas such as Point of Rocks off Siesta Key. It may be necessary to use fast sinking fly lines when fish are holding over structure in deep water.
February can be a tough month to fish. With frequent fronts and cool water, fish aren't always in an eating mood. If you're able to pick good tides combined with favorable weather conditions, you should be successful. If you don't have that luxury, you might do better by sleeping in and fishing later in the day when it's warmer. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Target Species:
reds, snook, trout, flounder, pompano, Spanish mackerel, blues
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