Capt. Rick Grassett’s 3/25/2017

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay on flies and CAL jigs with shad during the past week.

Bill Morrison, from Anna Maria Island and Gary Marple, from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We worked deep grass flats on both sides of the bay where they had action catching and releasing trout and Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies. Joey Grassett and Chris Johnson, both from Seaford, DE, fished the same area with me a couple of days later in the week and caught and released trout and bluefish on CAL jigs with shad tails.

Capt. Ed Hurst and I were the instructors for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday. Students received instruction in fly casting basics, line control, shooting line and the roll cast. We also covered leader construction, fly selection and saltwater fly fishing techniques. The last school of the spring season will be on Saturday, April 8. Contact CB’s Saltwater Outfitters at (941) 349-4400 or info@cbsoutfitters.com to sign up or for more info.

Trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more should be good options on deep grass flats and passes of Sarasota Bay. You should also find larger trout in shallow water along with snook and reds when conditions are good. Look for action in the coastal gulf to take off with king and Spanish mackerel, cobia and tripletail. Fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW for snook with flies and DOA Lures continues to be a good option.

Tight Lines,