Capt. Jeffri Durrance’s Weekly Fishing Report
Houston’s Pat Patterson with a nice Spanish mackerel.
Fishing is improving with folks catching Spanish and king mackerel along the beaches and sheepshead and snook inside the bay. Temperatures in the Gulf are slowly starting to rise and Spanish and King Mackerel are being caught on jigs, small baitfish, various lures, and shrimp.
With the humidity relatively low this time of year and the air temps being as comfortable as they are right now it’s a great time to be on the water. Remember, the best time to go fishing is when you can and be sure to save some for seed!
Jeffri is a fourth generation native Floridian who grew up in Bowling Green, Florida, located in Hardee County. While growing up on a cattle and citrus operation Jeffri fished many creeks and lakes in the central Florida area as well as the Peace River.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Jeff Handchel and Harris Buckli enjoying a nice day on the water.
Jeff Handchel and Harris Bucklin fished with me this past week out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters’. They managed to catch a 30 inch Snook on a DT Special fly and had plenty of action most of the time out on the water.
They also caught some smaller snook, ladyfish, and trout on flies. There are some nice fish around but you have to be willing to work for them.
They got big for a reason so be prepared to exert yourself. All the fish were released.
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
It doesn’t get much better than this.
The fishing the last couple of weeks has been consistent. On most days I’ve been fishing the passes with live bait. Sheepshead has provided most of the action as well as some snapper, black drum, pompano.
We also caught and released several snook. On a couple of calm days, I went to some of the nearshore reefs, and the fishing was pretty much the same. On one day we caught and released at least 6 kingfish as well as Spanish mackerel, snapper, grunts and a few gag grouper.
Right now there’s a lot of bait coming into our area and I look for good spring migration.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Keith McClintock with a trout he caught and released.
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook, trout and a red, on CAL jigs with shad tails and trout on Clouser flies in the Terra Ceia area and snook at night on flies in the ICW recently.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, fished the Terra Ceia area with me and had good action catching and releasing snook, several trout and a red on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms.
Alan Sugar, from MI, had some action catching and releasing trout on Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines over deep grass in the same area.
Martin Marlowe and his son Bruce Marlowe night fishing.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, and Bruce Marlowe, from SC, fished the ICW at night for snook with me and had some action catching and releasing snook to 26” on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. The action wasn’t fast but the quality was good!
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring. Fishing shallow flats usually require fishing hard to find and catch fish but it is worth the effort. You may not catch big numbers but you may catch good ones.
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.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Keith McClintock and Dan DiCaro, from Chicago.
Keith McClintock and Dan DiCaro, from Chicago, fished Terra Ceia Bay with me out of CB’s Outfitters this past week.
They caught snook, trout, ladyfish and a beautiful Tripletail on white Mr. Twister Exuded on 1/4 oz jig heads.
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Denton Kent with a permit he caught and released on a CAL jig with a grub.
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook, trout, a red and a bonus, permit, on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies in the Boca Grande and Terra Ceia areas recently.
As we head towards spring, baitfish are becoming more plentiful and action is improving on both shallow and deep grass flats.
Sarasota winter residents Mike Perez and Denton Kent fished with me recently. It was slow but late in the day Denton caught and released a permit out of a pothole in a backcountry area on a CAL jig with a grub. I’ve caught permit mixed with pompano in our area before, usually in deeper areas, but this was a first for me in skinny water!
Keith McClintock, from IL, with a red he caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail.
Alan Sugar and Ray Hutchinson, both from MI, also fished with me recently and had some action catching and releasing trout and ladyfish on deep grass flats on Clouser flies and a couple of snook in skinny water on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.
Keith McClintock also fished with me and had good action catching and releasing numerous snook, a red and several trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Fishing shallow flats are both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones.
Ray Hutchinson, from MI, with a nice trout caught and released on a Clouser fly.
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring.
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.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Shelly caught and released this big ladyfish this week.
Fishing has slowed down the last few days due to the cold mornings, but it will soon pick up with this warm weather we have coming in the next week.
We are still catching a few pompano ladyfish bluefish and trout. Shelly caught this big ladyfish and when we released it a bald eagle swooped down and snatched it off the water.
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.
