Fishing conditions: Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with snook at night and trout and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay on flies recently. Denny Mattingly and a friend, from IN, fished dock lights in the ICW on a night trip with me recently. They had good action catching and releasing numerous snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, also got in on the action catching and releasing numerous snook on flies on another night trip. Bill Rohm and Tom Keir, from OH, fished Sarasota Bay with me and had good action with trout and a couple of Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies on another trip. 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: 68 Degrees F
Offshore temperature: 70 Degrees F
Type of bait fish are feeding on: Glass minnows, pinfish, crabs and shrimp
Fish species: snook, reds, trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, false albacore and tripletail
Fishing season: Winter
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 reds, tarpon and snook in shallow water. Fish the ICW at night for snook or deep grass flats with intermediate sink tip fly lines and Grassett Snook Minnow flies or Shrimp Gurglers on a floating line.
Fly fishing for snook at night is a good option now as long as water temperatures don't drop too low. Shallow water fishing for reds and large trout is also a good option now. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay is a good choice for action with a variety of species including trout, blues and Spanish mackerel.