Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict have had good action on the flats of Sarasota Bay during the past couple of weeks. Both fly and spin anglers have scored with reds and snook on the shallow flats while the deep flats have yielded Spanish mackerel, bluefish, trout and ladyfish. We've also caught several nice flounder in potholes and along sandbars on jigs and flies.
Jerry and Cindy Mangum, from Bradenton, FL, collected on the tarpon trip that I donated to Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Club on Monday, October 18th. Jerry was the successful bidder on my trip at the club's annual banquet last spring. We had to reschedule the trip, which is in the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area, following the devastation of Hurricane Charley. Although tarpon have started to move back into their normal areas for this time of the year, I have found the fishing to still be off due to the effects of the hurricanes that we had during August and September. Jerry and Cindy jumped a pair of tarpon on a DOA TerrorEyz and a CAL jig with a nightglow grub.
Mote Marine laboratory scientist, Carole Neidig, from Bradenton, FL, her dad, Walt, and brother, Walter, both from Arizona, joined me for a trip on Tuesday, October 19th. We fished Sarasota Bay and had a great day. The group caught about 20 trout to 18", which included about 50% slot size fish near Stephens Point. The deep grass flats also produced Spanish mackerel and bluefish. We moved to the shallow flats of north Sarasota Bay as the tide fell, where they caught several nice reds and snook on CAL jigs with plastic tails. Bill Roth and his guest, Jeff Porterfield, both from Longboat Key, FL joined me for a trip on Wednesday. We fished the deep grass flats where they had fast action with trout, bluefish Spanish mackerel and ladyfish.
George Hambos and his son, Charlie, both from Valrico, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Oct. 21. Conditions were near perfect for reds and snook on the flats with a very low tide late in the afternoon. We began the day with numerous Spanish mackerel and bluefish on deep grass flats and shifted to the shallow flats as the tide fell. They caught 7 or 8 reds, several snook and a flounder on CAL jigs with grubs, shad tails and jerk worms. Fly anglers, Kyle Ruffing and Jon Yenari, both from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me the following day. The best action was on the deep grass flats where they caught Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and trout on Ultra Hair Clouser flies.
Last week, the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (FOWA) had their annual meeting in Venice. I was part of a group of guides that fished outdoor writers in Sarasota Bay on Wednesday. I had fly anglers, Phil and Debbie Chapman, from Lakeland, FL on my boat. Phil is an excellent tarpon fly fishing guide, professional fishery biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and an International Fishing Hall of Fame member. Debbie is also an excellent fly caster. They caught and released a pair of reds, a couple of snook and several trout on Clouser and Grassett's Flats Minnow flies.
The following day, Mark Nichols, owner of DOA Fishing Lures, and outdoor writer Tommy Thompson, from Gainesville, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me. We worked hard for our fish, probably due to the effects of the full moon, but had a good day. We caught and released about 15 snook to 25", several reds to 24", trout and flounder on CAL jigs with a variety of plastic tails and DOA shrimp.
Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers members, Joe Polidoro and Erwin Edelman, both from Sarasota, FL, fished the same areas with me on Friday. It proved to be a much tougher day. After fishing hard in shallow water and not catching much, we retreated to the deep grass flats where we caught numerous trout to 19" and ladyfish on olive over white Clouser flies. We had several hook ups and subsequent cut offs from Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Outdoor writer, John Kumiski, from Chuluota, FL, snook fished with me near Venice before daylight on Saturday morning. We caught and released 15 or more snook to 23" on my Grassett's Grass Minnow and John's "Cousin It" flies.
Next week's tides are favorable for reds and snook on the flats, particularly at the bottom of the tide, which should concentrate fish in potholes. In addition the deep grass flats should have lots of action with trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish. Remember that trout season is closed during November and December in our area; so all trout must be released. Handle them gently and pinch down your barbs to help insure their survival. If the coastal gulf waters will cool a few degrees, action should really take off for little tunny.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net  and www.snookfin-addict.com

Photo caption-Debbie Chapman, from Lakeland, FL, caught and released this nice red on a Grassett's Flats Minnow fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett.