Good Sarasota & Gasparilla Sound Flats and Night Snook Action
Capt. Rick Grassett
April 13, 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 snook, reds, trout, flounder, bluefish and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay and snook, trout and redfish in Gasparilla Sound on flies and a variety of DOA lures during the past couple of weeks. Fly anglers also had good action catching and releasing snook at night in the ICW near Venice. Shallow water action with reds, snook and big trout turned on and a couple of anglers scored slams.
Jake Harms and his dad Randy Harms, both from Toledo, OH, fished the east side of Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 3/31. They had good action with trout, bluefish and a nice Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Jeff Wolber, his young son Will and friend, Cam, all from Cincinnati, OH, fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay with me on Tuesday, 4/1. They had good action catching and releasing trout and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Nick Reding, from Longboat Key, FL and Mike Perez, from Sarasota, FL, went on a redfish mission with me on Wednesday, 4/2. We waded and fly fished a couple of shallow flats on both sides of the bay and caught and released a few trout and a bluefish on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. Mike caught and released the fish of the day, a 33" red, on a Clouser fly!
Tim Graham, from Nokomis, FL and Pat Redmond, from Sarasota, FL, fished the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound near Boca Grande with me on Thursday, 4/3. They caught and released trout to 19", a 27" snook and a 27" red on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. Pat scored with the snook around mid day and we worked hard for the big red that he caught at the end of the day to complete his slam!
Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL, and Doug Manning, from Largo, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 4/4. We fished shallow and deep flats on both sides of the bay where they had good action catching releasing trout, Spanish mackerel, snook and a red on CAL jigs with shad tails. Bill caught and released a nice snook and then followed it with a big trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail. I think it's very important to release big trout since they are usually females that are full of roe. This one was a perfect example, 24" and weighing 5-pounds due to a belly full of roe. With 2/3 of a slam under his belt we fished hard for a red. He hooked one only to have the hook pull, so we went into overtime and he completed his slam with a 27" red to end the day!
Siesta Key winter resident, Frank Watson and his grandson, Eric Watson, both from OH, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday morning, 4/7. With an approaching front and a strong south wind, we headed south of the Ringling Bridge for some protection. The wind cranked up to more than 20-mph by the end of our trip and they had good action with trout to 18", a nice black sea bass and flounder caught and released on DOA Shrimp. Anna Maria and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, snook fished with me in the ICW near Venice that evening. We fished only a couple of spots and they caught and released a few snook and ladyfish on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly before a mechanical problem sent me to the dock early.
A front came through on Tuesday, 4/8 with heavy rain and wind and the wind continued to blow above 20-mph all day Wednesday, so we didn't fish those days. David Morgan, from Sarasota, FL, fished Stephens Point in Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday morning, 4/10 and caught and released a few trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly. Mark Wayde, from MI, snook fished with me in the ICW near Venice that evening and had good action catching and releasing numerous snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
Longtime friend, client and Sarasota winter resident, Norm Boardman from CT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 4/11. We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where he caught and released trout and ladyfish on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly. The action wasn't fast but it was steady, with some decent trout to 18".
I was the instructor for an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school at CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Saturday., 4/12 The school, which was the last one until fall, covered fly casting basics, shooting line, roll casting, leader construction and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Look for information on future Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Schools and Orvis Fly Fishing 101 classes, a 2-hr introductory fly fishing class, at www.cbsoutfitters.com.
With a full moon on Tues, April 15th tides will be good next week, particularly outgoing tides in the afternoon. Look for reds, snook and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay. Fishing deep grass flats for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more should continue to be a good option. There should also be good action in the coastal gulf with Spanish and king mackerel, false albacore (little tunny) and tripletail depending on conditions.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
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