Fishing Reports
From Capt. Rick Grassett  2003
www.snookfin-addict.com or www.flyfishingflorida.net

Charlotte Harbor and Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 12/28/2003 through 1/3/2004

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released trout, redfish, snook and bluefish during the past week.  Most fish were caught on flies and the best action was with trout. Clear water on the flats made reds and snook very spooky and hard to approach.
Fly angler Mike Perez, from Richmond, IN, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Monday and Friday. Mike caught and released a pair of reds and about 15 trout to 18" on black and white Clouser flies in Bull and Turtle Bays on Monday. We found the fishing tougher on Friday. Very clear water and not much breeze, made reds and snook hard to approach. However, Mike did catch and release about 20 trout to 19" on a variety of flies including black/white Clousers and bendbacks.
Keith McClintock and his son-in-law, Rick Anderson, both from lake Forest, IL, fished the same area with me on Tuesday. They caught and released a pair of reds, more than 30 trout to 18"and a 27" snook on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms. We again found that reds and snook in clear shallow water were hard to approach even when making long casts with jigs. Many of the trout caught in Charlotte Harbor during the week were in the 18" class.
Fly anglers Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, FL, and his son Craig Notari, from Winnetka, IL, fished a pre dawn snook trip on New Years Eve morning and then waded the flats of Little Sarasota Bay with me after daylight. We found the tide to be moving slowly, although the tide chart showed that it should be better. As a result, snook did not feed very well. They caught and released a snook, an 18" trout and a couple of bluefish to 3-pounds on Grassett's Grass Minnow flies during the first half of the trip. We spent the rest of the morning wading around oyster bars looking for reds. They caught and released several ladyfish and a jack on Clouser flies, but the reds proved to be elusive. It was a beautiful day and a great way to spend the last day of the year.
Brian and Joanne Shenstone, from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, ushered in the New Year with me on New Year's Day afternoon on a trip with me in Little Sarasota Bay. Brian caught and released numerous large ladyfish, a trout and a jack on a chartreuse/white Ultra Hair Clouser. Joanne also caught a few ladyfish on Cotee jigs with grubs.
The weather has been great with lows in the high 50's and highs in the high 70's. Next weeks tides are favorable for fishing the flats for reds and trout or snook at night.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 12/21 through 12/28/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had great action with reds, trout and flounder during the past week despite water temperatures ranging from the mid 50's to mid 60's. Negative low tides concentrated fish in holes and troughs and made locating them easier if I could get to the spots. One of the most rewarding trips of the week was with a couple of youth fly anglers that could really fish well!
Bill Beauchamp and Larry Stanczuk, both from Bradenton, FL, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Monday. They had great action during the morning when the tide was very low. They caught 8 or 10 reds to 26", a dozen flounder and several nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and Cotee jigs with grubs. In the afternoon, the action slowed as the tide got high enough to allow fish to scatter.
Tuesdays trip was even more action packed as Keith McClintock and son-in-law, Rick, both from Lake Forest, IL, and Victor Feldman, from Champaign, IL, fished Charlotte Harbor with me. The best action was in the backcountry of Bull and Turtle Bays, where they caught and released 15 reds, more than 30 trout and several flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails. We had the same situation with a negative low tide concentrating fish. Although the reds were "rats", more than half of the trout were in the 18" to 20" class.
Tom and Jamie Minnick, from Cincinnati, OH, fished the Terra Ceia Bay area with me on Christmas Eve day. They had a great trip with me catching more than 20 bull reds and big blues in Sarasota Bay in September, so I'd already warned them it probably wouldn't be the same. Tom was fishing left handed due to a broken right hand, but it didn't slow him down a bit. They caught about 6 reds to 26", several flounder and nice trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms.
After a nice Christmas at home with family, I was back on the water on Friday with Mary Mills, from Boca Raton, FL, and Dr. Andra Harris, from Del Ray Beach, FL. Mary is a former US Open and LPGA champion, who won three major tournaments during her career. We fished the Terra Ceia Bay area and found the fishing tough to start. Fish had moved from where I found them several days before but we finally got dialed into them. They caught and released a pair of snook to 24", trout to 17", ladyfish and jack crevalle on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and Cotee jigs with grubs.
Saturday morning's trip was with fly anglers Ruth Lubchenco, her 8-year old daughter, Cora, and 12-year old son, Luke, from Glenwood Springs, CO. These kids could fly fish! They had great action with large ladyfish on Clouser flies in Little Sarasota Bay. They all caught fish and said they pull lots harder than the trout in Colorado! That afternoon, Steve Johnson, from Bradenton, FL, and Dane Wyatt, from Santa Fe, NM fished the same area with me. The afternoon sun had warmed the shallows around oyster bars and reds moved in to feed. They caught 4 nice reds between 24" and 26", a 22" snook and several flounder on Cotee jigs with grubs.
Next week's tides should be favorable for flats fishing. Low tides at midday will concentrate fish and they made feed better later in the day due to warmer water.

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.snookfin-addict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.net
*Photo- 8-year old fly angler Cora Lubchenco, from Glenwood Springs, CO, with a ladyfish she caught on a fly in Little Sarasota Bay while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett on the Snook Fin-Addict.

Sarasota & Venice, FL Fishing Report for 12/14 through 12/20/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released snook and large ladyfish during the past week. The best action was fly fishing for snook at night around lighted docks along the ICW from Blackburn Bay to the Venice Inlet.
Dick Reece, from Dayton, OH, fished a couple of trips with me this week. We fished Little Sarasota Bay on Monday morning and caught and released a pair of small snook and numerous ladyfish on CAL jigs with shad tails. We located several reds around oyster bars, but they didn't want to eat. Dick had his personal best trip, and one of the best on my boat by an individual angler; fly fishing for snook near Venice on Thursday evening. The action was practically non stop, except for a brief slow down at the turn of the tide. With the water temperature at 60 degrees, the air temperature in the 50's and a cool northwest breeze, snook gorged themselves on glass minnows. My Grassett's Grass Minnow fly fooled most of the fish. We ended the evening with 54 snook to 25" and a jack!
I fished an afternoon/evening trip in Blackburn Bay on Tuesday, which was cut short by heavy rain that started as a drizzle just after we got on the water. We took cover for a while and after watching the weather radar at a waterfront restaurant, we decided to run for the boat ramp in between squalls. A funny thing happened on the way back to the ramp. We were distracted by snook popping under dock lights and stopped to make a few casts. They attacked our flies just as aggressively as the glass minnows they were feeding on. We finally went to the boat ramp 45 minutes and 15 snook later. The front, which was followed by strong winds, forced the cancellation of Wednesdays' trip.
Next week's negative low tides should be great for reds and trout in potholes. Remember that snook season is now closed through Jan. 31; so all snook fishing is catch and release only.

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

Sarasota & Venice, FL Fishing Report for 12/7 through 12/14/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released reds, snook, trout, flounder and sheepshead during the past week. The best action was fly fishing for snook at night. Fly anglers also connected with reds, trout and flounder.
Phil and Brenda Rever, from Sarasota, FL, fished north Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. They caught and released three reds and a sheepshead on olive/white Clouser flies and a Cotee jig with a grub near Tidy Island. They also caught a pair of flounder, on the same fly and jig.
Fly anglers, Dick Reece from Dayton, OH, and Larry Ford, from Sarasota, FL, fished an evening snook trip with me on Wednesday. We were on the wrong side of a front and the wind was howling 20+ mph, but fortunately the snook didn't know it was supposed to make them not eat. They caught and released about 30 snook on Grassett's Grass Minnow flies at "snook alley" along the ICW in Venice. There weren't many places that were protected enough to fish, but we did find a few places.
       I had a couple of slow days with fly anglers on Thursday and Friday. We caught and released several ladyfish and trout, but couldn't get it going with reds or snook. That changed on Saturday morning when fly angler, Dave Overby from Plymouth, MN, joined me for a trip in north Sarasota Bay. We worked potholes near Tidy Island during the morning and Dave caught and released more than 15 trout to 19" and a redfish, his first on a fly. With an overcast sky, a chartreuse/white Clouser and a bendback in the same colors got the job done for him. We located a few other reds and snook during the afternoon, but the light was poor for sight fishing. We had some shots at big fish, but they didn't eat.
       We are in our winter pattern of fronts every several days. Whenever possible fish ahead of fronts. If you can't fish ahead of a front, afternoons may be a better option due to warmer water. Next week's tides will be favorable for flats fishing or snook at night.

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

Sarasota & Venice, FL Fishing Report for 12/2 through 12/6/2003

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 11/24 through 12/1/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action with reds, trout, snook, flounder and Spanish mackerel early last week. We scored with both fly and spin tackle. Trout accounted for most of the action, but several nice reds and snook were also caught and released.
Fly angler, Mike Delaney from Sammamish, WA, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Monday. With a negative low tide, we waded the flats and cast Clousers into potholes for reds, trout and snook. It wasn't going on for us in shallow water, so we dropped out to deeper water in the boat where Mike caught and released numerous trout and several Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies. We were also cut off several times by bluefish or Spanish mackerel. The best action was on deep grass flats off Buttonwood Harbor, Bishop Point and near Longboat Key Moorings.
Dave and Carol Polmon, from Southbury, CT, joined me for a Sarasota Bay trip on Tuesday. They started strong with several reds to 24", a 24" snook, several trout and a flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails near Tidy Island. During the afternoon, we fished deeper grass flats from Buttonwood Harbor to south of Bishop Point where they caught and released numerous trout to 21" on the same lures.
I spent the rest of the week visiting family in Delaware for the Thanksgiving holiday. A planned trip to fly fish for stripers in the Chesapeake Bay had to be cancelled due to a front, which made it windy and then cold. Next week's tides should be favorable for flats fishing or snook at night.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 11/17 through 11/23/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released snook, redfish and trout during the past week. The best action was on the flats of north Sarasota Bay with reds and trout.
Randy Goodis and his dad, Bobby Goodis, both from the Miami area, joined me for a snook trip near Venice on Monday evening. The tide was slow and the bite was also slow. There were plenty of snook in most dock lights and around the bridges, but they were not feeding very aggressively. They connected with several snook to 24" on DOA shrimp from the Venice Inlet to Blackburn Point.
I went on a scouting mission with a friend in lower Tampa Bay on Tuesday to check the area out for a trip later in the week. We waded sand bars from the mouth of the Manatee River to north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge with the goal of sight casting to redfish. We only had a few shots at redfish. However, I did catch and release a 6-pound red on a pink/white Clouser fly, blind casting to a grass/sand seam on a sand bar. I also caught and released a jack crevalle out of a school of mullet.
A front passed through our area on Wednesday with brisk winds and dropped our water temperatures into the high 60's.Steve Heisler, from Bradenton, FL and Andrew Stiles, from Richmond, VA, fished with me on Friday. We fished from Tidy Island in north Sarasota Bay to the Terra Ceia Bay area. The best action was near Tidy Island, where we caught and released 6 reds and missed a couple of others on CAL jigs with Cotee Chubby Grubs. They also caught and released numerous trout to 18" on the same lures near Terra Ceia Bay.
We held another successful fly casting school on Saturday morning at CB's Saltwater Outfitters. If you've ever considered getting involved with the sport, this is a great way to start. We provide the use of Orvis fly tackle in the all day course. We have recently been approved as an Orvis Endorsed fly casting school. Our next school is scheduled for January 17, 2004 and we will have a school each month through April. You can contact me or CB's Saltwater Outfitters for details or to sign up.
       Next week's negative low tides should be great for reds, snook and trout in potholes. Also, the recent cold front, which dropped water temperatures below 70 degrees, should fire up the coastal gulf fishing for little tunny.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 11/9 through 11/17/2003

Spin and fly anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action during the past week. Snook, redfish, trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel were caught and released in Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf waters. Strong north winds as fronts approached forced me to cancel a couple of days
Fly angler, John Dorazio from Princeton, NJ, fished a pre dawn trip in Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. We fished lighted docks near Big Pass before daylight to catch several snook to 24" and a redfish on Grassett's Grass Minnow and Enrico Puglisi Bay Anchovy flies. After daylight, we fished docks in Roberts Bay where John landed 2 more snook on Clouser flies. We spent the rest of our trip fishing deep grass flats near Marina Jack and at the Radio Tower flat, where John caught and released more than a dozen trout to 18" on Clouser flies.
Cliff Ondercin and Brie Willet, both from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday and had a good day. We searched the coastal gulf waters off Longboat Pass early in the morning and found breaking little tunny just outside the pass, however they were moving so fast we couldn't get a good shot at them. We moved to the flats near Cortez where they caught and released 3 snook to 28", 3 reds to 24" and a couple of flounder on CAL jigs with Exude slugs and a chartreuse/white Clouser fly.
Will Booth, from Los Angeles, CA, and his brother, Dan Booth from Cockeysville, MD, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. We fished deep grass flats near Big Pass where they caught and released more than 20 trout to 17" on CAL jigs with shad tails. We briefly fished an artificial reef in the gulf off Lido Beach and caught 1 ½ Spanish mackerel. A large mackerel was cut in half by a 'cuda or a shark. Since there wasn't much surface activity, so we opted to head back into Sarasota Bay where they caught and released a small red and 6 bluefish to 4-pounds on CAL jigs and MirrOlure top water plugs near Buttonwood Harbor.
Steve Meyer, from Sarasota, FL, and Ron Ciani, from Cape Coral, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. It was a beautiful morning with a light east wind, but fish were not feeding early in the day. We fished a couple of deep grass flats near New Pass and caught only a few trout. We decided to take a look for Spanish mackerel and little tunny in the coastal gulf waters, but there wasn't any surface activity for them to cast their lures or flies to so we headed back into Sarasota Bay. With a rapidly falling tide, I decided to work potholes near Tidy Island looking for reds and snook. They finished strong with 3 reds to 24", a 25" snook, a 23" Spanish mackerel and a flounder. Ron caught his first red on a fly, a chartreuse/white Clouser. Most of the other fish were caught on CAL jigs with Cotee Chubby Grubs.
Next week's tides are favorable for fishing the flats or night snook fishing. Hopefully, the coastal gulf waters will explode with activity since the water temperature is now in the low 70's.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 11/2 through 11/8/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released a variety of fish during the past week. Snook, trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish were caught and released on a variety of lures and flies in Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and "snook alley" in Venice. Most fish were caught with fly tackle, although some were caught with spinning tackle.
Fly angler Cliff Boylston, from Conyers, GA, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. The action was steady with numerous trout to 18" and ladyfish caught and released on Clouser flies on deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay. The best action was inside Big Pass and near Long Bar.
Dave Lincul, from Sewell, NJ, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Tuesday. Since the winds were light out of the east, we decided to check out the coastal gulf waters for Spanish mackerel and little tunny. It proved to be a good choice as we located breaking fish just outside the sandbar of Gasparilla Pass. We caught and released numerous Spanish mackerel and bluefish to 2-pounds and large ladyfish on Diamond Jigs and Chug Bug topwater plugs. Before the tide slowed and the frenzy ended, a group of dolphins and even a tarpon showed up for their share of the meal.
We moved to the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound where Dave caught and released a pair of snook to 27" on CAL jigs with shad tails. He lost a bruiser that we couldn't turn before it made it to the mangroves and also caught and released numerous trout to 18".
Sarasota winter residents, Norm and Francie Boardman, joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay on Thursday morning. Since conditions were near perfect for fishing the coastal gulf waters, we headed out New Pass and worked south to Point of Rocks. Although there was nothing showing on the surface, we marked some bait and blind cast Cotee jigs with grubs and Clouser flies on an intermediate fly line into the area. They were rewarded with several Spanish mackerel to 2-pounds and bluefish. They also caught and released numerous trout and ladyfish on the same lures and flies on deep grass flats inside Big Pass before heavy thundershowers forced us off the water.
       Fly anglers, Larry Ford from Longboat Key, FL, and Pete Molinari, from Sarasota, FL, joined me for an evening snook trip near Venice that evening. The action was steady and they caught and released about 10 snook to 23" on Grassett's Grass Minnow flies.
       Next week's tides are favorable for fishing the flats. With the coastal gulf waters still in the high 70's, we need a good front or two to cool the waters and get things fired up. Cooler water should mean more breaking Spanish mackerel and little tunny making them easier targets for fly anglers.