Capt. Kelly Stilwell’s Weekly Fishing Report
Fishing over the last week has been pretty good aboard the Tide Tuit. The nighttime snook fishing has been the best for fly-fishers seeking game fish. Scott Tassinari caught several snook and some big jack crevalle’s on dt special flies. Daytime trips have been producing mostly Ladyfish, a few spanish mackerel, and the occasional spotted sea trout for fly-fishers.
Spin fishers have been doing well on sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and a few snook around docks and in the passes on live shrimp.
Kelly has lived and fished in this area for over 30 years. His specialties are artificial bait, fly fishing, tarpon, and live bait fishing in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf. He's an Orvis Endorsed Guide and currently runs a 2400 Ranger Bay boat which accommodates five.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Dr. Jean Perry hooked this nice looking Redfish.
Dr. Jean Perry And her husband Tom snuck away from the cold Wisconsin weather to Warmer Siesta Key. The morning started off a little slow until Jean hooked into a Nice redfish.
Moving a short distance away we saw lots of Mullett and bait and Jane hooked into another red. Tom throwing topwater baits had a huge follow-up but missed the hookup. The wind picked up a bit and made things a little more challenging, however, Jean who out fished her husband Tom did hook into a nice size Jack that gave her a great fight.
I told them about the Tarpon just off the beaches come May and June and Tom thinks he may come back down to try his luck catching one of the big silver kings.
I hope to see them both again as they were a great team and Good company.
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Paz, from Miami, had a great day on the water.
Paz and his wife came up to Sarasota from Miami to enjoy his birthday weekend. His wife went shopping in Siesta Key Village while Paz fished the flats with me on the Let’s Get Em’ Charter out of CB’s Outfitters.
Paz is a very experienced fisherman and I had him throwing topwater artificial baits and jigs with Gulp shrimp. He had several fish smack the topwater bait however they kept missing it.
Using the jig with Gulp he caught and released two nice Redfish, a Snook, and a very large Jack Crevalle. I probably saw more Mullett and bait than I have in quite some time, a sure sign that the game fish are close by.
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
Last week saw a lot of action in and around the nearshore reefs.
Last week the fishing action was very good. On several days the seas were calm and we fished some of the nearshore reefs. Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, and Key West Grunts as well as some large Spanish Mackerel made for some exciting trips.
On several days I fished inshore on the docks and passes with live bait. We caught and released a few redfish and snook up to 28 inches. Sheepshead and snapper also provided for some productive trips.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies in the Terra Ceia area and snook on flies in the ICW at night recently. Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s now, baitfish are becoming more plentiful and action is improving on shallow and deep grass flats.
Jerry Poslusny, from NY, fished the ICW at night for snook on a trip with me recently. Despite a good tide, snook were picky that night but he had some action catching and releasing several nice snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
Bill Morrison, from Anna Maria Island and his grandson, Chris, from Boston, fished a couple of days recently with me in the Terra Ceia area and had some action catching and releasing trout and ladyfish on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Keith McClintock with a snook caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, also fished a day with me in that area. He had good action catching and releasing about a dozen snook, a red, several trout and a pompano. Great day!
I was the instructor for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday. 2/23. Students received instruction in fly casting, leader construction, fly selection, and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Future schools will be held on Mar. 16 and Apr 13, 2019. Cost for the 6-hr class is $195 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, workbook, and lunch.
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring. Fishing shallow flats are both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones. 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.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Greg Hollis, from Wilmington DE, enjoyed a couple of beautiful mornings with me this past week.
Greg Hollis, from Wilmington DE, enjoyed a couple of beautiful mornings fly fishing with me this past week. Greg caught ladyfish, mackerel, and some snook. The best fly was the Puglisi white baitfish pattern.
We were using sink tip fly lines on 7 and 8 weight Orvis Helios 3 rods. We fished the docks and oyster bars between the Stickney Point and Blackburn Point Bridges.
The snook were on the docks and bars, the mackerel were in the channel, and the ladyfish were on the flats. Happy Fishing!
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Jenna and Travis had a great day on the water.
Great day on the water. Jenna and Travis flew into Sarasota to attend a wedding at old Spanish Point this weekend and decided to take a couple extra days beforehand to do some fishing and relaxing on the beach.
For the first time in quite in a while, we found Game fish cruising the skinny flats in Sarasota Bay. The couple were experienced fly fisherman from the Colorado area and were able to catch redfish, snook, large jacks and ladyfish using artificial bait on spin casting outfits.
