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Jerry Poslusny, from Rochester, NY and Jay Peck, from Spencerport, NY, tarpon fished with me on Thursday and Friday, 7/8 and 9. Jay is a fly fishing guide for trout, salmon and steelhead in upstate NY and couldn’t wait to pull on a big tarpon! They jumped 3 tarpon off Longboat and Lido Keys and got a couple of them to the boat, including one that Jerry caught and released that was 100-pounds or more. Another fly angler fished the same areas with me on Saturday. We had more than 20 shots at fish and a couple of bites but didn’t hook up. Gary and Tyler Mintz, from CO, fished several days with me this past week. Tarpon on a fly was our goal, but we fished Sarasota Bay on Monday due to rough conditions in the coastal gulf. They caught and released trout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel near Bishop Point on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines and a popper/dropper combo consisting of a Bubblehead popper and a Clouser fished on a floating line. With a similar forecast for Tuesday, we headed for more protected waters of the Peace River where we had a few shots at tarpon in the 20 to 30-pound class. However, conditions improved so much by 9 AM that we headed back to Sarasota to fish the coastal gulf. We had numerous shots at tarpon in the coastal gulf off Sarasota over the next couple of days and several hard follows, but no bites. It all came together for them on Thursday when Tyler made “the right cast to the right fish”. He hooked up with an estimated 75-pound tarpon on a black Deceiver and fought the fish for about 45-minutes. The fish broke off on a jump close to the boat, but we’d already had our fun! Another fly angler jumped and landed a similar size fish, also on a black Deceiver, in the same area on Friday. Tight Lines, Evan does battle with a very large snook Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL and his mom, Andrea Lutz from Atlanta, GA, tarpon fished a couple of days with me on 6/23 and 24. Andrea jumped a pair of tarpon on live crabs off Lido and fought one of about 75-pounds to the boat. Hal fly fished and had a bite on a black Deceiver. Dave Macomber and Ted Kottom, both from MN, tarpon fished several days with me from 6/25-6/27. We fished lighted docks on Siesta Key a couple of mornings before dawn where they caught and released several snook to 24” and numerous trout to 18” on Grassett Snook Minnow flies. Dave jumped his first tarpon on a fly, a 75-pound fish, on a black Deceiver off Lido on Saturday. Despite having a knot come up in his fly line, he successfully cleared the line, got the knot back onto the reel and fought the fish to the boat in about 20-minutes. Ted landed a pair of tarpon, a 70-pounder on Saturday and a huge, 140-pound fish on Sunday on live crabs off Lido and Longboat Keys. Conditions were not good during the week of 6/28. Fish weren’t showing on the surface due to a big swell and overcast conditions made it tough to see them below the surface. Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, his son Craig Notari, from the Chicago area, and grandsons, Josh and James, fished a couple of days with me on 6/30 and 7/1. We had a small window of improved conditions each day at about noon when we had some visibility and swells laid down a little. They had a great day on Thurs, 7/1, landing 2 out of 4 fish including one on a fly. Both fish, about 75-pounds, were caught on Longboat Key-James got one to the boat on a crab and his dad, Craig, landed the other fish on a fly. His fish ate a black Deceiver only about 15 feet from the boat in one of the coolest bites of the season! Accuracy is often more important than distance when fly fishing. Craig’s fish was caught with only about a 20’ cast. Fly angler Jon Yenari, from Sarasota, FL, fished with me on Friday, 7/2. Our plan was to tarpon fish and we were surprised that conditions had deteriorated even further due to swells from Hurricane Alex finally reaching us. After spending a couple of hours in the gulf hunting tarpon, we headed into Sarasota Bay where we caught and released trout to 18”, blues to 2-pounds and jacks on Grassett Flats Bunny and Clouser flies. We fished the west side of Sarasota Bay near Bishop Point where we encountered several feeding frenzies of breaking blues and jacks. Jon caught a pair of 2-pound blues at the same time out of one of the frenzies on a popper/dropper combo! Tarpon should feed more aggressively as we head into July, which is my favorite month to fly fish for tarpon in shallow water. DOA baits on spinning tackle also work well this time of the year. Since many fish have already spawned, tarpon schools will be smaller and more willing to eat. Tight Lines, Boca Grande Fishing Report - Capt. Pete Greenan - 20 June 2010 Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 6/7 through 6/20/2010
