In spite of the recent red tide bloom aboard the Tide Tuit, we were able to enjoy some impressive catches. Lenny Lambert and Mitch Bell had a great day Saturday. With both catching lots of small red grouper, scamp, yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, triggerfish, and a few Key West grunts.

Mitch also caught a good sized nurse shark so all in all, it was a pretty good day.

Capt. Capt. Kelly Stilwell

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.

We landed several redfish in small sand pockets.

I fished over the weekend with good results. Fishing some of my favorite spots I found plenty of jumping mullet and bait, a good sign game fish were close by. Throwing top water Spook in a bone color I had several nice size snook bust it out of the water… very exciting.

Most of the fish missed it but I did catch several 4-5 pounders. I saw several redfish in little small sand pockets and also caught a couple of nice upper slot fish. One of my other fishing partners caught several trout over 20 inches.

If you want to get out there the fish are waiting. What are you waiting for?

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

I hosted a group of friends and clients on a fly fishing trip in southwest Montana last week, so I don’t have a Sarasota report. This is an annual trip for me and was my 17th year fishing in Montana. We fished the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Madison Rivers, a couple of lakes and a spring creek. We caught and released numerous brown and rainbow trout, brookies and a few cutthroat trout during the week. We used streamers, dry flies and nymph rigs on 3 through 6-weight fly tackle. The dry fly action was with a variety of grasshopper patterns, sometimes with a nymph dropper, or with a smaller dry fly and a few other bugs.

Lynn Skipper, from Apollo Beach, FL and I traveled to Bozeman on Sunday, 7/29 and made the 2-1/2 hour drive to the lodge. Marshall Dinerman, from Atlanta, Denton Kent, from VA and Steve Coburn, from WI, met up with us at the airport. Mike Perez and Stewart Lavelle met up with us at the lodge after fishing a few days on the Missouri before the rest of the group arrived. We stayed at the Medicine Lodge, a 90,000-acre working ranch near the Beaverhead River outside of Dillon, a short way from Clark Canyon Reservoir. Equipped with an industrial-size kitchen and a large dining room with ranch style seating and bar counters along the kitchen for extra room, it was a great place for our group. The chef, Annie, spoiled us with hearty Montana meals and desserts!

Guide Dave King with a nice Montana rainbow caught and released by Mike Perez from Sarasota, on a dry fly. Click on this photo to check out some other great shots from our Montana Fly Fishing Trip.

We fished with guide Dave King, owner of King Outfitters (406) 596-0209 in Dillon, and his excellent group of guides; Dan, Mark, Eli, Tyler, and Tommy. I’ve fished with these guides for many years since I started fishing Montana. They work hard, do a great job and know their fishery well. We floated the Beaverhead, Big Hole and Madison rivers and had good action with browns and rainbows to more than 20” on streamers, dry/dropper and nymph rigs.

We also did some still water fishing on a couple of lakes and had great action walking a spring creek, catching and releasing brookies, browns, and rainbows on dry flies with 3 and 4-weight fly tackle.

One of the best things about fly fishing in southwest Montana is the variety. The fishing there is by either floating or wading. The weather and scenery were outstanding with temperatures ranging from a very comfortable high 40’s in the morning to the mid 80’s in the afternoon with low humidity, a welcome relief from southwest Florida’s heat and humidity in August! In addition to beautiful valleys surrounded by rugged mountains, the wildlife is amazing! We saw whitetail deer, moose, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, hawks, eagles, ducks, geese and sandhill cranes.

Back in Sarasota red tide has become more of an issue, affecting the coastal gulf up to Anna Maria Island and getting into Sarasota Bay close to passes. Red tide is patchy and changes from day to day and even tide to tide, so there are areas that are unaffected and fish can still usually be caught in those areas. Catch and release snook fishing around dock lights and bridges and trout, blues and more on deep grass flats should be good options if the water is clean in those areas. There should be some tarpon in upper Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. Juvenile tarpon in canals and creeks may also be a good option if you can find them. You might also find them in a few places mixed with snook in dock lights.

Capt. Capt. Rick Grassett

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.

Jenny (far left), son Dalton (center) and his fiancé Alexa visiting from Indiana.

There is some spotty red tide in our area due to the South West wind we had last week. This week calls for an Easterly breeze which will keep the tide at bay.

Over the weekend I traveled about 15 minutes North of the boat ramp and found crystal clear water and some great fishing action.