The warm temperatures and spring-like weather are a real boost to the local fishing. So what are you waiting for… make some time and throw out a line or two!
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Father and Son had a great day out on the water.
Father and Son had a great day out on the water.[/caption]Fishing has slowed down over the past few days but still, it’s been pretty decent overall. The water temperatures have been slowly rising and the bite should get going again strong by tomorrow or the next day at the latest.
I had a nice father and son fishing excursion yesterday. The son caught a huge pompano and was the top rod on the boat for the day. I look forward to taking them shark fishing, possibly in the spring, I think they’d really like that.
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
Water tempatures are rising on the southern gulf coast.
With the water temps rising to around 70 degrees fishing has started to improve in our area. Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s have had some decent action fishing with live bait. Sheepshead, snapper, have provided most of the action as well as some large jacks. We also caught and released a few snook as well.
Hopefully this year we will not see a repeat of last years red tide and our fisheries will be able to recover. I’d really like to stress the importance of releasing most of our gamefish as they are the future of fishing in our area.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Bruce Burkhart’s Weekly Fishing Report
We’ve had good fishing over the past few weeks.
Throwing CAL jigs in Little Sarasota Bay my anglers caught Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish, Trout and some Pompano that have been showing up more and more lately. Fishing docks with live shrimp worked out well with a few Sheephead and Mangrove Snappers that we were able to catch.
Bruce is a Florida native and has lived in Sarasota for thirty years. Capt. Bruce grew up on the east coast of Florida and started fishing with his dad when he was about six years old. Fishing has been a lifetime passion of his and in 2001 he obtained his U.S.C.G. Captain’s license.
Capt. Kelly Stilwell’s Weekly Fishing Report
Angler’s aboard the Tide Tuit had some great action over the last week. The hottest action was provided by sheepshead, and mangrove snapper around docks on Siesta Key. The night snook fishing has also been good. Anthony, Chris, and McKenzie Cole had a fun night, catching 20 or more snook as well as some big jack crevalle on shrimp and flies.
Kelly has lived and fished in this area for over 30 years. His specialties are artificial bait, fly fishing, tarpon, and live bait fishing in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf. He's an Orvis Endorsed Guide and currently runs a 2400 Ranger Bay boat which accommodates five.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook and bluefish on flies in the ICW at night recently. Catch and release night snook fishing continues to be the most dependable fly fishing option.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, had a great evening trip recently catching and releasing snook and blues on a Grassett Snook Minnow.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, fished the ICW at night for snook on a trip with me. He had fast action catching and releasing snook and several bluefish on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Great action!
I will be speaking at the Florida Sportsman Show at the Lee County Civic Center on Sunday, Feb 9 on the Ankona Boats Fly Fishing stage at 10:30 AM on “SW Florida Winter Fly Fishing Tactics” and at 2 PM on “Fly Fishing for Snook at Night”.
I’ll also be hanging out with my friends at DOA Fishing Lures and Mangrove Coast Flyfishers while I’m not speaking.
Fishing dock lights in the evening is usually a good option for catch and release snook fishing this time of year, although it is dependent on tide and conditions. Fishing shallow flats is both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones.
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.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Big Momma, from PA, caught over 20 fish.
Big Momma, who hails from somewhere outside of Pittsburgh, PA, forced her husband and best friends to go fishing on one of the coldest days of the year. With water temperatures hovering around 52 degrees we headed out in search of some fish.
As luck would have it she smoked the boys with over 20 fish caught and topped it off with a snook at the end. What a great gal and a great fisherman as well.
Can’t wait to see them again next year!
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.
Capt. Jeffri Durrance’s Weekly Fishing Report
Houston’s Pat Patterson with a nice Spanish mackerel.
Fishing is improving with folks catching Spanish and king mackerel along the beaches and sheepshead and snook inside the bay. Temperatures in the Gulf are slowly starting to rise and Spanish and King Mackerel are being caught on jigs, small baitfish, various lures, and shrimp.
With the humidity relatively low this time of year and the air temps being as comfortable as they are right now it’s a great time to be on the water. Remember, the best time to go fishing is when you can and be sure to save some for seed!
Jeffri is a fourth generation native Floridian who grew up in Bowling Green, Florida, located in Hardee County. While growing up on a cattle and citrus operation Jeffri fished many creeks and lakes in the central Florida area as well as the Peace River.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Jeff Handchel and Harris Buckli enjoying a nice day on the water.