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

Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report for 10/26 through 11/1/2003

Spin and fly anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released snook, redfish, trout and Spanish mackerel in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor during the past week. Although the action wasn't fast, it was steady. Windy conditions during the week ahead of and following a front on Tuesday made fishing challenging. High winds combined with a negative low tide made fishing in Charlotte Harbor on Thursday particularly tough.
Bob Denny and George Van Tuyl, both from Warwick, NY, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday and Tuesday. They managed 3 reds to 29" and numerous trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms near Buttonwood Harbor on Monday. We opted for a pre dawn start on Tuesday to snook fish around lighted docks. We fished Siesta Key docks near Big Pass to land a couple of snook and trout on DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and DOA shrimp before heading for the flats. Winds were increasing as a front bore down on us and forced us off the water by noon. Bob and George caught and released numerous trout to 18" and a small red on weedless rigged CAL jerk worms and Exude R/T Slugs fishing the same flats that we fished Monday.
Capt. Marcia Foosaner, from Stuart, FL, gave a very interesting slide presentation on fly fishing for giant trout, snook and redfish on the east coast of Florida and on her recent trip to Montauk, NY for stripers, bluefish and false albacore at the Mangrove Coast Fly Fishing Club on Tuesday evening. Capt. Marcia joined me for a Sarasota Bay fly fishing trip on Wednesday along with fellow club director, Roger Williams from Bradenton, FL. We waded and fished the flats near Long Bar and caught and released a pair of reds to 23", a pair of snook to 25", numerous trout, a flounder and a Spanish mackerel. While the action wasn't fast, it improved as the day went by and the tide started to flood. The best action was with bendback flies, which could be fished effectively in the very shallow water.
Sarasota winter residents, Tom Lamb and Lee Williams, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday. It was a tough day with 20+ mph winds and a negative low tide. The flats in the backcountry were dry, so we were forced to fish the deeper waters of Gasparilla Sound, which made hiding from the wind difficult. They managed several trout to 18", ladyfish, a flounder and Spanish mackerel on weedless rigged CAL jerk worms, Exude R/T Slugs and DOA Deadly Combinations.
Next weeks tides should be favorable for flats fishing or snook at night. Each passing front should also stimulate the coastal gulf fishing for Spanish and king mackerel and little tunny.

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

Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report for 10/19 through 10/26/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released snook, reds, trout, flounder, bluefish and Spanish mackerel during the past week. We fished deep flats in Sarasota Bay for several days and anglers caught a variety of fish including trout to 18", bluefish to 18"and Spanish mackerel to 24". The most productive areas were near Big Pass, the Middleground flat, Stephen's Point and near Buttonwood Harbor. Reds were hard to come by on the flats of Sarasota Bay, but evening and pre dawn snook were more cooperative.
Sarasota winter residents, Dale Spore and Roger Webster, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday morning. Small trout were plentiful, so they had to work hard to get a couple of legal ones. Things got interesting when an estimated 40 to 50-pound blacktip shark ate one of Roger's trout at the side of the boat near Big Pass. We had the shark on for about 5 minutes before he bit through the 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. It was fun while it lasted!
Jim Festa, from Sarasota, FL, and Bob Moore, from Bradenton, FL, fished an evening trip at "snook alley" near Venice on Tuesday evening. They caught and released about 6 snook to 22" and several mangrove snapper on live shrimp.
Capt. Bruce Burkhart, from Sarasota, FL, fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Friday. Bruce caught a slam on CAL jigs with rootbeer and pearl shad tails which included snook to 24", reds to 24" and trout to 18". Sight-casting the outside sandbars accounted for most of the fish. Bruce hooked a big snook that ate a CAL jig 15 feet from the boat, but unfortunately it quickly went through his fluorocarbon leader.
Fly angler, John Wolfstaetter, and his dad, Paul Wolfstaetter, both from NY, fished a predawn snook/flats trip with me on Saturday morning. They caught and released 6 snook to 24", a couple of trout and a nice mangrove snapper on Grassett's Grass Minnow and Enrico Puglisi Bay Anchovy flies and DOA shrimp and Tiny TerrorEyz near Big Pass. After daylight we moved to the flats where they caught and released trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel on Clouser and Enrico Puglisi flies and Cotee jigs with grubs.
A significant front is expected to push through our area on Monday evening, which should really kick off the coastal gulf fishing. I look for Spanish mackerel and little tunny to come on strong as the water cools. Also, flats fishing should be good for reds, snook and trout. There is still space available in our Nov. 8 fly casting school if you are interested in learning to fly fish. You can call me for reservations or more information.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 10/15 through 10/19/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released trout, redfish and Spanish mackerel during the past several days. The best action was with Spanish mackerel in the coastal gulf waters and redfish on the flats of north Sarasota Bay. In addition, cobia are showing up in the inshore waters and anglers had several shots at cobia, but didn't connect.
970 WFLA's Capt. Mel Berman, from Tampa, FL, joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay on Thursday. We caught and released numerous trout on a variety of lures and were cut off several times by bluefish. We fished from Roberts Bay to north of Long Bar and found trout scattered on deep grass flats at the Middleground flat and near the Sister Keys.
The best trip of the week was with Austin and Clark Wright, of Venice, FL, on Friday. We started the day at the Middleground flat and had good action with trout on DOA Deadly Combos. We ventured into the coastal gulf waters off New Pass and found a feeding frenzy of Spanish mackerel and little tunny. The little tunny were moving fast and impossible to get on, but the Spanish mackerel were more cooperative. They caught numerous mackerel on Diamond Jigs, Cotee Jigs with grubs and a DT Special fly. During the afternoon, we fished several sand bars along Longboat Key near Buttonwood Harbor, where they caught and released 5 reds to 27" on weedless-rigged CAL Jerk Worms.
John and Barb Freeman, from MN, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning. The best action was with trout at the Middleground flat first thing in the morning. John and Barb caught numerous trout, ladyfish, small gag grouper and gaftop sail cats on Cotee Jigs with grubs ands DOA Deadly Combos. We fished along Longboat Key up to the Buttonwood Harbor area later in the morning where they picked up an 18" trout and several jacks on Cotee jigs with grubs.
The fall bite should really turn on in the next week or so. The water temperature has fallen to the mid to high 70's and bait is schooling heavily on the flats and in the coastal gulf waters. I expect good action with snook, redfish and trout on the flats and Spanish mackerel and little tunny in the coastal gulf waters. In addition, cobia could be found either place, so it could pay off to have a spinning or fly rod ready at all times.

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

*Check out the new photo gallery on either of my web sites, which contains current and archived photos from past weeks.

