Sarasota, Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing trout on DOA Deadly Combos in Sarasota Bay and tripletail and Spanish mackerel on flies in the coastal gulf during the past week. With the water temperature down to the mid 70’s following the first front of the season, action is turning on in both Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf.

Marshall Dinerman and a guest, both from Atlanta, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We worked deep grass flats on the east side of the bay and they had steady action catching and releasing trout on DOA Deadly Combos.

Fly anglers Ken Babineau, from Sarasota, and Mike Mcadaragh, from Longboat Key, fished the coastal gulf with me on Friday. It was still breezy following the front earlier in the week, but they had numerous sight casting opportunities at tripletail, hooking a couple and catching and releasing one. Although the fish have been running small, it is still fun to sight cast to them since it requires pinpoint casting accuracy in sometimes challenging conditions.

Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL and Jeb Mulock, from Bradenton, also got in on the action with tripletail with Hal catching and releasing his first tripletail on a fly. They also had some action catching and releasing Spanish mackerel and had a couple of shots at false albacore (little tunny) that were blitzing glass minnow schools.

This should be just the start of good action with Spanish mackerel, albies, tripletail and cobia in the coastal gulf. There should also be good action with trout and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Shallow water action for snook, trout and reds is improving due to cooler water. Fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW for snook with flies and DOA Lures should also be a good option.

Tight Lines,