Saturday I fished a tournament and my partner and I caught several redfish, snook, tarpon, and trout. On Sunday Jenny her son Dalton and fiance’ Alexa were staying on Siesta Key visiting from IN.

They knew of the red tide but wanted to still get out on the water. I assured them that the red tide is only spotty and we could find clean water. The ladies out fished Dalton by catching several keeper trout and mangrove snapper.

Dalton almost brought to the boat a trophy sized snook before the giant fish snapped the line. Dalton admitted it was the largest fish he has had on the end of a pole. We had a great day on the water and everybody was happy.

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

That is one cool looking Blacktip Shark.

Emma Mason and Hayden from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania defied the red tide and caught 35 fish including Blacktip Shark, Ladyfish, Jack Crevalle, Pinfish, Catfish, Trout, and others. Ten species in all on a half day trip out of CB’s Outfitters tackle on Siesta Key.

People have asked me this week if it is safe to eat fish caught during the red tide?

You can even eat fish caught during red tide as long as the fish are filleted before cooking.

They’re safe to eat since the outside portion exposed to the algae is removed and any algae accumulation in the fish’s innards are disposed of during the filleting process.

Capt. Capt. Brandon Naeve

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.

The fish population is heading our way for cleaner water.

Snook, Redfish, Trout… OH MY! It has been a good week on the water for some quality fish. The weather has cooperated for the most part with gentle breezes and little or no rain early and the water looks good for this time of year.

Several redfish were caught this week which was nice since they have been somewhat scarce. Lots of trout around, some of them over 20 inches.

The catch of the week was a 37” snook that went for a Saltwater Assassin jig head and an Exude RT slug in about 2 foot of water.

Some of the other guides told me they have been scoring on mangrove snapper, bluefish, and mackerel. The increase in quality fish in our area could be the result of poor water quality South of us. The fish population might be coming our way to live in cleaner water.

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

Luke’s first time fishing and he landed this Trout.

Well, last week was a little better fishing even with us running from the rain storms. A few more Pompano showed up in the north bay with some big Bluefish.

Fishing with Greenback and Silver/glow CAL jigs under a popping cork the Trout bite was pretty good. Lots of smaller Trout 13 and 14 inches on the 1/4 ounce jigs along with Ladyfish and some keeper-size Mangrove Snapper.

In the shallow water first thing in the morning anglers could get a few Trout in the 20 to 25-inch range. Tuesday was Luke’s first time fishing and he landed a 25 inch Trout all by his self. He didn’t let anyone forget it either… good job Luke!

Capt. Capt. Bruce Burkhart

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.

Anglers fishing with me recently, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action fly fishing for snook on dock lights before daylight. John and DJ, from NY, fished several days with me last week.

Our plan was to fly fish for tarpon in the coastal gulf all week, but with the wind still in a westerly pattern, the coastal gulf was unfishable for tarpon most of the time. Instead, we fished dock lights in the evening and before dawn and had good action catching and releasing snook on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.

There should still be some tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf when conditions improve. There may be fewer fish but late-season tarpon have already spawned and are more aggressive. There should also be good action with trout, blues and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Fishing dock lights in the ICW at night is always a good option for snook and more.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Capt. Rick Grassett

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.

Jake proudly displayed his fish before it was released.

The weatherman and radar had me all wound up over the last few days. Everything pointed to heavy rain, lightning, and high winds. We did dance around some but were able to get in some good fishing.

On Sunday I had a newlywed couple from Iowa on board and we hooked some nice trout and had a few blowups on topwater bait from snook.

Today’s trip was made up of four Dads and four Sons soon to be teenage boys. It was a split charter with Captain Kelly Kurtz with four on each boat.

My group fished some grass flats and we caught and released several nice trout before Jake threw a live shrimp near some mangroves trees. His bobber disappeared and when he set the hook the fight was on and he reeled in an upper slot size redfish.

Moments later in the same spot he reeled in another red. His dad Ben looks on as Jake proudly displayed his fish before it was released.

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

Jake proudly displayed his fish before it was released.

The weatherman and radar had me all wound up over the last few days. Everything pointed to heavy rain, lightning, and high winds. We did dance around some but were able to get in some good fishing.

On Sunday I had a newlywed couple from Iowa on board and we hooked some nice trout and had a few blowups on topwater bait from snook.

