Good Action and Variety on Sarasota Bay Deep Grass Flats
Capt. Rick Grassett
April 24, 2016
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 blues, Spanish mackerel and trout in Sarasota Bay on flies and CAL jigs with shad tails during the past couple of weeks.
Henry Hinman, from Sarasota, FL, fished deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with me on Sunday. 4/10 and had some action catching and releasing trout and bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Rob Singer, from Sarasota, FL and Mike Vanek, from Portland, OR had good action on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with bluefish, Spanish mackerel and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails on Monday, 4/11.
Jamie Carver, from Parrish, FL and his dad Bill Wolf, from Venice, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday, 4/13 and had decent action catching and releasing trout and bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies. Dylan and Lindsey Lewis, from CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 4/15 and had good action catching and releasing a variety of species including trout, Spanish mackerel, big ladyfish and a small shark on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. I was the instructor for CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, 4/16. It was the last one of the spring season, however the schools will resume in the fall. Contact me or CB's Saltwater Outfitters at [email protected] for more information.
Gary Marple, from Sarasota, FL, fished deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 4/18 and had some action catching and releasing trout and bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Orvis Social Media manager Tucker Kimball and his son Harrison, from VT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday, 4/19 and had good action catching and releasing a variety of species including trout, Spanish mackerel and big ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails. Tucker also had a shot at a big cobia that chased his fly all the way to the boat. It was Harrison's first guided fishing trip and he did well! On Wednesday, 4/20's trip in the coastal gulf, we spotted several tarpon and had some action with tripletail on flies.
Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key and I fished the Sarasota CCA "Photo All-Release Challenge" on Saturday, 4/23. Spin and fly anglers fished for snook, reds and trout with identical boxes of lures or flies in a catch, photo, release format. There were some good catches recorded in the tournament, including reds to 33" and snook to 37". Congratulations to the overall winner in the spin fishing division, the Grand Slam, Scott Dalton from Bradenton, FL and the Fly Fishing Division winner, Steve Parker from Tampa, FL!
As winner of the Fly Fishing Division, Steve also took the Fly Fishing Club Competition trophy back to his club, the Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club, to be displayed at their club for the following year. The sister tournament to this event, the MCFF/CCA "Fall Fly Fishing Challenge" will be held on Oct 28 and 29, 2016. Visit www.fallflyfishingchallenge.com for more info.
Tarpon will become more plentiful in the coastal gulf as water temperatures rise. Trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and more should be good options on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds, snook and big trout mixed with mullet schools or cruising shallow flats and edges of bars in backcountry areas of Charlotte Harbor and lower Tampa Bay. Night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with flies and DOA Lures should also be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
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