Jeff Handchel and Harris Bucklin fished with me this past week out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters’. They managed to catch a 30 inch Snook on a DT Special fly and had plenty of action most of the time out on the water.
They also caught some smaller snook, ladyfish, and trout on flies. There are some nice fish around but you have to be willing to work for them.
They got big for a reason so be prepared to exert yourself. All the fish were released.
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
It doesn’t get much better than this.
The fishing the last couple of weeks has been consistent. On most days I’ve been fishing the passes with live bait. Sheepshead has provided most of the action as well as some snapper, black drum, pompano.
We also caught and released several snook. On a couple of calm days, I went to some of the nearshore reefs, and the fishing was pretty much the same. On one day we caught and released at least 6 kingfish as well as Spanish mackerel, snapper, grunts and a few gag grouper.
Right now there’s a lot of bait coming into our area and I look for good spring migration.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Keith McClintock with a trout he caught and released.
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook, trout and a red, on CAL jigs with shad tails and trout on Clouser flies in the Terra Ceia area and snook at night on flies in the ICW recently.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, fished the Terra Ceia area with me and had good action catching and releasing snook, several trout and a red on CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms.
Alan Sugar, from MI, had some action catching and releasing trout on Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines over deep grass in the same area.
Martin Marlowe and his son Bruce Marlowe night fishing.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, and Bruce Marlowe, from SC, fished the ICW at night for snook with me and had some action catching and releasing snook to 26” on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. The action wasn’t fast but the quality was good!
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring. Fishing shallow flats usually require fishing hard to find and catch fish but it is worth the effort. You may not catch big numbers but you may catch good ones.
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.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Keith McClintock and Dan DiCaro, from Chicago.
Keith McClintock and Dan DiCaro, from Chicago, fished Terra Ceia Bay with me out of CB’s Outfitters this past week.
They caught snook, trout, ladyfish and a beautiful Tripletail on white Mr. Twister Exuded on 1/4 oz jig heads.
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Denton Kent with a permit he caught and released on a CAL jig with a grub.
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook, trout, a red and a bonus, permit, on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies in the Boca Grande and Terra Ceia areas recently.
As we head towards spring, baitfish are becoming more plentiful and action is improving on both shallow and deep grass flats.
Sarasota winter residents Mike Perez and Denton Kent fished with me recently. It was slow but late in the day Denton caught and released a permit out of a pothole in a backcountry area on a CAL jig with a grub. I’ve caught permit mixed with pompano in our area before, usually in deeper areas, but this was a first for me in skinny water!
Keith McClintock, from IL, with a red he caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail.
Alan Sugar and Ray Hutchinson, both from MI, also fished with me recently and had some action catching and releasing trout and ladyfish on deep grass flats on Clouser flies and a couple of snook in skinny water on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.
Keith McClintock also fished with me and had good action catching and releasing numerous snook, a red and several trout on CAL jigs with shad tails.
Fishing shallow flats are both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones.
Ray Hutchinson, from MI, with a nice trout caught and released on a Clouser fly.
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring.
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.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Shelly caught and released this big ladyfish this week.
Fishing has slowed down the last few days due to the cold mornings, but it will soon pick up with this warm weather we have coming in the next week.
We are still catching a few pompano ladyfish bluefish and trout. Shelly caught this big ladyfish and when we released it a bald eagle swooped down and snatched it off the water.
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.
Capt. Kelly Stilwell’s Weekly Fishing Report
Fishing over the last week has been pretty good aboard the Tide Tuit. The nighttime snook fishing has been the best for fly-fishers seeking game fish. Scott Tassinari caught several snook and some big jack crevalle’s on dt special flies. Daytime trips have been producing mostly Ladyfish, a few spanish mackerel, and the occasional spotted sea trout for fly-fishers.
Spin fishers have been doing well on sheepshead, mangrove snapper, and a few snook around docks and in the passes on live shrimp.
Kelly has lived and fished in this area for over 30 years. His specialties are artificial bait, fly fishing, tarpon, and live bait fishing in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf. He's an Orvis Endorsed Guide and currently runs a 2400 Ranger Bay boat which accommodates five.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Dr. Jean Perry hooked this nice looking Redfish.
Dr. Jean Perry And her husband Tom snuck away from the cold Wisconsin weather to Warmer Siesta Key. The morning started off a little slow until Jean hooked into a Nice redfish.