Crane Meadow Lodge, MT Fishing Report for 9/20 through 9/27/2003

I hosted a group of fly anglers at Crane Meadow Lodge near Twin Bridges, MT last week. Nick Reding, Bob Reynolds and Bob Harness, all from St. Louis, MO, young Nick Reding from New York City, Jim Breckenridge, from Greenwich, CT, Dennis Kinley, from Lebanon, NJ, Dick Walden, from Sahuarita, AZ, Rich Walden, from Silverthorne, CO and David Ralls, from Tempe, AZ joined me for a great week of fly fishing on some of Montana's best trout streams.
       We fished the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby, Jefferson and Madison Rivers, several spring creeks and mountain lakes. The weather couldn't have been better with crisp mornings, lows in the 30's and frost a couple of mornings and high's in the 70's. We had bright blue Montana skies and brilliant fall colors.
       The wildlife was unbelievable. One morning a pair of bull moose locked horns in the meadow right behind the lodge. Whitetail deer were so thick you had to be careful when walking the riverbanks, particularly on the Ruby River. We also spotted mule deer, antelope, big horn sheep and elk. Waterfowl and pheasants were also thick and were being flushed constantly.
       Anglers caught brown trout to 24", rainbows to 22", grayling, cutthroats and brook trout on 4 through 6-weight fly rods. It was technical fly fishing that sometimes required reach casts; roll casts and mending to get the proper presentation to fool the fish, but the anglers were up to the challenge. Jim Breckenridge, who had never fly fished before this trip, did very well. After receiving some casting instruction from guide, Gary Avis, Jim moved on to fish some still water on Miller's Pond, where he caught a dozen or so rainbow and brown trout to 17". He nymph fished on the Jefferson River on his last day where he finished with an 18" trout! That may not sound big to seasoned saltwater anglers, but put that fish on a 4 or 5-weight fly rod in a fast river and you've got you hands full!
             Other highlights from the week were when Dennis Kinley and Bob Reynolds fished a high mountain lake at 7400' on the Meine summer ranch with guide, Jerry Meine. They caught about 100 trout, mostly cutthroats and a few rainbows. As they drove up to the high country they put a few beers in a mountain stream to cool down and enjoyed them as their reward on the way back down. The Ruby River also fished very well. Nick Reding and I had a great day on the Ruby with many trout in the 18"-22" class. Other anglers caught brown trout to 22", with many fish in the 14"-16" class. Mill Creek, which empties into the Ruby, produced browns and rainbows averaging 16" and as big as 21". The upper Ruby River was hot for grayling, rainbows and browns, although not as large as on the lower portion. Anglers also had great fishing for brookies on the upper Big Hole and caught browns and rainbows to 24" on the Madison near Ennis. See the photo gallery of my web site for photos from the trip.
       We fished a variety of flies and techniques during the week. Some of the most exciting fishing was with dry flies, such as a Parachute Adams, hoppers or Chernobyl Ants. We also fished with nymphs and streamers, usually in tandem or sometimes a pair of streamers. Pepperonis, Yuks and Woolly Buggers worked the best. Proprietor, Cody Meine, does a great job. The variety of fishing on private water, the option to float or wade and the level of accommodations sets Crane Meadow apart from other lodges.
       Although the trip couldn't have been better, it was bittersweet for me. We lost a family member, Bear, our almost 14-year old Brittany on Tuesday. Even though he was elderly, his death was unexpected. He was diagnosed with cancer and had to be put down within 48 hours. He was my shadow at home, following close behind me while I prepared for my fishing trips in the morning, waiting for a piece of cheese or lunch meat as a reward. Every day when I returned his face was in our picture window waiting for me to come home. We'll miss him terribly, but we'll meet again.

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

Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report for 9/14 through 9/19/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released snook, trout, tarpon and Spanish mackerel during the past week. The best action was with tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor and trout in Charlotte Harbor and Sarasota Bay.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune outdoor writer, Steve Gibson, fished upper Charlotte Harbor with me on Monday to film a tarpon fishing segment for his "Fishing Paradise" TV spot on Comcast's SNN Channel 6. They were plentiful, but being finicky. We had several bites, but only jumped one tarpon. Unfortunately, they didn't cooperate like I hoped they would.
That all changed on Wednesday when Keith McClintock, from Lake forest, IL, joined me for a trip to the same area. He jumped a total of 6 tarpon, landing a pair of them to 15-pounds on DOA Shrimp and TerrorEyz. They were aggressive at first and when the bite slowed we hooked a couple more fish by changing colors and switching to the DOA shrimp.
Bill Roth, from Longboat Key, FL, and Bruce St. Dennis, from Sarasota, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday morning. The trout bite was strong as they caught and released more than 15 trout to 18" on DOA Deadly Combinations with a DOA shrimp near Long Bar. In addition, a large area of breaking fish that we encountered while heading north in the bay was thick with ladyfish and had Spanish mackerel mixed with them. They caught several on CAL jigs.
Keith McClintock fished Gasparilla Sound in Charlotte Harbor with me on Thursday and also had a good trout bite. He caught and released more than 20 trout to 23", including about 10 slot size fish between 18"-23" near Three Sisters and in Turtle Bay. In addition, Keith caught and released a 29" snook on a DOA Deadly Combination. His best snook ever!
Next week's tides should be favorable for snook on the outgoing tide late in the day. In addition, reds will continue to school on the flats and should also be a good option.

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

Sarasota & Charlotte Harbor, FL Fishing Report for 9/9 through 9/14/2003

       Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict did very well during the past week with redfish, trout and bluefish. Reds are schooling in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor. In Sarasota we also found hungry big bluefish schooling with the reds.
       Tom and Jamie Minnick, from Cincinnati, OH, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. After fishing in the gulf on a head boat the day before and catching small snapper and grouper, they weren't sure what to expect on the bay trip. Fortunately the trip far exceeded their expectations. We started slowly, catching a small snook on a MirrOlure She Dog and had another one jump off near Big Pass. With a rapidly falling tide that was lower than I had anticipated, I decided to head north to hunt reds.
I poled a bar near Buttonwood Harbor and we began to catch small reds on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and DOA Deadly combinations. I bumped into a large school of big reds, up to 9-pounds, with bluefish in the 4 to 5-pound class mixed with them. We lost count after about 15 reds and a dozen big bluefish. The fish would rarely show themselves, choosing to stay in deeper water. We would occasionally lose them and then locate them again by probing the deep outside edge of the bar by casting MirrOlure She Dogs or DOA Deadly Combinations out deep to cause the school to show themselves. When the reds and bluefish finally moved on we began to catch trout to 18", so Tom got his Sarasota Bay slam. A great day!
On Thursday evening, I joined Capt. Bill Miller in the studio for his "Hooked On Fishing" TV show, which airs in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. He showed video clips from our trip last Monday and we fielded questions from the audience. It is a very well done TV show with good instructional segments.
Dale Vollrath, from Sarasota, FL, and Tim Graham, from Nokomis, FL, joined me to fish Charlotte Harbor on Saturday. Since we arrived in the dark to avoid the rush at the boat ramp, we fished a couple of docks along Little Gasparilla Island for snook with lures and flies just before daylight. Tim caught and released a small snook on a DOA Tiny TerrorEyz.
       Next I headed for an area on the west side of Gasparilla Sound searching for a school of reds that a friend had located the day before. Although we didn't find them (and they didn't find us), we caught lots of trout to 18" on DOA Deadly Combinations, MirrOlure She Dogs and fly poppers. Our best action was on outside sand bars near Turtle Bay, where they caught 4 reds to 5-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms. We got back to the boat ramp just ahead of the afternoon monsoon.
       Next weeks tides should be favorable for juvenile tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor and reds on the flats.

