Captain Favorite's Fishing Forum: Nov. 11, 2013

Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, battles a tarpon jumped on a fly while fishing the coastal gulf with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released Spanish mackerel and jacks in the coastal gulf off Sarasota and snook, reds, trout, Spanish mackerel and jacks in Sarasota Bay on flies, top water plugs and CAL jigs with shad tails during the past week.

I fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota and Sarasota Bay with Steve Hearn, from Tampa, FL on Monday. He caught and released numerous jacks and a nice Spanish mackerel on fly poppers in the gulf and several trout on an Ultra Hair Clouser fly near Stephens Point.

I fished the same areas with Bill Werden, from Sarasota, FL, and his friend John Kiefner, from Columbus, OH, on Tuesday. They had good action catching and releasing Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds in the coastal gulf on top water plugs and trout, a snook and a couple of reds on the east side of Sarasota Bay on CAL jigs with shad tails to complete their slam.

Bill Moore, from Libertyville, IL got in on the action on Wednesday. He had similar action with Spanish mackerel on top water plugs in the gulf and trout along the east side of Sarasota Bay on CAL jigs with shad tails. In addition to catching and releasing several 4-pound mackerel in the gulf, he had a couple of exciting explosions on his top water plug with a big shark that almost spooled us and a big king that skyrocketed 20 feet in the air!

I snook fished before daylight on Thursday morning with fly anglers Cam Dilley, from Tampa, FL and John Green, from Ocala, FL. They caught and released a pair of snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly fishing lighted Sarasota Bay docks. We moved to the gulf, where they had good action with Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds on fly poppers. I used a “pop and swap” technique to tease fish to the boat with a hookless top water plug, which is pulled away from fish and replaced with a fly popper. They finished the day with trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies along the east side of the bay.

I fished the same areas with Stewart Lavelle, from Sarasota, FL, on Friday. He had good action catching and releasing Spanish mackerel to 4-pounds in the coastal gulf and he also had a huge king skyrocket on his top water plug very close to the boat! We moved to Sarasota Bay where he caught and released trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and a snook and a red on a CAL jig with a shad tail near Stephens Point to complete his slam!

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters had another “Orvis Fly Fishing 101” class on Saturday morning. Capt. Ed Hurst, Capt. Andy Cotton, Walt Plasson and I worked with more than 30 students on basic fly casting techniques. It was great to see students from kids and families to seniors all interested in fly fishing. The free 2-hour class is a good introduction to the sport and I think a few of them already have the fly fishing “bug”! Students also received free memberships to IFFF (International Federation of Fly Fishers) and TU (Trout Unlimited). What a deal!      

I will also be the instructor for an Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Saturday, 10/16. The comprehensive course will provide a good foundation for beginning fly casters and work with more experienced fly anglers to improve casting skills or correct faults. The course will cover basic fly casting, shooting line, roll casting, leader construction and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Cost for the 1-day school, which will run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and includes lunch and the use of Orvis fly tackle, is $150. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 to sign up.

Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and jacks or reds and snook in skinny water should be a good option next week. Spanish mackerel have been the most consistent action in the coastal gulf. Look for king mackerel in the mix along with tripletail on crab trap floats.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett

FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year

Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

(941) 923-7799

E-mail snookfin@aol.com