Good Red and Trout Action in Sarasota Bay & Gasparilla Sound
Capt. Rick Grassett
April 1, 2012
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released mostly trout, including numerous slot size and larger fish, reds, flounder and snook on flies and jigs during the past couple of weeks.
We fished the Marina Jack and Middleground flats and near Whale Key in Sarasota Bay on Sunday, 3/18 and Wednesday, 3/21 and caught and released silver and spotted sea trout to 19" on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. Paul Denesha and his son, Avery, from IN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday morning, 3/20. We focused on potholes in skinny water near Long Bar where they caught and released 7 or 8 trout on a Lefty's Deceiver fly and a CAL jig with a shad tail. St. Pete winter resident, Wes Demmon, fished Sarasota Bay with me that afternoon. With the sea breeze and tide up, we fished skinny water on the west side of the bay. Wes caught and released 5 reds to 23" and a few trout near Bishop Point and Buttonwood Harbor on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. A great afternoon!
Harry Beaty and Chris Denney, from Ontario, Canada, fished Gasparilla Sound with me on Friday, 3/23. They had good action near Sandfly and Devilfish Keys with trout to 22" on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Deadly Combos. Harry also caught a 22" red on a CAL jig with a shad tail in Turtle Bay.
We had a couple of slower days last week, however in addition to trout we also caught and released a nice flounder, redfish and snook on flies. Action was slow for us in Sarasota Bay on Monday, 3/26 but we did catch and release a 5 ¼-pound trout on a CAL jig with a shad tail near Whale Key that day. Longboat Key winter resident Nick Reding and Greg Geoffroy, from IA, fished with me on Tuesday, 3/27. We waded several bars on both sides of Sarasota Bay and they caught and released a few trout and a nice flounder on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly. Bill Moore, from IL, had a good trip when he fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday, 3/28. He caught and released silver and spotted trout to 18" on CAL jigs with shad and 4" jerk worm tails at the Marina Jack and Middleground flats and near Whale Key.
The action was also good on Thursday morning, 3/29 when Anna Maria Island and Sarasota winter residents, Bill Morrison and Gary Marple, fished Sarasota Bay with me. We fished the same areas as the day before and they caught and released numerous spotted and silver trout to 18" on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Despite good action in the morning, that afternoon was slow. Longboat Key and Sarasota winter residents, Nick Reding and Mike Perez, waded several spots in Sarasota Bay with me on Friday, 3/30. We caught and released trout to 18", a 23" snook and a red on my Grassett Flats Minnow and a Lefty's Deceiver fly.
Reds and trout may be found along shallow edges of flats and bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines when the tide is high. Look for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues, ladyfish or pompano over deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Spanish and king mackerel, false albacore (little tunny), tripletail and more may be good options in the coastal gulf.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Forecast for April 2012
This is one of my favorite months for a variety of species. With the warm winter we had this year; spring fishing is already in full swing. With more plentiful bait due to warmer water, reds, snook and trout should be on the feed. In addition to trout, look for Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Migratory species such as Spanish and king mackerel, blues, cobia and tripletail should be plentiful in the coastal gulf. False albacore (little tunny) should also be a good option in the coastal gulf in April. Look for early arriving tarpon along the beaches any time this month.
With the mild winter that we had this year, tarpon are already showing up in our area. Early arrivals are resident fish plus some migratory fish. Look for residents along sand bars and deep grass flats near river mouths and the lower reaches of estuaries as they move towards the beaches. You may also find some early arriving migratory tarpon along beaches or moving in and out of bays. Both Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor and smaller bays in between, such as Sarasota Bay, should have some early season tarpon action this month. Early season tarpon may be finicky due to cooler water, but as the temperature warms towards 80 degrees they become more cooperative. Spin anglers may be able to sight cast to tarpon in shallow water or on deep grass flats with DOA Shrimp or Baitbusters. Fly anglers should do well with 12-weight fly tackle, sink tip lines and baitfish fly patterns. My go to tarpon fly for the past several seasons has been a black Deceiver.
Snook season remains closed this month so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly. You'll find them staging along sand bars and feeding on shallow flats as they make their move towards passes. Top water plugs will work well, especially early and late in the day or when it is overcast. I usually opt to cover water with 1/16-ounce CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms in skinny water to locate snook. You'll need at least a 30-pound leader when fishing water where catching a snook is a possibility. Snook will also be plentiful in the ICW especially around lighted docks and bridge fenders at night. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, and shrimp patterns fished on sink tip lines should work well. Spin anglers should do well at night with 1/16-ounce CAL jigs and shad or jerk worm tails and DOA shrimp. Baitfish fly patterns, such as Deceivers and EP flies, or Gurglers fished on a floating fly line and a 12' or longer leader would be good choices for snook in shallow water. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action.
Reds should spend more time feeding in shallow water this month due to the influx of pilchards and other small baitfish. Look for them on the edges of flats and bars and in potholes when the tide is low. They will follow the tide onto shallow flats where you may find them along mangrove shorelines or on top of sand or oyster bars. This is a good time of year to fish surface walking top water plugs in shallow water. I like to fan cast ahead of my drift with a 1/16-ounce CAL jig with a shad, grub or 4" jerk worm to locate fish. Fly anglers should do well with a floating fly line, a 12' or longer leader and a lightly weighted fly. Wading may be more effective when fly fishing for reds which will allow you to keep a lower profile and get closer to fish.
Big trout may also be found in skinny water in many of the same places that you'll find reds. You may find them in potholes or over shallow grass and they can be as wary as reds when they are in shallow water. I use the same techniques, lures and flies for big trout in skinny water that I use for reds. In addition to top water plugs, fly Gurglers and poppers will also provide some explosive action! Shallow flats of north Sarasota Bay, lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound should have good action with reds, trout and snook this month.
You'll also find trout, including some big ones, along with Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats. I like flats with a good mixture of grass and sand and a good tidal flow, which are usually close to passes, points and sand bars. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad, grub or 4" jerk worm tails or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should do well drifting and casting ahead of the drift with lightly weighted flies on sink tip fly lines. You may need to add some heavy fluorocarbon tippet when toothy fish are plentiful.
You'll also find Spanish and king mackerel, blues, false albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf this month. Look for Spanish mackerel, blues or false albacore breaking on the surface where you can catch them with top water plugs, jigs or flies. A ¼-ounce CAL jig with a shad tail or 4" jerk worm or my Snook Minnow fly will work well although you'll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon for mackerel and blues. In the absence of surface activity, you may find them over artificial reefs or areas of natural hard bottom. You can drift and fish deeper with a jig or fly anglers can use a fast sinking fly line and a weighted fly. You might find cobia and tripletail on the surface around crab trap floats, buoys or flotsam where you can sight cast to them. Spin anglers could use a DOA Baitbuster, BFL or CAL jig with a 5-1/2" jerk worm on medium/heavy spin tackle for cobia. A DOA shrimp or CAL jig with a shad tail would be good lures for tripletail on medium spinning tackle. Fly anglers could use their tarpon tackle, including the same flies, for cobia but I wouldn't use anything less than a 9-weight. An 8-weight fly rod with a floating or sink tip line and a lightly weighted, bulky fly should work well for tripletail.
April is a great month with lots of variety and action. I like to fish both the coastal gulf and shallow flats his month. With early arriving tarpon, that could make it even better. It's hard for me to fish for anything but tarpon whenever they are an option. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Target Species:
reds, snook, trout, tarpon
More Fishing Reports:
