Fishing conditions: Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 11/18/2018 Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook at night and Spanish mackerel and tripletail in the coastal gulf on flies recently. Kirk Grassett, from Middletown, DE and Nick Delle Donne, from Lancaster, PA, snook fished with me in Sarasota before heading over to Mars Bay Bonefish Lodge to fly fish for bonefish. We fished before daylight and had good action catching and releasing numerous snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. We fished the coastal gulf after daylight and caught and released Spanish mackerel and a tripletail on my Grassett Snook Minnow and Flats Bunny fly. I also had a couple of trips in Little Sarasota Bay during the past week. They weren't fly fishing trips but anglers caught and released snook, trout, jacks, sheepshead and bluefish on jigs. I was the instructor for CB's Saltwater Outfitters first Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School of the season on Saturday. Students received instruction in fly casting, leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Future schools will be held on Jan 19, Feb. 23, Mar. 16, and Apr 13, 2019. Cost for the 6-hr class is $195 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, workbook and lunch. CB's Saltwater Outfitters will also hold an "Orvis Fly Fishing 101" introductory fly fishing clinic on Saturday, Dec 8, 2018 from 9 am - 11 am. Their staff of Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guides will cover fly casting basics, fly tackle rigging and fly casting with premium Orvis fly tackle. There will also be special in store offers on Orvis and other fly fishing products. Cost for the clinic is $25. Contact CB's Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to make reservations. Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Inshore temperature: 71 Degrees F
Offshore temperature: 74 Degrees F
Type of bait fish are feeding on: Glass minnows, pinfish, crabs and shrimp
Fish species: Snook, trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, false albacore and tripletail
Fishing season: Fall
Nearest airport: Sarasota, FL
Recommended fly fishing leader: 12 Foot Leader
Recommended fly fishing tippet: 16 Lb. Tippet
Best fly fishing rod: 9' 8 Weight Fly Rod
Best floating fly line: Redfish WF Fly Line
Best sinking fly line: Clear Sink Tip Fly Line
Sarasota Bay is a gem, nestled between Tampa Bay to the north and Charlotte Harbor to the south along Florida’s southwest coast. Due to 3 passes that flush the bay and no large tributaries flowing into it, the bay waters are normally very clean and clear. Its turquoise blue waters surrounding the passes may remind you of a Caribbean island and its fine white sand beaches are among the top rated beaches in the ...
Use floating lines and 12' or longer leaders for tarpon, reds, snook and trout and intermediate sink tip fly lines and weighted flies to fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more. Fish the ICW at night for snook with intermediate sink tip fly lines and Grassett Snook Minnow flies or Shrimp Gurglers on a floating line.
Fishing dock lights in the evening or before dawn, which is the coolest time of day, is still a good option for catch and release snook fishing. This is also a great time of year to fish the coastal gulf for false albacore, tripletail, Spanish mackerel when conditions are good. The key to success is finding clean water.