Today’s trip was made up of four Dads and four Sons soon to be teenage boys. It was a split charter with Captain Kelly Kurtz with four on each boat.

My group fished some grass flats and we caught and released several nice trout before Jake threw a live shrimp near some mangroves trees. His bobber disappeared and when he set the hook the fight was on and he reeled in an upper slot size redfish.

Moments later in the same spot he reeled in another red. His dad Ben looks on as Jake proudly displayed his fish before it was released.

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

Blake Krupinski of Ohio with a nice trout.

The weather is normally hot this time of year but the fishing has been hot as well.

Clients this week have been catching lots of slot speckled trout, a few sharks, small gag grouper, mangrove snapper and jack crevalle along with the other usual suspects such as ladyfish and catfish.

The baits used have been DOA paddle tail in maroon and gold, bucktail jigs and live shrimp. One morning the bite was on and the fish were hitting a Zara spook topwater. Very exciting!

Catch of the week goes to Blake Krupinski of Ohio with a nice speckled trout that measured 20.5 inches. Remember, the best time to go fishing is when you can and be sure to save some for seed!

Capt. Capt. Jeffri Durrance

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.

Jerry Poslusny, from Rochester, NY, with a cobia caught and released on a CAL jig with a shad tail while fishing Sarasota Bay.

Anglers fishing with me recently, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with snook, trout and a juvenile tarpon on dock lights before daylight and trout to 4-1/2 lbs, bluefish, Spanish mackerel and a cobia on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay on flies, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.

Jerry Poslusny and Bill Nesbitt, both from Rochester, NY, fished several days with me early in the week. We had multiple shots at tarpon with a fly before the blow on Monday, but on Tuesday we saw very few tarpon.

The wind turned west on Wednesday and the coastal gulf was unfishable for tarpon. We fished Sarasota Bay where they had good action with trout and a cobia on Ultra Hair Clouser flies, DOA Deadly Combos and CAL jigs with shad tails.

Kirk Grassett with a snook caught and released on a Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing the Sarasota Bay dock lights.

My brother, Kirk Grassett from Middletown, DE, fished with me later in the week. With the wind still in a westerly pattern, we fished dock lights before dawn and had good action with snook, trout to 20” and a 10-lb juvenile tarpon on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly.

We worked deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay after dawn and had good action with trout to 4-1/2 lbs, bluefish and a Spanish mackerel on Ultra Hair Clouser flies and DOA Deadly Combos.

There should still be some tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf when conditions improve. There may be fewer fish but late-season tarpon have already spawned and are more aggressive.

There should also be good action with trout, blues and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Fishing dock lights in the ICW at night is always a good option for snook and more.

Our natural resources are under constant pressure, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Capt. Rick Grassett

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.

I fished for snook several nights this week.

Anglers fishing aboard my boat the O’ Fish All out of CB’S Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key caught and released tarpon, snook, spotted seatrout, bluefish, and cobia.

I fished several nights this week for snook and it was very productive in LBK pass and the Venice inlet. Fly anglers did well with small white flies and spin anglers using live shrimp caught and released snook and juvenile tarpon around bridge fenders and shadow lines along sea walls.

Flats fishing around the bay has been good with spotted seatrout, bluefish, and cobia. Concentrating on deeper grass flats using DOA CAL jerk baits rigged on 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig heads, make sure when working the jig that it makes contact and stays close to the bottom.

Capt. Capt. Andy Cotton

Capt. Andy loves fly fishing and light spinning tackle with artificial lures. He fishes out of an Action Craft 1720 flats skiff rigged with the latest electronics and outfitted with Orvis fly equipment and Shimano spinning tackle. Andy is the owner of O'Fish All Guide Service.

Tony Dolby out for a little fun on the water caught this nice looking redfish.

This week, fishing aboard the “Gone Coastal” with Captain Terry Simmons, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key.

I took Tony and Christine Dolby out for a little fun on the water. We found some birds and trout busting baits early on the outgoing tide.

They caught Spanish mackerel, trout, jack crevalle and redfish all on artificial DOA shad tail baits with 3/8oz jig heads. We tried shrimp but the pinfish enjoyed them more than the targeted fish so we stuck with the artificial baits.

We had to change color patterns of the baits, several times, to keep them interested, using dark to glow colors. Let’s go fishing when you need a good dose of Vitamin Sea.