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

Florida Keys & Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 9/1 through 9/8/2003

I spent most of the past week in Islamorada in the Florida Keys participating in the Islamorada-Sarasota Shootout Fishing Tournament. The tournament is a fun, family type fishing tournament that pits members of the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club against Islamorada anglers. Although Sarasota anglers fished hard and won or placed in several categories, Islamorada won the tournament this year.
Aledia Tush, owner of CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota, FL, and I fished with Capt. Duane Baker, an Orvis-Endorsed guide in Tavernier, FL. We fished the ocean side flats near Tavernier on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and experienced some of the best fishing I've had in the Keys. Capt. Duane expertly put us on fish after fish and they cooperated very well. Aledia caught and released 6 bonefish, a permit and jumped a tarpon fishing with live shrimp. I also caught and released 6 bonefish on Gotcha flies and had several shots at permit.
Although they weren't weighed, some of the larger bonefish were in the 6 to 7-pound class. Not huge for Keys bonefish, but very nice fish to catch! Aledia took second place and I won the bonefish category. It was my best bonefish outing ever in the Keys!
On Monday, Capt. Bill Miller from Tampa, FL, joined me to film a segment for his "Hooked on Fishing" TV show which airs on Thursday evenings on Brighthouse Cable (formerly Time Warner) in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. I hadn't fished Sarasota Bay for more than a week and with all the rain that Tropical Storm Henri dumped, I knew it would be a challenge. We managed to catch about a dozen trout to 18" and a pair of reds to 22" on CAL jigs with jerkworms and shad tails, DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and Exude slugs at Stephen's Point and near Buttonwood Harbor.
This week's strong outgoing tides in the afternoon should be good for snook. Flats fishing should be best early in the day as the tide is rising.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 8/17 through 8/23/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught a variety of fish during the past week. Snook, redfish, tarpon and trout were caught and released on a variety of lures in lower Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and the Peace River. The hottest action was with tarpon in the 10 to 20-pound class.
Anglers on Monday and Tuesday caught numerous trout to 19" on CAL jigs and DOA Deadly Combinations with glow shrimp. The best action was at Stephen's Point early in the day when trout fed in and around bait schools over shallow grass.
The best trip of the week was on Wednesday when Rusty Driver and Dave Robinson, both from Sarasota, FL, joined me for a trip in upper Charlotte Harbor. The action was red hot at first light when tarpon fed on baitfish in the Peace River. They jumped 7 tarpon and landed 2 to 18-pounds. The tarpon ate DOA TerrorEyz worked slowly along the bottom.
Reese Bernate, from Bradenton, FL, and Will Evans, from Geneva, IL, fished lower Tampa Bay with me on Thursday. They caught a few trout and a bluefish on Skitterbug and Clouser flies, MirrOlure She Dogs and DOA Deadly combinations. Despite a good tide and plentiful baitfish, fish didn't bite well.
Dana Field, from Sarasota, FL, and his son, Jeff Field, from Rochester, NY, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We focused on reds and snook near Big Pass with top water plugs early in the day. They caught a couple of trout and a snook on a MirrOlure She Dog and the DOA Deadly Combination. We switched to CAL jigs with jerk worms and the action picked up. They finished the day with 2 more snook and a redfish before a rain shower cut our day short.
Next weeks tides are favorable for reds on the flats early in the day and snook on the strong outgoing tides late in the afternoon and early evening.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 8/10 through 8/17/2003

Fly and spin anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught a variety of fish during the past week. Snook, trout and jack crevalle were caught and released on a variety of lures and flies. The best action was with snook in the evening near Venice.
I spent last Monday scouting the waters of Charlotte Harbor in preparation for a trip on Tuesday. We located some reds and found the water to be dark, but with some clarity. The following day, with rivers cresting upstream, the water was dark and you couldn't see the bottom in 1 ½' in most places. Fly angler, Bob Reynolds, from St. Louis, MO, fished with me and caught a few trout and jacks on Clouser flies. We waded a bar where I had located reds the day before, but they wouldn't eat a fly.
Lee Ibsen, from Sarasota, FL, and Bill Owen, from Purcellville, VA, fished the Venice area with me on Wednesday evening. Snook were feeding heavily on points, in cuts and around lighted docks. They caught and released about 25 snook to 23" on DOA TerrorEyz and live shrimp. As the tide slowed, snook gorged themselves on tiny shrimp around lighted docks.
The following evening, fly angler Erwin Edelman, from Sarasota, FL, fished the same area with me. He caught and released a dozen snook on Enrico Puglisi pilchard flies and Clousers before dark and DOA fly shrimp after dark. As the tide slowed there was a feeding frenzy, but snook were still very selective. With the proper presentation of the DOA fly shrimp, we fooled a few of them.
Dave and Vinny Giammaria, from Champagne, IL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning. They had good action with trout to 19" near Stephen's Point on DOA Deadly Combinations with a glow shrimp. The largest trout was caught on a MirrOlure She Dog. They also caught and released jack crevalle, flounder and a snook.
Next week's tides should be favorable for reds and trout and the flats and juvenile tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor.

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

Sarasota & Punta Gorda, FL Fishing Report for 8/3 through 8/10/2003

Photo-Capt. Mel Berman with a big Sarasota Bay red caught with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had a great week despite torrential rain most of the week. Tarpon, snook, redfish, and trout were caught on a variety of lures and flies during the past week. Reds were schooling on the flats of Sarasota Bay and tarpon fed heavily in the Peace River. A new lure from DOA called the "Deadly Combination", which consists of a Cajun Thunder float and a DOA lure, produced good numbers of reds and snook.
Dr. Lewis Hanan and his son, Ben Hanan, both from Sarasota, fished Sarasota Bay with me last Sunday. The action was slow to start, but they managed several trout to 17" on DOA shrimp and Deadly Combination rigs near Ringling and Buttonwood Harbor.
Fly anglers Steve and Lynn Blackledge, from Longboat Key, FL, fished a pre dawn trip with me on Monday morning. The action was slow, but Steve caught and released his first snook on a Grassett's Grass Minnow fly before we moved to the flats. They caught a few more fish on the flats, including Lynn's first trout on a fly, before our day was done.
The action picked up on Tuesday as 970 WFLA's, Capt. Mel Berman, joined me for a trip in Sarasota Bay. We spent a good bit of the morning dodging rain showers before we were forced to take cover for a while. When we went back out we found a large school of reds near Buttonwood Harbor. We caught and released several reds to 30" on a CAL jerk worm and MirrOlure She Dogs before the school slipped into deeper water and disappeared.
Scott Heidler and his 8-year old son, Scottie Heidler, from Hudson, OH, fished the Peace River near Punta Gorda with me on Wednesday. Their goal was to catch their first tarpon and they were successful! I knew it was going to be a good day when Scott hooked up on his second cast and landed a 14-pound tarpon with a rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz. He followed it up by jumping a 20-pound fish on his next cast, which broke off next to the boat. Scottie also jumped a couple of fish. They jumped a total of 5 tarpon in the 15 to 20-pound class, landing 2 of them. Scottie did great job casting, detecting bites and setting the hook all on his own!
Jim Gray, from Lakewood Ranch, FL and Rich Fildes, from Orlando, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. After catching and releasing numerous trout on MirrOlure She Dogs near Ringling, we moved closer to the shoreline to search for reds and snook. We found a school of reds in about 6 feet of water, as we were heading in towards a sand bar. Rich caught a pair of reds and lost another on a MirrOlure She Dog before a severe thunderstorm forced us to leave the fish and take cover. When we returned the school had done a disappearing act. We spent a good portion of the day dodging rain showers.
One of the best days of the week (and the worst weather) was on Friday with Miami guide, Capt. Del Pernas and Angel Armas, also from Miami, FL. They landed a pair of reds to 26", four snook to 26" and numerous trout to 18" mostly on the DOA Deadly Combination. Capt. Del lost a snook in the 15-pound class that we couldn't turn. We fished both sides of the bay near Ringling and Bishop's Point. A severe thunderstorm, which dumped 4" of rain and contained lightning and wind gusts to 40 mph, forced us to make a run for the dock and ended our day early.
Next week's strong outgoing tides late in the day should be productive for snook.
Reds should continue schooling on the flats and will also be a good option. We are back in a flood situation in southwest Florida. I'll be glad when the weather returns to a normal pattern and we can quit dodging rain and lightning!

