Good Action on Sarasota Bay Deep Grass Flats
Capt. Rick Grassett
March 24, 2013
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, flounder, redfish and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay and snook and bluefish in the ICW near Venice at night and flies on lures during the past week.
Kurt Lange and his son, Charlie, from Dallas, TX, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 3/11. We fished several deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where they caught and released trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.
A front moved through on Tuesday morning and with rain and wind that morning, we chose not to fish. Kurt and Charlie Lange got back out with me on Wednesday evening, 3/13. We fished dock lights in the ICW in Little Sarasota and Blackburn Bays. Despite very windy conditions, they had good action catching and releasing more than a dozen snook and a bluefish on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
It was also very windy on Thursday, but conditions improved when Mike Perez, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 3/15. He caught and released trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly on deep grass near Whale Key. He also had a few shots at reds and large trout in shallow water with a fly.
I was the instructor for an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing school at CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Saturday, 3/16. Students learned how to cast a fly, shoot line, the roll cast, leader construction and saltwater fly fishing techniques. The next school is scheduled for April 13, 2013. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.
I participated in fishing a large group of anglers organized by CB's Saltwater Outfitters out of the Sarasota Hyatt on Tuesday afternoon, 3/19. Vaughn Beasley, from Jacksonville, FL, and John Kelly and his daughter, Laura Kelly, both from MD, fished Sarasota Bay with me that afternoon. We fished the west side of the bay from the Middleground flat to Whale Key where they caught and released about a dozen trout to 19" and a Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos.
Wednesday's trip was cancelled due to rain and wind that morning. We waited on it for more than an hour at the boat ramp, but conditions didn't improve. Mike Perez, from Sarasota, FL, and, Ken McElheny, from Ft. Myers, FL fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday afternoon, 3/21. They had steady action with trout and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats at Stephens Point and near Whale Key on CAL jigs with shad tails, DOA Deadly Combos and Ultra Hair Clouser flies. We also spent some time in shallow water hunting reds where they caught and released a red and a flounder on a CAL jig with a shad tail near Long Bar.
Anna Maria Island and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 3/22. We fished deep grass flats on both sides of the bay. They caught and released trout and several nice Spanish mackerel, including a 4-pounder on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines.
My niece, Hannah Mumford, and her friend, Lindsay Hardt , both from DE, visited Sarasota for spring break and fished Sarasota Bay with my wife, Karen, and me on Saturday, 3/23. They caught and released trout and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails at Stephens Point.
Tides are good next week as we approach a full moon. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW from Sarasota to Venice should be a good option later in the week. Look for reds and big trout in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high. There should also be good action with trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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