[saul]

Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action during the past week with trout, bluefish, snook and ladyfish. The coastal gulf exploded with action at the end of the week as schools of ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel blasted glass minnows at the surface.

Fly angler, Mike Perez from Richmond, IN, fished Charlotte Harbor near Boca Grande with me on Tuesday. Mike caught and released a 3-pound bluefish, numerous trout to 18” and large ladyfish on a variety of flies. Most fish were found along the edges of outside sandbars. Wednesdays trip in the coastal gulf and Little Sarasota Bay was slow. We spent most of the morning looking for breaking fish in the coastal gulf waters, but it wasn’t happening. We came back inside where we caught a few jacks, ladyfish, a bluefish and a trout on jigs and flies.

Fly angler, Ray Kelley from Ann Arbor, MI, came down on Thursday and Friday to collect on the trip that I donated to the Ann Arbor Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Since he was traveling so far, he fished an extra day with me while he was here. The best day was Friday when we started before daylight and snook fished in Little Sarasota Bay around lighted docks and bridge fenders. Ray started the day off with about 6 snook to 23”, several big ladyfish and a bluefish on my Grass Minnow snook fly. We then headed for the gulf where we found several schools of breaking fish, which were a mixture of large ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Ray caught and released several nice fish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies out of the frenzy.

Yesterday, the Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers had a casting clinic for its members at Phillipi Shores Park in Sarasota. Federation of Fly Fishers Board of Governors member, Dusty Sprague, led the event. Master certified casting instructor and club president, Capt. Pete Greenan and certified casting instructors Dave Hutchinson, Bob Beanblossom and myself were the instructors. The event was well attended with about 25 members of the club participating. A series of topics were covered in the morning with casting instruction in the afternoon following grilled hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch prepared by club member, Ron Whitely and his wife.

Next week’s tides are favorable for reds and trout on the flats of Charlotte Harbor. Night snook fishing is heating up as snook move toward their wintertime haunts. Hopefully, some of the best action is yet to come with Spanish mackerel, bluefish and little tunny in the coastal gulf waters.
Thanks
Saul