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

Photo-Capt. Mel Berman with a big Sarasota Bay red caught with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Sarasota & Venice, FL Fishing Report for 7/22 through 7/27/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action with trout, pompano and permit during the past week. The best bite was with pompano and permit caught on DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and Cotee jigs with grubs near Big Pass. Anglers also caught and released snook, redfish and gag grouper while fishing lighted docks before daylight, although the bite was slow.
Ed O'Carroll, his young son, Aidan, and Craig Amos, all from Tampa, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. After catching numerous trout to 18" and ladyfish on Cotee jigs with grubs at Stephen's Point, we headed south to near Big Pass. The trio caught 6 pompano to 3 ½-pounds and 4 permit to 5-pounds on DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and Cotee jigs with grubs to finish the day.
The following day, Rick Johnson and his son, Jake, from Maineville, OH fished the same area with me with similar results. We opted for a pre dawn start to target snook around lighted docks near Big Pass before moving to the flats. Snook were plentiful, but not feeding, although they did catch and release a 24" redfish and an 18" gag grouper on a DOA Tiny TerrorEyz while casting for snook. Rick and Jake also caught and released numerous trout and ladyfish, 5 pompano to 3-pounds and a 5-pound permit on DOA Tiny TerrorEyz and Cotee jigs with grubs.
The goal was snook on a fly on Friday morning, when Erwin Edelman, from Sarasota, FL, joined me for a pre dawn trip. I headed south to "snook alley" in Venice to see if the snook would feed better there due to increased tidal flow. The results were almost the same as Thursday's, plenty of snook but not feeding much. Erwin did catch and release one snook and had a couple of other strikes on Skitterbug and String Bean flies.
Tim McNamee, Brett Trudeau and Jonathan Turner, high school students from Winter Haven, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning. With their summer vacation winding down, they wanted to squeeze in some more fun before school starts in a couple of weeks. The action was steady with a lot of variety. They caught and released pompano, trout, flounder, mangrove snapper and ladyfish on Cotee jigs with grubs, jerk worms and DOA shrimp and Tiny TerrorEyz. The pompano were caught near Big Pass and the best trout action was near Buttonwood Harbor.
Next weeks strong outgoing tides in the afternoon and evening should be good for snook. Reds should be schooling any time and will be easiest to find when the tide is low.

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

Southwest, FL & Andros Island, Bahamas Fishing Report for 7/13 through 7/22/03

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught snook, trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and flounder in Sarasota Bay and at the mouth of the Manatee River during the past week. We also jumped a tarpon and caught a big red in the Peace River. After all that, I took a busman's holiday to Andros Island in the Bahamas with my friend, Capt. Ed Hurst. We had a great trip, staying at Small Hope Bay Lodge and catching bonefish to 6 ½ pounds with Bahamian guide, Glister Wallace.
Jerry Fristoe, from Cypress, TX, and Pat Dimiceli, from Houston, TX, fished lower Tampa Bay with me last Tuesday. Our best action was at the mouth of the Manatee River, where they caught more than 25 trout to 20" on MirOlure She Dog plugs, including 6 slot size fish. They also caught a 24" snook and a 16" flounder on CAL jigs in the same area. Trout and ladyfish were actively feeding on bait schools and attacked their top water plugs aggressively.
Mike Porter and Bob Stonaker, both from Osprey, FL, fished the Peace River for tarpon with me on Wednesday. Although there were plenty of fish in the 20 to 30-pound class, they weren't eating. They did manage to jump a 20-pounder and get a couple of other bites on DOA TerrorEyz before we decided to check out other options. After a short run down the river to near Alligator Creek, I poled a flat where Bob caught a nice, 26" red on a CAL jig to finish the day.
The following day, Bob Kahlor from Callawassie Island, SC, fished Sarasota Bay with me. Although the action wasn't particularly fast, we caught a smorgasbord of fish including trout, ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Capt. Ed Hurst and I headed for Ft. Lauderdale on Friday morning and boarded a charter flight to Fresh Creek on Andros Island. We arrived at Small Hope Bay Lodge that afternoon and got settled. On Saturday we trailered an hour north to Morgan's Bluff and fished the Joulter Cays. What a great area; big broad, wadeable flats with lots of tailing fish! We waded and landed about 10 bonefish between 3 and 6 ½ pounds on bonefish Clousers and Gotchas. We worked one school of about 200 bonefish for about an hour and landed 4 or 5 fish out of them. The area reminded me a lot of the flats of Los Roques, Venezuela.
The next day we headed south, trailering to Cargill Creek, to fish the North Bight. We fished from the boat and did almost as well as we did on Saturday. The fish ranged from 2 to 6-pounds and were aggressive. Although there weren't any large schools that day, the singles and doubles responded well when the fly was in the right place. We finished our trip by fishing a ½ day on Monday morning in Young Sound and Fresh Creek. We only caught a couple of fish that day, but it wasn't for lack of fish. We had shots at several large schools of bonefish roaming the flats of Young Sound, but they were tough. We hit a couple of other areas and then we were out of time.
       We caught a total of about 20 bonefish up to 6 ½-pounds in 2 ½ days of fishing. Our guide, Glister Wallace, did a great job and was fun to fish with. This is a great lodge with something to do for everyone. They have a nice beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, nature walks and bicycling. Evenings were spent enjoying a cold beverage and good Bahamian style food served on their oceanfront patio.
I look for good action with juvenile tarpon and snook next week. Reds should begin schooling on the flats any time now.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 7/4 through 7/13/ 2003

Fly and spin anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released a variety of fish during the past week. Tarpon, snook, trout, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish were caught on lures and flies in Sarasota Bay, Venice, lower Tampa Bay and the Peace River. Trout to 20" are plentiful and feeding on bait schools on the flats of Sarasota and Terra Ceia Bays. Anglers also caught snook on the shallow flats of Sarasota Bay near Buttonwood Harbor and around lighted docks at night in Blackburn Bay. Tarpon in the 20 to 30-pound class are feeding on baitfish in the Peace River and upper Charlotte Harbor.
970 WFLA's Capt. Mel Berman, from Tampa, FL, and Capt. Pat Damico, from St. Pete Beach, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We found fast action with trout to 17" on deep grass flats at Stephens Point and near Buttonwood Harbor with jerk worms and Clouser flies. We also caught and released a pair of snook to 24" on a jerk worm and a fly popper.
Larry Dorman, from Englewood, OH, and Bob Gambale, from Rockaway, NJ, fished the ICW in Venice with me on Tuesday evening. We worked along docks and seawalls with top water plugs on an incoming tide at dusk and only had one strike. After dark, we moved up into Blackburn Bay and worked lighted docks with DOA Tiny TerrorEyz. The action was slow, but they did catch and release a pair of snook to 24" and a trout.
Fly anglers had a dozen or more shots at tarpon with a fly on Wednesday in the coastal gulf waters, but they were not interested in biting. We had a couple of tarpon turn on the fly and follow it, but most spooked away from the fly, maybe due to the effects of the approaching full moon.
Jason Miller and Justin Boynes, both from Wheeling, WV, fished lower Tampa Bay with me on Thursday. We had steady action with trout to 20" on deep grass flats in Terra Ceia Bay. They caught more than 20 trout and a 24" Spanish mackerel on MirrOlure She Dogs. Trout were feeding on schools of bait at the surface and aggressively striking our top water plugs.
My wife, Karen, my daughter, Dawn Gibson, her boyfriend, Andy Cotton, and I fished the Peace River for tarpon on Saturday. We found them plentiful and feeding on baitfish in the river and they turned on for a couple of hours in the middle of the morning. Although we all had strikes on a variety of colors and styles of DOA baits, it was the rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz that worked best. Andy jumped two tarpon and landed one, an 18-pounder, on the rootbeer TerrorEyz. We each had strikes on pearl TerrorEyz and nightglow DOA shrimp.
Tarpon in the coastal gulf waters and in upper Charlotte Harbor will continue to be an option next week. Flats fishing should also be good, but you need to be on the water early before the heat of the day begins to affect fishing.

