Best Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor Action in Skinny Water
Capt. Rick Grassett
February 1, 2009
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout and bluefish on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay recently. In addition, we caught larger trout in Sarasota Bay and reds and snook in Gasparilla Sound in skinny water. Water temperatures cooled to the high 50's and low 60's early in the week of Jan. 19th, slowing the pompano bite that was going on prior to that. However, fishing for trout and blues on deep grass flats remained good.
Rick Stoneman, from Toronto, Ontario, and a couple of friends fished a cool, windy afternoon on Weds, Jan 21. Despite poor conditions they had good action with mostly ladyfish and trout at the Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats. Keith McClintock and Hal D'Orazio, both from Lake Forest, IL, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday. The action was slow to start, but they finished the day with 4 reds to 24" and a few nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails. Carter Fox, from VA, and a guest fished a ½ day in Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We were still feeling the effects of cool water, but they managed trout and blues on several deep grass flats in north Sarasota Bay with CAL jigs.
I was the instructor at a CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school on Saturday, Jan 24th. The next class, which includes a textbook, instructional DVD, the use of premium Orvis fly tackle and lunch is scheduled for Feb. 28. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.
My sister, Michelle Mumford, and her friend, Bill Walterhoefer, both from Dagsboro, DE, visited me the following week. We fished Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound on several trips. My wife, Karen Grassett, joined us on one of the trips in Sarasota Bay. We caught more than 15 trout to 17" and a dozen bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos at the Middleground flat. A trip in Little Sarasota Bay produced trout and ladyfish. Another trip in Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor was a little slow in the morning but got better in the afternoon. Bill caught and released a 34" snook that weighed 11 ½-pounds on a CAL jig with a jerk worm in Turtle Bay. Nice fish!
Harry Beaty and Paul Rotz, both from Toronto, Ontario, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. The morning was slow with short trout and blues, but the afternoon got better. After lunch we moved into skinny water, where we sight fished trout in potholes. They landed about ten trout from 17" to 20" on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms near Long Bar. This time of the year when the water is cool, fishing is often better in the afternoon when the water warms a few degrees.
Next week's tides will improve towards the end of the week as we head towards a full moon on Feb. 9th. A cold front this weekend and a reinforcing front early in the week will probably cool the water again and slow fishing for a few days. Fish protected water in the afternoon for the best action.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Fishing Forecast for February 2009
February is one of the tougher months of the year for fishing, although if you fish smart, it can be good. Weather and tide are the two biggest factors and although we can't control weather, we can predict it and we can choose the best tides for whatever species we are targeting. Fish will feed more as fronts are approaching and the barometer is falling. High pressure behind a front makes fishing tougher due to cool air and wind. Negative low tides, surrounding the new and full moons will concentrate reds and trout in potholes. If you are flexible as to when you can fish, you can be there under the best weather and tide conditions.
Reds and trout are two species that are less affected by cold water. We will have negative low tides on either side of the full moon on Feb. 9th and the new moon on Feb. 24th. This will concentrate reds, trout and maybe snook, depending on water temperature, in potholes on flats and along sand bar drop-offs. This is a real advantage because instead of fishing 100% of the water to locate fish, you may only need to fish 50% of the water. The downside to negative low tides is that it makes it tough to move around in a boat on the flats. You may not be able to get to a spot that you want to fish in your boat, however you can wade from pothole to pothole and be very effective. As the tide rises, fish will spread out on the flats and may tail on shallow flats, particularly in Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor.
Pay attention to dry flats with wading birds on them, since this is where reds may also be feeding when the tide rises. I occasionally see reds tail in north Sarasota Bay and lower Tampa Bay but not to the extent that I see them in Charlotte Harbor. I like to use jigs and weighted flies when targeting reds and trout in potholes. Slow your presentation down and work your lure or fly along the bottom of potholes. When fishing in shallow grass, you will need to use weedless-rigged plastic baits or flies with weed guards or that suspend in the water column.
You will also find lots of action with trout, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish on deep grass flats from 3' to 7' deep. I like to drift and cast lures and flies ahead of my drift to locate fish. Sarasota Bay has lots of good grass flats for this type of fishing. The Marina Jack flat, Radio Tower flat, Middleground flat, Stephens Point and Bishops Point are a few of my favorites. It is best to fish these areas when the tide is moving. Look for baitfish, diving birds or fish feeding near the surface. If none of these things are obvious, cast to "seams" where light (sand) and dark (grass) bottom meet. You might also find pompano in these areas if it's not too cold. Look for them "skipping" on the surface to indicate their presence. You may also find pompano, blues and ladyfish in Sarasota's Big Pass or New Pass. Sometimes there may be surface activity to give their presence away, but usually you'll need to drift to locate them. In shallower areas you can cast ahead of the drift and in deeper portions of passes you can drift and jig vertically.
Fishing around docks, especially when the tide is low, is an effective technique for reds, snook, flounder, sheepshead or jacks. I like docks that have deep water, crusty pilings and a good tidal flow. Cast your jig or fly as close to the structure as possible and let it sink before beginning your retrieve. You can also use live shrimp or tip a jig with small pieces of fresh shrimp, particularly if sheepshead are there.
Snook (catch and release only during February) are more temperature sensitive than most other species. When the water is below 60 degrees, I won't target them since their survivability is questionable when it is that cold. However, I have found snook feeding heavily with water temperatures in the low 60's. You'll find them in rivers, creeks and canals this month, although on sunny afternoons they may venture on to shallow flats to feed. One of the most effective areas to fish this time of the year is in the ICW at night. The area known as "snook alley" from Blackburn Bay to south of the Venice Inlet is an excellent area to fish for snook. You will want to fish when there is a good tidal flow for the best action. I like to anchor my flats skiff a cast away (40'-50') and slightly up tide of the dock or bridge fender that I am going to fish. Cast up tide of the area with jigs, plastic shrimp or flies and let the tide swing your bait towards the shadow line as you work your lure or fly across the current.
On a nice day, you might venture into the coastal gulf. Bluefish or little tunny may be feeding on the surface. Look for birds, particularly terns, hovering just above the water, and baitfish or predators "breaking" the surface to find them. Jigs, flies or top water plugs will all work in this situation. Another option is to look for birds rafted up on the surface. This usually indicates bait that is deeper in the water column. If you hang out next to them, predators may pass through the area and force baitfish to the surface. This can be more effective than trying to get ahead of fish feeding on the surface. Let them find you instead of covering lots of empty water to find them.
I usually let the fish and conditions determine what I will do on any given day. If you have flexibility as to when you can fish, try to fish ahead of approaching fronts. Negative low tides will concentrate fish for you making them easier to find. Afternoons may be better than mornings on cold days following fronts. One of my favorite things to do this month is to target reds and trout in potholes or reds tailing on shallow grass flats. Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Target Species:
trout, bluefish, pompano, reds and snook
More Fishing Reports:
