Good Shallow Water Action in Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound
Capt. Rick Grassett
March 20, 2022
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Spring is here and shallow flats are turning on! Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing numerous snook to 34" and trout to 24" in Gasparilla Sound and Sarasota Bay on DOA Lures recently. Fly anglers also scored with trout and pompano on Clouser flies on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL fished backcountry areas of Gasparilla Sound and Sarasota Bay on a couple of trips with me recently and had good action catching and releasing several snook, trout and a couple of reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. Dave Smid, from Springfield, MO joined him in Gasparilla Sound on one trip and Glen Runk, from MO, fished Sarasota Bay with him on another trip and both got in on the action.
Dave Reinhart, from Pittsfield, MA, and Will Patterson, from Raleigh, NC, fished Sarasota Bay with me recently and had good action catching and releasing snook and trout on CAL jigs with grubs and shad tails. Jim Hazlett, from Sarasota, also fished the same areas with me recently and caught and released snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Look for reds, snook and larger trout in shallow water. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay is a usually a good choice for action with a variety of species including trout, pompano, Spanish mackerel and more. Snook at night around dock lights in the ICW is also a good option depending on conditions. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide & Fly Casting Instructor at CB's Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
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