Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 4/27 through 5/3/2003
Posted: Sat May 03, 2003 10:39 amAnglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught a variety of fish during the past week. Fly anglers caught and released snook, trout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Spin anglers caught and released trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle. The best action was on deep grass flats with trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel. Reds and snook on shallow flats were challenging, but a few nice reds were caught and released.
Monday’s trip with a fly angler in Sarasota Bay was tough. The goal was to sight-fish reds and snook only and they proved to be difficult. Other than a large snook that was hooked on an Enrico Puglisi Everglades Special fly early in the trip, we covered a lot of water and cast to reds that were unwilling to eat.
Jamie Jeffries and Darryl Rush, both from Dallas, TX, fished the same water with me on Tuesday with better results. They caught and released trout and ladyfish on jigs and a pair of reds to 27” on weedless-rigged CAL shad tails near Buttonwood Harbor. The best action was on the outgoing tide in the afternoon. The following day we fished the Terra Ceia Bay area to see if we could pick up the pace. They caught and released one red and numerous trout on CAL jigs and DOA shrimp.
One of the best trips of the week was on Thursday with Bernie and Peggy Blanche, from Copperhill, TN. We fished Sarasota Bay and had great action with trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel on Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies at the Middleground flat. We moved to a shallow flat near Bishop Point at the top of the tide and found reds and snook cruising a mangrove shoreline. They caught and released a pair of reds to 28” on weedless-rigged CAL shad tails. One of the most rewarding fish was a snook that was sight-fished on the edge of an oyster bar. The fish took an olive/white Clouser fly on the second cast. We watched her kick in the afterburner when she decided to eat!
Fly anglers, Seth Koch from Silver Springs, MD, and Bill Miller, from Monroe, LA, fished the same water with me on Friday. After a pre-dawn start to target snook under dock lights, which only produced a couple of ladyfish, we moved to the Middleground flat. They caught and released numerous trout, ladyfish and jack crevalle on Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies. The shallow flats refused to give up any reds or snook, although we had numerous shots at fish cruising along mangrove shorelines.
Reports of tarpon along Sarasota area beaches are increasing. As we head toward the full moon on the 16th, I expect tarpon to become dependable. Strong outgoing tides in the afternoon and evening next week should be productive for snook and reds on the flats.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail [email protected]
www.snookfin-addict.com or www.flyfishingflorida.net
Monday’s trip with a fly angler in Sarasota Bay was tough. The goal was to sight-fish reds and snook only and they proved to be difficult. Other than a large snook that was hooked on an Enrico Puglisi Everglades Special fly early in the trip, we covered a lot of water and cast to reds that were unwilling to eat.
Jamie Jeffries and Darryl Rush, both from Dallas, TX, fished the same water with me on Tuesday with better results. They caught and released trout and ladyfish on jigs and a pair of reds to 27” on weedless-rigged CAL shad tails near Buttonwood Harbor. The best action was on the outgoing tide in the afternoon. The following day we fished the Terra Ceia Bay area to see if we could pick up the pace. They caught and released one red and numerous trout on CAL jigs and DOA shrimp.
One of the best trips of the week was on Thursday with Bernie and Peggy Blanche, from Copperhill, TN. We fished Sarasota Bay and had great action with trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel on Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies at the Middleground flat. We moved to a shallow flat near Bishop Point at the top of the tide and found reds and snook cruising a mangrove shoreline. They caught and released a pair of reds to 28” on weedless-rigged CAL shad tails. One of the most rewarding fish was a snook that was sight-fished on the edge of an oyster bar. The fish took an olive/white Clouser fly on the second cast. We watched her kick in the afterburner when she decided to eat!
Fly anglers, Seth Koch from Silver Springs, MD, and Bill Miller, from Monroe, LA, fished the same water with me on Friday. After a pre-dawn start to target snook under dock lights, which only produced a couple of ladyfish, we moved to the Middleground flat. They caught and released numerous trout, ladyfish and jack crevalle on Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies. The shallow flats refused to give up any reds or snook, although we had numerous shots at fish cruising along mangrove shorelines.
Reports of tarpon along Sarasota area beaches are increasing. As we head toward the full moon on the 16th, I expect tarpon to become dependable. Strong outgoing tides in the afternoon and evening next week should be productive for snook and reds on the flats.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail [email protected]
www.snookfin-addict.com or www.flyfishingflorida.net