Moving a short distance away we saw lots of Mullett and bait and Jane hooked into another red. Tom throwing topwater baits had a huge follow-up but missed the hookup. The wind picked up a bit and made things a little more challenging, however, Jean who out fished her husband Tom did hook into a nice size Jack that gave her a great fight.
I told them about the Tarpon just off the beaches come May and June and Tom thinks he may come back down to try his luck catching one of the big silver kings.
I hope to see them both again as they were a great team and Good company.
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Paz, from Miami, had a great day on the water.
Paz and his wife came up to Sarasota from Miami to enjoy his birthday weekend. His wife went shopping in Siesta Key Village while Paz fished the flats with me on the Let’s Get Em’ Charter out of CB’s Outfitters.
Paz is a very experienced fisherman and I had him throwing topwater artificial baits and jigs with Gulp shrimp. He had several fish smack the topwater bait however they kept missing it.
Using the jig with Gulp he caught and released two nice Redfish, a Snook, and a very large Jack Crevalle. I probably saw more Mullett and bait than I have in quite some time, a sure sign that the game fish are close by.
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
Last week saw a lot of action in and around the nearshore reefs.
Last week the fishing action was very good. On several days the seas were calm and we fished some of the nearshore reefs. Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, and Key West Grunts as well as some large Spanish Mackerel made for some exciting trips.
On several days I fished inshore on the docks and passes with live bait. We caught and released a few redfish and snook up to 28 inches. Sheepshead and snapper also provided for some productive trips.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and flies in the Terra Ceia area and snook on flies in the ICW at night recently. Water temperatures are in the mid 70’s now, baitfish are becoming more plentiful and action is improving on shallow and deep grass flats.
Jerry Poslusny, from NY, fished the ICW at night for snook on a trip with me recently. Despite a good tide, snook were picky that night but he had some action catching and releasing several nice snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.
Bill Morrison, from Anna Maria Island and his grandson, Chris, from Boston, fished a couple of days recently with me in the Terra Ceia area and had some action catching and releasing trout and ladyfish on Clouser flies and CAL jigs with shad tails.
Keith McClintock with a snook caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail.
Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, also fished a day with me in that area. He had good action catching and releasing about a dozen snook, a red, several trout and a pompano. Great day!
I was the instructor for a CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing School on Saturday. 2/23. Students received instruction in fly casting, leader construction, fly selection, and saltwater fly fishing techniques. Future schools will be held on Mar. 16 and Apr 13, 2019. Cost for the 6-hr class is $195 per person and includes the use of premium Orvis fly tackle, workbook, and lunch.
Look for migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, in bays, passes, and the coastal gulf as we head into spring. Fishing shallow flats are both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones. 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.
Capt. Ed Hurst’s Weekly Fishing Report
Greg Hollis, from Wilmington DE, enjoyed a couple of beautiful mornings with me this past week.
Greg Hollis, from Wilmington DE, enjoyed a couple of beautiful mornings fly fishing with me this past week. Greg caught ladyfish, mackerel, and some snook. The best fly was the Puglisi white baitfish pattern.
We were using sink tip fly lines on 7 and 8 weight Orvis Helios 3 rods. We fished the docks and oyster bars between the Stickney Point and Blackburn Point Bridges.
The snook were on the docks and bars, the mackerel were in the channel, and the ladyfish were on the flats. Happy Fishing!
Sarasota has been Ed's home since 1956. He's fished these area waters since he was nine years old. From 1995 until the present he's guided anglers exclusively in and around the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Fly fishing is his passion and he's an Orvis Endorsed Guide.
Capt. Chuck Cress’s Weekly Fishing Report
Jenna and Travis had a great day on the water.
Great day on the water. Jenna and Travis flew into Sarasota to attend a wedding at old Spanish Point this weekend and decided to take a couple extra days beforehand to do some fishing and relaxing on the beach.
For the first time in quite in a while, we found Game fish cruising the skinny flats in Sarasota Bay. The couple were experienced fly fisherman from the Colorado area and were able to catch redfish, snook, large jacks and ladyfish using artificial bait on spin casting outfits.
The warm temperatures and spring-like weather are a real boost to the local fishing. So what are you waiting for… make some time and throw out a line or two!
