TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sarasota Bay A Smorgasbord

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Rick Grassett.

Action has been hot in Sarasota Bay for a variety of species. With the water temperature near 70 degrees, clear water and plentiful baitfish and mullet, predator fish have been gorging themselves. Reds and snook are staging near sand bars along the east side of the bay and at Long Bar in north Sarasota Bay. Deep grass flats near Big Pass, Buttonwood Harbor and Stephens Point have been producing a variety of species, including trout (catch and release), ladyfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and pompano. There has also been fast action on the New Pass sand bar with large ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel when the tide is moving.

Fly anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, in Sarasota Bay this week caught and released almost 30 fish, including trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks and ladyfish. The best action was near Buttonwood Harbor; we fished Clouser and Estaz Marabou flies on sink tip fly lines over deep grass flats.

Anglers using spinning tackle on another trip this week scored with reds, snook and trout on jigs with a variety of plastic tails along the sand bar that runs along the east side of Sarasota Bay. Captain Jim Klopfer, also out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, reported fast action with jack crevalle from 4 to 8 pounds from Philippi Creek south to Blackburn Point in Little Sarasota Bay on jigs, plugs and live shrimp.

Call captain Rick Grassett at (941) 923-7799 or visit www.flyfishingflorida.net or www.snookfin-addict.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT