Trout, Spanish mackerel and Pompano Action Hot in Sarasota Bay
Capt. Rick Grassett
April 13, 2010
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on my flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout, Spanish mackerel and pompano during the past couple of weeks. The best action was on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Action improved as weather got better and water temperatures continued to warm.
Mark Torkos, from Jacksonville, FL, fished several days with me in Sarasota Bay during the week of 3/29. The best action was at Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Buttonwood Harbor where he caught and released trout and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies. Greg Smith and his son, Alex, from the Detroit, MI area, fished the same areas with me on Friday morning of that week. They caught and released more than a dozen trout to 3-pounds on the same lures and flies. Don and Rose Johnson, from Indianapolis, IN, fished with me that afternoon. They also caught trout to 17" and ladyfish on jigs and flies.
Dale Bluman, from PA and Art Dauria, from NY, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning, 4/3. They caught and released numerous trout and a Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails at Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Bayshore Gardens.
Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL and Phil Belmore fished Sarasota Bay with me last Monday. They had fast action with trout to 3 1/2-pounds, Spanish mackerel to 7-pounds and pompano to 2-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails at Stephens Point and along the west side of Sarasota Bay. The Spanish mackerel were some of the largest that I have ever caught. Fly anglers Perry Greene and his son, Dirk, from the Detroit, MI area, had also fast action with trout and Spanish mackerel on Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies and Ultra Hair Clousers at Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Buttonwood Harbor.
Pierre Fortier and Alexandre Brassard, both from Quebec, Canada fished the same areas with me on Wednesday. They had similar action with trout, Spanish mackerel and pompano on Grassett Deep Flats Bunnies and CAL jigs with shad tails. Sarasota winter resident Nick Reding and I waded several flats in north Sarasota Bay on Thursday. Reds have been tough on lures and flies lately, but Nick did get one to eat a chartreuse Clouser fly.
Fishing in skinny water for reds and snook and in the coastal gulf for Spanish and king mackerel, cobia and more should improve as the water continues to warm. Action should continue to be good on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Fishing Forecast for April 2010
This is one of my favorite months of the year. Baitfish should be plentiful on both deep and shallow grass flats and predators should be there, too. Reds and trout should spend more time feeding on shallow flats due to more plentiful bait there. April is also a good month for snook at night in the ICW around lighted docks and bridge fenders. Spanish and king mackerel and cobia should make an appearance in our area as they head north. Keep your eyes open for the first tarpon of the season as we head towards the end of the month.
Snook season remains closed during April due to a special rule enacted by our FWC following the freeze in January. However, catch and release fishing is allowed. You should use tackle that is heavy enough to land them quickly and handle them gently. You should find snook staging on shallow flats and around sand bars as they make their move towards passes. You will also find them around lighted docks and bridge fenders in the ICW this month. Choose a strong tide and cast jigs, plastic baits and flies to them. I like to use small flies (#4 hooks) at night and wider profile plastic baits on the flats. The area from north Sarasota Bay to lower Tampa Bay is usually hot for snook in April. My favorite area at night is the ICW from Sarasota to Venice.
Reds should also be more active this month. As finicky as they can be, they usually eat better when the water is warmer and food is plentiful. I let the height and direction of the tide determine where I'll look for them. When the tide is high or rising they will follow the water up onto a flat and feed close to mangrove shorelines or on top of sand and oyster bars. When the tide is falling they will be in deeper areas such as potholes or outer edges of flats. I like to use lightly weighted jigs or flies in shallow water for reds from north Sarasota Bay to lower Tampa Bay or in Gasparilla Sound. They may also eat top water plugs or fly poppers when conditions are right. I like either a high tide or low light conditions when using top water plugs or poppers.
Trout should be plentiful this month and you'll find them on both shallow and deep grass flats. "Gators" may be in skinny water where they'll blast top water plugs or fly poppers. You'll probably find more trout on deep grass flats from 3' to 7' and still have the chance to catch a big one. I like to drift deep grass flats and cast jigs or flies ahead of my drift to locate trout. I like flats that have a good tidal flow and good sea grass growth. Sarasota Bay has some great flats, including the Middleground, Stephens Point and Whale Key flats that are very good for trout in April.
The first tarpon of the season should show up during April. You'll find them cruising shadow lines at night around bridges and rolling on deep grass flats. They will also stage in certain areas as resident fish make their way out of rivers and creeks where they spend winters. Sarasota Bay flats and bridges that are close to passes, the mouth of the Manatee River and Tampa Bay are areas to look for tarpon in April. You'll also find them rolling or "laid up" on deep grass flats and in backcountry areas of Gasparilla Sound and Bull and Turtle Bays. These early season fish often respond to a well placed fly, lure or live bait since they haven't been bothered for quite a while.
You might also find pompano, blues, Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. When toothy fish are plentiful you'll need to use wire or heavy fluorocarbon. I prefer heavy fluorocarbon because it is less visible than wire and you should get more bites. However, larger fish may require wire to prevent bite offs. Techniques and areas would be the same as for trout, although you may also find pompano, Spanish mackerel and blues in passes or the coastal gulf. When fishing passes I use heavier jigs or weighted flies on fast sinking fly lines.
Spanish and king mackerel, blues, cobia, tripletail and little tunny may be found in the coastal gulf this month. Look for bird activity or "breaking" fish to find everything except cobia and tripletail. Usually fish feeding on the surface are moving very fast, so watch which way the birds are moving and set up ahead of them. You want to be where they are going rather than where they have already been. Work around the edges of the school and avoid getting too close to them with your boat which will put them down. Cast jigs, top water plugs, fly poppers and weighted flies to them once you are in the right position. You'll need medium spinning tackle or an 8 to 9-weight fly rod.
In the absence of surface activity, check out one of the many artificial reefs in the coastal gulf off Sarasota. I like to drift over the structure and cast jigs or flies on fast sinking fly lines to find fish that are lower in the water column. A bottom machine with good resolution will also help you find structure, bait and predators. Cobia may be found over structure or free swimming on the surface around crab trap floats or buoys. Cobia will require medium heavy spinning tackle or a 9-weight or heavier fly rod. A jerk worm on a jig head or a bunny fly, as well as a variety of live baits, will get the job done. You might also find tripletail on the surface around crab trap floats or buoys. Medium spinning tackle with a live or plastic shrimp or 8 to 9-weight fly tackle with a floating or sink tip fly line and a shrimp or baitfish fly pattern will work well for them.
April is one of my favorite months, both shallow and deep flats are alive with activity and migratory predators will be plentiful as they pass through our area heading north. I like to check out the coastal gulf when conditions are good, although this is one of the best months for reds, snook and trout on the flats. Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Target Species:
Snook, reds, trout, tarpon, Spanish mackerel, pompano, bluefish, tripletail, little tunny
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