Fishing has been a lifetime passion for me. Depending on the skill level of my clients what I like to do is put them on big fish using artificial lures. I like to educating and passing on my knowledge of local history and the many sights the area has to offer while we are on the water.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Father and Son had a great day out on the water.
Father and Son had a great day out on the water.[/caption]Fishing has slowed down over the past few days but still, it’s been pretty decent overall. The water temperatures have been slowly rising and the bite should get going again strong by tomorrow or the next day at the latest.
I had a nice father and son fishing excursion yesterday. The son caught a huge pompano and was the top rod on the boat for the day. I look forward to taking them shark fishing, possibly in the spring, I think they’d really like that.
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.
Capt. Kelly Kurtz’s Weekly Fishing Report
Water tempatures are rising on the southern gulf coast.
With the water temps rising to around 70 degrees fishing has started to improve in our area. Anglers fishing with me out of CB’s have had some decent action fishing with live bait. Sheepshead, snapper, have provided most of the action as well as some large jacks. We also caught and released a few snook as well.
Hopefully this year we will not see a repeat of last years red tide and our fisheries will be able to recover. I’d really like to stress the importance of releasing most of our gamefish as they are the future of fishing in our area.
Kelly is a Sarasota native and the owner and operator of Mangrove Charters. He's passionate about fishing and hunting. As a full-time fishing guide Kelly operates out of a 22 ft. Bayscout and specializes in light tackle using both artificial and live bait. Redfish are his favorite.
Capt. Bruce Burkhart’s Weekly Fishing Report
We’ve had good fishing over the past few weeks.
Throwing CAL jigs in Little Sarasota Bay my anglers caught Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish, Trout and some Pompano that have been showing up more and more lately. Fishing docks with live shrimp worked out well with a few Sheephead and Mangrove Snappers that we were able to catch.
Bruce is a Florida native and has lived in Sarasota for thirty years. Capt. Bruce grew up on the east coast of Florida and started fishing with his dad when he was about six years old. Fishing has been a lifetime passion of his and in 2001 he obtained his U.S.C.G. Captain’s license.
Capt. Kelly Stilwell’s Weekly Fishing Report
Angler’s aboard the Tide Tuit had some great action over the last week. The hottest action was provided by sheepshead, and mangrove snapper around docks on Siesta Key. The night snook fishing has also been good. Anthony, Chris, and McKenzie Cole had a fun night, catching 20 or more snook as well as some big jack crevalle on shrimp and flies.
Kelly has lived and fished in this area for over 30 years. His specialties are artificial bait, fly fishing, tarpon, and live bait fishing in Sarasota Bay and the nearshore Gulf. He's an Orvis Endorsed Guide and currently runs a 2400 Ranger Bay boat which accommodates five.
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Weekly Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook and bluefish on flies in the ICW at night recently. Catch and release night snook fishing continues to be the most dependable fly fishing option.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, had a great evening trip recently catching and releasing snook and blues on a Grassett Snook Minnow.
Martin Marlowe, from NY, fished the ICW at night for snook on a trip with me. He had fast action catching and releasing snook and several bluefish on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly. Great action!
I will be speaking at the Florida Sportsman Show at the Lee County Civic Center on Sunday, Feb 9 on the Ankona Boats Fly Fishing stage at 10:30 AM on “SW Florida Winter Fly Fishing Tactics” and at 2 PM on “Fly Fishing for Snook at Night”.
I’ll also be hanging out with my friends at DOA Fishing Lures and Mangrove Coast Flyfishers while I’m not speaking.
Fishing dock lights in the evening is usually a good option for catch and release snook fishing this time of year, although it is dependent on tide and conditions. Fishing shallow flats is both challenging and rewarding. It usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones.
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.
Capt. Brandon Naeve’s Weekly Fishing Report
Big Momma, from PA, caught over 20 fish.
Big Momma, who hails from somewhere outside of Pittsburgh, PA, forced her husband and best friends to go fishing on one of the coldest days of the year. With water temperatures hovering around 52 degrees we headed out in search of some fish.
As luck would have it she smoked the boys with over 20 fish caught and topped it off with a snook at the end. What a great gal and a great fisherman as well.
Can’t wait to see them again next year!
I've been a fishing guide the Sarasota , Boca Grande area for over 25 years. My Sarasota trips are mostly family oriented 1/2 day fishing trips involving kids who love to catch all the family fun fish. My Boca Grande trips are for the more experienced spin or fly fishing angler.