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

*Note-Attached photo. Andy Cotton, from Sarasota, FL, caught and released this 18-pound tarpon on a rootbeer DOA TerrorEyz in the Peace River with Capt. Rick Grassett.

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 6/29 through 7/4/2003

       Tarpon continue to be an option in the coastal gulf waters. Although there are still schooled up fish, there are more singles and loosely schooled fish moving both north and south along the beaches. Tropical Storm Bill left a 2-3 foot swell in the gulf making fishing difficult in a flats skiff and tarpon were not showing well on the surface. Blind drifting with baitfish has been the most productive technique, since fishing the sand bars has not been a good option due to the swell.
Jay Alvis, from Columbus, IN, and Phil Hehe, from Sarasota, FL, tarpon fished with me on Monday. They each jumped a tarpon near Turtle Beach, one on a live crab and one on a pinfish, before we were chased into Sarasota Bay by the increasing swell. We worked the mangroves in Roberts Bay, where they caught and released several trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.
I tried to fish a sand bar for tarpon on Wednesday, but the swell was still too much and the water dirty. It was too rough on top of the bar and too dirty to see fish below the surface off the edge of the bar. A thunderstorm chased me off the water before noon. Oh well!
Tarpon fishing will continue into July, along the beaches and in Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Reds and trout on shallow grass flats and snook in the surf and close to the passes will also be a good option, if tarpon is not your game. The best fishing should be early and late in the day when heat is not a factor.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 6/22 through 6/29/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught and released or jumped tarpon on spin and fly tackle during the past week. Conditions were challenging early and late in the week, which has been typical this season. Several tarpon were jumped or landed in the coastal gulf waters and we fished the more protected waters of upper Charlotte Harbor a couple of days, targeting smaller fish when the gulf was rough.
Bill Roth, from Longboat Key, FL, and his son, Will Roth from Columbus, OH, fished with me on Monday and Tuesday. We fished Peace River canals on Monday due to rough seas in the gulf and it proved to be a good decision. They jumped 3 tarpon and landed one of them, a feisty 20-pounder. All fish hit either a DOA TerrorEyz or DOA shrimp fished on medium spinning tackle. Conditions improved the following day and allowed us to get back out along the beach off Casey Key to target large tarpon. Will landed an estimated 90-pound tarpon on a live crab on Tuesday. We had a lot of tarpon moving both north and south early in the day and then the action slowed.
Fly angler Stephen Smith, of Angling Strategies in Bedford, NY, fished the same waters with me on Wednesday and Thursday. Stephen's goal was to catch his first tarpon with a fly and he was successful. He connected with an estimated 100-pound plus tarpon on a black and purple bunny fly on Wednesday and fought the fish to the boat!
Keith Kaufman and Rob Sourbeer, both from the Lancaster, PA area, fished with me on Friday and Saturday. We fished the coastal gulf waters and Friday and had great conditions. There were only a few fish moving early in the day and then we found a happy school around noon. Keith jumped a large fish on a live crab out of the school and then they wouldn't bite again. We also caught and released a small shark by drifting a threadfin behind the boat. We were surprised to find rough seas in the gulf on Saturday morning, so we loaded my boat back onto the trailer and headed for the more protected waters of the Peace River. The floodwaters had taken their toll there, too and pushed baitfish and tarpon out of the areas where I had previously found them. We did find a few fish and had a couple of bites on a DOA shrimp but didn't hook up.
Tarpon fishing for large tarpon in the coastal gulf waters will continue for a while as long as conditions allow us to get out there. However, there will be more singles and loosely schooled fish traveling both north and south. Smaller tarpon in the 20 to 30-pound class will continue to be a good option through early fall.

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

Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 6/15 through 6/21/2003

       Fly and spin anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action during the past week with tarpon, despite foul weather later in the week. Due to the wind and rain, which started on Wednesday, we fished a wide area to avoid the foul weather. Anglers jumped or landed tarpon in the coastal gulf waters off Sarasota and in upper Charlotte Harbor. We also fished the backcountry of lower Tampa Bay, catching and releasing snook, trout and redfish on top water plugs.
Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL, and his dad, Dennis Ondercin from Middleburg Heights, OH, fished with me all week long. We fished the coastal gulf waters off Longboat Key on Monday due to thunderstorms lingering off Sarasota. It was a good plan to avoid the weather, but there weren't a lot of tarpon showing on the surface. We free lined a threadfin behind the boat as we drifted and searched for schools of tarpon. We jumped one tarpon on the threadfin and also had a hookup with a nice 'cuda.
Tuesday was hot! The weather cleared and we found a laid up, hungry school of tarpon at first light. Cliff connected twice on a black and purple bunny fly. Dennis followed up by jumping one on a live crab. They got several more bites and a couple more hookups with a DOA Swimming Mullet before we let them move on. Although we had trouble keeping one hooked, they were really biting! A wall of rain, wind and lightning greeted us on Wednesday morning before we even had a chance to fish. We waited it out for more than an hour, but conditions deteriorated even more, so we headed for the dock.
Since the gulf was like a washing machine on Thursday, we headed for the more protected waters of lower Tampa Bay. We spent several hours in the morning and only saw a few single tarpon. Cliff caught an almost legal gag grouper blind casting for tarpon over hard bottom with a DOA Swimming Mullet, before we headed for the backcountry. They salvaged the day by catching a "slam", which included a 25" red, several nice trout and several snook on a MirrOlure She Dog and a CAL jig with a shad tail. Again a threatening thunderstorm chased us to the dock!
Friday was the best day yet. Still on a tarpon mission, we headed for upper Charlotte Harbor to fish canals for juvenile tarpon in the 20 to 30-pound class. Although there weren't a lot of fish, it proved to be a good choice as the fish bit like dogs! Cliff was on fire, landing 4 out of 7 tarpon jumped and getting several more bites. He used a pearl DOA TerrorEyz fished slowly along the bottom with medium spinning tackle. This is finesse fishing that requires casting accuracy and patience, but the payoff is big.
We are heading toward a new moon next weekend, which should cause tarpon to be happy. When we ever get out of this miserable weather pattern, big tarpon should be ready to feed along the beaches.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 6/8 through 6/15/2003

