Anglers fishing a couple of different areas with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook, trout, jacks and flounder on DOA Lures during the past week. I also scouted a couple of areas and even though fish were widely scattered and the action wasn’t fast, there was lots of life in the areas that we fished, including mullet, baitfish, birds and dolphins.
Marshall Dinerman, from Atlanta, fished Little Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday and David Brody and sons Dane, Mike and Ben, from Pittsburgh, fished Gasparilla Sound with Capt. Andy Cotton and me on a 2-boat trip on Saturday. Both trips had similar action catching and releasing trout and jacks in deeper water and snook in shallow water on flies, CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms and DOA Deadly Combos. I also fished a day in the Terra Ceia area and caught and released a few snook and trout on the same lures.
The Florida FWC has enacted a temporary modification of regulations for reds and snook, in the areas affected by the recent red tide. The area extends from Pasco County, south to the south bank of Gordon Pass in Collier County. Reds and snook are catch and release only in that zone until May 10, 2019. I applaud them for taking this action to protect our fishery. Full details including exact boundaries can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Since we are still in a summer time pattern, it is a great time to beat the heat, by fishing dock lights before dawn, which is the coolest time of day. In addition to snook, you may also find juvenile tarpon, trout and reds in the lights. The first few hours of the day is also prime time to fish the flats for reds, snook, trout and more. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural and residential runoff, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Rick is the owner of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc. He's a full time fishing guide and outdoor writer based in Sarasota, FL. He’s been guiding since 1990 and is an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guide here at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, the 2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year.
