Sarasota, Rick Grassett

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fishing Report for 1/19/2020

Anglers fishing with me recently, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with trout, blues and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats and reds in skinny water. Fly anglers fishing deep flats with me scored with trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel and snook in the ICW at night. Spin fishing anglers also had some action on deep flats and with reds in shallow water on CAL jigs with shad and grub tails.

Todd Horiuchi and sons Ashton and Tyler, from Sarasota, fished deep grass flats with me and had good action catching and releasing trout, Spanish mackerel and blues on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad and grub tails. Bill Poxon, from Sarasota and Walt Poxon, from MI, also had some action with trout on another trip with me.

Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL and Brian Nafzinger, from Rehoboth, DE, each had great action on different trips catching and releasing numerous reds to 28” on CAL jigs with shad tails and grubs in skinny water. Rich Hilser, from NC, fished dock lights with me at night and had some action catching and releasing snook and a bonus red on a fly.

I was the instructor for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday, Jan 18. I had a full class of enthusiastic students that received instruction in fly casting and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Future schools will be held on Feb 8 and 22 and Mar 14, 2020. Cost for the 6-hr class is $195 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, workbook and lunch. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.

Fishing shallow flats for catch and release reds and snook should be a good option now. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay is a good choice for action with a variety of species including trout, pompano, blues and Spanish mackerel. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick GrassettFFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor

Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters

Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011

nook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.www.snookfin-addict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us 

E-mail snookfin@aol.com

(941) 923-7799 (office)