Fly and spin anglers had an action packed week with tarpon during the past week on the Snook Fin-Addict. Although we were still plagued with west winds and rough sea conditions a couple of days during the week, there was action everyday. Fly anglers landed one out of 3 tarpon jumped and spin anglers landed 3 out of 7, including a 135-pound brute that measured 74 ½" x 35 ½". 
Monday's wind forecast was not good and the coastal gulf waters were still churned lake a washing machine, so we headed for lower Tampa Bay to check out a report of consistent tarpon action there. We found a hungry school in shallow water and one readily ate the black and purple bunny fly we offered it. After a short battle, the estimated 60-pounder was at the side of the boat. 
Tuesday's trip had the most action with 6 tarpon hooked or jumped, including one on a fly, and one landed in the coastal gulf waters south of Sarasota. The winds switched to the east and the gulf recovered remarkably well. Aledia Tush and Chris Likens, both from Sarasota, FL, fished with me and found the tarpon hungry. Chris landed a 90-pound fish with a 33 ½" girth on a live crab for an entry in the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club's annual tarpon tournament.
I fished the same area the rest of the week with good results. A fly angler on Wednesday jumped a tarpon that will be burned in my memory for years to come. With our attention focused to the north, looking for southbound fish, a northbound school snuck up on us from behind. After hearing them gulp air 20 feet behind the boat, there was only time for one false cast and a short cast at 7 o'clock. We watched the Enrico Puglisi black mullet fly tracking alongside the boat as it was slowly stripped. Suddenly a tarpon sucked the fly in, and then shook its head for several seconds like a dog playing tug-of-war with a chew toy. Once the fish realized it had been stuck it got angry, running into the backing and blasting two of the highest jumps I've ever seen. The hook pulled after about 5-minutes and our hearts were still racing!
Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, FL, and his son, Craig Notari from Winnetka, IL, fished with me on Thursday and Friday. Craig has caught the largest fish of the season with me for the last two years and he may have done it again. The wind shifted to the south early on Thursday and the seas got rough. As a result, tarpon weren't showing well, but they were there. We free-lined a threadfin behind the boat to see if we could catch one swimming by us and it worked. Terry landed an 80-pounder on Thursday using this technique. 
Conditions improved on Friday and Craig was committed to catch his first tarpon with a fly, but it just wasn't in the cards. While Craig patiently waited for a shot with a fly, the fish weren't showing very well. Again it was the free-lined threadfin swimming behind the boat that hooked a tarpon sneaking by us. It was Craig's turn this time and he fought the big fish hard until we could get a measuring tape around her. We were pleasantly surprised that she was much bigger than we initially thought. The measurements translated to a 135-pound fish, which explained why she didn't want to easily give up.
Saturday's trip had a couple of bites and one fish jumped. There were lots of anglers on the water, so the best shots were early and then the action dried up. I expect tarpon to be moving fast for the next couple of days as we head away from the full moon. Hopefully by the middle of the week they should settle down and start to behave more favorably.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 6/1 through 6/8/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict caught snook, redfish, trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel during the past week. A persistent southwest wind flow again kept anglers from fishing the coastal gulf waters for tarpon most days. When we were able to get out, we were greeted by a large swell. We have been fishing Sarasota Bay as an alternative to tarpon fishing.
Monday and Tuesday were blown out. Although we did give it a try on Tuesday, conditions just wouldn't allow us to fish the gulf for very long. Gary Toomire, his daughter, Lauren, and her friend, Carrie, all from the Chicago area, fished a half-day in Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday. They caught more than 20 trout to 17" and a Spanish mackerel on Cotee jigs with grubs and CAL jigs with jerk worms at the Middleground flat and near Bishop Point. Ken Trotter, from Sarasota, FL, fished with me on Thursday and caught a 25" red and a 24" snook on a CAL jig with a jerk worm in Roberts Bay.
Sea conditions were better on Friday. There was a large swell, but tarpon were not showing. Art Lyons, from the Chicago area and Don Shutello, from NJ, fished with me on Saturday, which was the roughest day of the week. We tried to tarpon fish, but a 4-6 foot swell with breaking waves made it impossible and definitely not any fun, so we retreated to Sarasota Bay after a couple of hours. They managed a good catch of trout to 18" and a couple of small bluefish on DOA shrimp near Bishop Point.
The wind has got to quit sometime and conditions will improve. As we head toward a full moon next Friday, I hope we can get a couple of days in before then. If not, I'll be fishing the flats for reds, snook and trout.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 5/25 through 5/31/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action with tarpon early in the week in the coastal gulf waters off Sarasota. Tarpon schools settled down, moved slower and showed more frequently, making them easier targets. There were even several laid up schools of tarpon on Monday and Tuesday mornings. However, by the end of the week the wind turned to a westerly flow making tarpon fishing in the gulf impossible.
Harry Davis, from Dalton, GA, fished with me on Monday and the tarpon were hungry. He jumped two tarpon on live crabs and had several other bites, including one on a fly. Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and a group of 5 other anglers joined me for the rest of the week with several other guides, Capt. Jim Klopfer, Capt. Kelly Stilwell and Capt. Ed Hurst. 
Tuesday was the best day with 12 hook ups and several fish landed between 3 guide boats. Wednesday was also a good day, with 8 hook ups and several fish landed between the 3 boats. By Thursday, the wind turned to the west and tarpon were not showing very well at all. Although we got a couple of bites, we didn't hook up. We were blown out for tarpon on Friday due to a stiff west wind, so we retreated to Sarasota Bay to do some flats fishing. The anglers caught and released trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel on jigs and plastic baits before catching an afternoon flight home.
We should be entering the best part of our tarpon season as we head toward the full moon in June. After we get out of the westerly wind pattern that we will probably be in for a few days, tarpon should be hungry.

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

Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 5/18 through 5/25/2003

Tarpon schools have been behaving like they sometimes do coming off of last weeks full moon. They have been fast moving and not showing well, making it tough for fly anglers to get a shot at them. Although this can be irritating, if you are committed to catch a tarpon on a fly you have to wait for the right school. Fast moving tarpon can be caught easier by casting a live crab or a DOA Swimming Mullet well out in front of them, however some of last weeks fish would have required a "Hail Mary" to get it there.
It is still early in our tarpon season, so this is a good time to discuss etiquette. Tarpon behavior is most affected by anglers running their outboards too close to the fish. After a school passes you, let them get at least a couple of hundred yards away and then make a wide arc around them, preferably to the deeper water side. Electric trolling motors can also spook fish if they are turned on and off when tarpon are close. The shallower the water, the more they will be affected. Even if you think you aren't bothering tarpon by running your outboard or electric trolling motors, you are probably pushing them causing them to move faster and stay deeper. This is particularly true if you try to approach them from behind. It is much better to get one or two good "head on" shots.
Tarpon will usually travel on the same line on any given day, so even if they are fast moving and not showing well, try to be on the line that they are traveling and ready to make a quick cast. I have seen tarpon that were streaking by eat a fly, but it is much tougher to get it in their strike zone, especially if it is a perpendicular cast.
Veteran tarpon anglers that fish shallow water usually only use a push pole. The key is to figure their line of travel and anchor just up tide or up wind of that line. As tarpon approach, you can drop your anchor (with a float on the anchor line, of course) and maneuver in front of them. If you get your boat in the right spot, you may not have to move at all.
As we head toward next week's new moon, tarpon schools should slow down and behave more calmly. Remember that this is big game fishing. You may not jump or land a fish every day, but when you do it'll be worth it!

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

Sarasota & Venice, FL Fishing Report for 5/11 through 5/18/2003

Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action with tarpon in the coastal gulf waters off Sarasota and Venice during the past week. Although they didn't bite everyday, we had a couple of good days. Fly anglers did best, jumping a couple and fighting a couple to the boat. We also got bit a couple of times when we didn't hook up. The best colors were black or black and purple. 
A couple of fish were also jumped on the DOA Swimming Mullet on Monday. This lure can be cast a long distance and gets down in front of fish fast. They usually eat it as it drops in front of them. An angler on the Snook Fin-Addict on Tuesday had several bites on live crabs, but failed to hook up. An 80-pound tarpon was landed on a black and purple bunny fly on Thursday and another one ate a chartreuse fly but spit it out before he could be hooked. Tarpon got lockjaw on Friday, right on the full moon. Although there were plenty of fish and some beautiful schools, they wouldn't eat a variety of live baits and lures.
One of the best trips of the week was on Wednesday with fly angler Rick Happle, from Tampa, FL. Rick's goal was to catch a tarpon, his first ever, with a fly. He jumped an 80-pounder, a perfect size for a first tarpon, on a black and purple bunny fly and fought the fish all the way to the boat in about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the 12-weight fly rod broke, causing the leader to part before we could put our hands on him. The most spectacular fish was a single, estimated at 120-pounds, that ate his fly 30-feet behind the boat and proceeded to put on an aerial show. The hot fish jumped a couple of times as it streaked away from us, burning Rick's line hand in the process. It turned and charged the boat just as fast and splashed us as it jumped off right next to the boat!
As we head away from the full moon next week, tarpon schools should be happier. We are heading into the prime of our season, so if the weather will cooperate, tarpon fishing should turn on!

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