Capt. Capt. Terry Simmons

Terry was born and raised in Bradenton, FL and has been guiding clients since 2000, fishing on Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico with live bait, artificial lures and fly fishing aboard his 22’ Bay Ranger which accommodates up to 4 anglers.

Capt. Kelly Kurtz with a nice looking Redfish.

The fishing this week was excellent both offshore and onshore. I ran several nearshore trips as the seas were calm and winds were light.

Fishing some hard bottom spot produced Grouper, snapper, porgies, key west grunts as well as a few triggerfish.

We also fished inshore several days catching and releasing many snook, trout and several oversized redfish as well as mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel.

Capt. Capt. Kelly Kurtz

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.

On the waters of the gulf with Capt. Chuck Cress.

On Monday we had a group of 16 anglers out take out fishing. We divided the anxious anglers up on four different boats.

We arrived at our first spot just as the sun was rising. I was kept busy as our group caught over 30 fish in four hours. That’s a pretty good run no matter who you’re talking too.

Trout, snook, snapper, and catfish made up most of the catch. One very large manatee came right up to the boat to check us out.

Capt. Chuck Cress

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.

Took time off this week to have the boat serviced and attend the ICAST fishing tackle show in Orlando. FL. The shoe is advertised as the largest in the world and it was certainly overwhelming. Lots to see and learn at the event.

Back on the water the speckled trout and mangrove snapper were the ticket around the grass flats and I did manage to get out and do some fishing with one nice trout and one nice snapper being invited home for dinner. The weather is hot and so is the fishing so get out there and enjoy.

Remember, the best time to go fishing is when you can and be sure to save some for seed!

Capt. Capt. Jeffri Durrance

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.

Night snook fishing for fly anglers has been good.

Anglers fishing aboard my boat the O’ Fish All out of CB’S Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key caught and released tarpon, snook, spotted seatrout, bluefish, and pompano. Fly anglers are getting numerous shots in shallow water with tarpon.

Also, night snook fishing for fly anglers has been really good with snook and juvenile tarpon under the lights. Spin fisherman have been getting spotted seatrout to 25 inches, bluefish, small sharks, ladyfish, and pompano using DOA CAL jerk Bait fished on a 1/4 ounce jig head.

Fishing low and slow with a jig around the passes in 5 to 9 foot of water have been key.

Capt. Capt. Andy Cotton

Capt. Andy loves fly fishing and light spinning tackle with artificial lures. He fishes out of an Action Craft 1720 flats skiff rigged with the latest electronics and outfitted with Orvis fly equipment and Shimano spinning tackle. Andy is the owner of O'Fish All Guide Service.

Fishing around Sarasota Bay is about the same as it’s been for the last few weeks. Gulp jigs under a popping cork have been the top producer but the silver CAL jigs have been doing the job also.

We have been fishing grass flats in about 6 to 8 feet of water and the action has been good. Trout were the most popular of the fish we caught. Going to different flats around the bay, anglers caught Pompano, Flounder, Jacks, Snapper and Ladyfish.

Capt. Capt. Bruce Burkhart

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.

Summertime and the living is easy in Sarasota, FL. There are still a few tarpon slinking around but I’m done with them personally. The 2018 tarpon season was a disappointing one for me. Between the storms and some red tide tarpon fishing was challenging to say the least. I’ve seen the red tide much worse in years pasts but there was enough around to upset the fish.

The storms were the biggest factor. Tarpon like nice quiet water. They have seen it all and continue to survive but that doesn’t mean the like rough churned up water. I’m back to fishing in the bay and believe it or not fishing has been pretty good. The red tide never really got into Sarasota Bay and I thank God for that.

Richard Philipson, Washington DC caught trout, bluefish, ladyfish and jacks while fly fishing with me this past week. There are some quality trout around but they are quite a bit smarter than the smaller ones.

We lost a few flies to the bluefish. The water is clear and 25 # test fluorocarbon leader material gets more takes but bluefish have extremely sharp teeth. To my way of thinking I would rather lose a couple of flies than not get the takes. The fluorocarbon leader also produces more takes from the trout especially the Gators.

We were throwing Enrico Puglisi baitfish patterns. Chartreuse/White, Gray/White, Tan/Pink/White worked well. I would suggest you start early. The heater turns up quickly this time of year. Get your morning of fishing in and then find a shady spot or hide out in the A/C. Happy Fishing!

Capt. Capt. Ed Hurst

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.