John Isard and his son, Jesse, from Osprey, FL, tarpon fished with me on Tuesday, 6/8. They fought an estimated 90-pound fish to the boat along Longboat Key after about 45 minutes on a DOA Baitbuster. It was a hot fish, almost spooling us on its initial run! Fly anglers had lots of shots and several hard follows on a couple of trips, but no eats. When fly fishing for tarpon it is a matter of the right presentation to the right fish. Don Moberg and sons, Dave and Doug, from MN, fished with me on Monday and Tuesday, 6/14 and 15. They had a great day casting live crabs on Monday along Siesta Key. They had 4 bites, jumping and bringing 3 fish to 110-pounds to the boat. The next day had plenty of shots but no bites. Newlyweds Kyle and Sarah Maddox, from Mobile, AL, fished Longboat Key with me on Wednesday, 6/16. They had 3 bites, jumped 2 of them and brought one about 90-pounds to the boat. Tarpon stayed in deep water towards the end of the week making it tougher for fly anglers to get a fly in front of fish. Action should continue to be good next week as we head towards a full moon on June 26th. Tight Lines,
Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL, and Andrea Lutz, from Atlanta, GA, fished several days with me during the week of 5/24. One of the best trips of the week was with them on Thursday. Andrea had the hot hand jumping several tarpon on live crabs that day. Hal jumped a pair of fish on Enrico Puglisi Bronze Mullet flies and fought another fish that ate a live crab to the boat. Another angler jumped a tarpon on an Enrico Puglisi Black Mullet fly on Tuesday 5/25. David Sugar and his son, Max, from Sarasota, FL, had a great trip on Saturday, 5/29. He jumped 4 tarpon on live crabs and had numerous shots on his first ever tarpon trip! Tarpon were schooled tightly and “happy” that day even though it was a holiday weekend. A group of 6 anglers fished several days with Capt. Kelly Stilwell, Capt. Jack Hartman and me last week. Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, Steve Liska, from NJ, Dave Kinnamon, from Milwaukee, WI and Paul Browring, from the UK, fished various days on my boat. They jumped a total of 7 tarpon and landed 2, to 90-pounds, on live crabs and DOA Baitbusters. Other anglers in the group had similar action, jumping and landing several tarpon to 140-pounds, with a variety of live baits and flies. West wind forced us to fish inside waters of Sarasota Bay with the group on Friday. We had a great trip catching and releasing trout and bluefish to 2 ½-pounds on DOA Deadly Combos near Bishop Point. Nick Misischia, from Bend, OR, and his dad, Bill Misischia, from Sarasota, fished with me on Saturday. Nick caught and released about 6 trout on my Grassett Snook Minnow fly on a Siesta Key dock before dawn. We tried to fish the gulf for tarpon but Friday’s blow had the water too stirred up to spot fish. Bill caught and released a few trout on a DOA Deadly Combo at the Middleground flat and near Bishop Point in Sarasota Bay. Tarpon schools have been moving slowly and high in the water column giving us good shots at them. If conditions are rough in the coastal gulf, fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay should produce lots of variety and action. Bay fishing should be best early in the day before heat affects the bite later in the day. Tarpon fishing should continue to be strong as we approach the new moon on June 12th. Tight Lines, Ron Whiteley June 3rd - Slam Report
Fly anglers Lynn Skipper, from Brandon, FL and Robert Fischer, from Tampa, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on 2 different days during the week of 5/10. We spent some time tarpon fishing early both days, but they weren’t showing well enough to give us any decent shots at them. Sarasota winter residents, Norm and Francie Boardman, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. Action in the bay was slow with PHOTO: Jamie Grow, from Washington, DC, caught and released this nice trout in Sarasota Bay on a Grassett Flats Bunny fly while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett Fly angler Jamie Grow, from Washington, DC, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday. We had some action for the first couple of hours of the day at Stephens Point, catching and releasing several trout to 18” and getting cut off by a blue or mackerel. Due to the success we’ve been having with the DOA Deadly Combo, we opted for a popper/dropper fly combo with my Grassett Flats Bunny fished behind a Bubblehead popper. Jamie caught the largest trout using this technique as well as had several exciting strikes. All fish were attracted by the popper in the off color water, but ate the bunny fly. Tarpon should be plentiful next week as we approach a full moon on May 27th. Drift live baits in their travel lane along beaches and cast live baits or DOA Baitbusters, Swimming Mullet and BFL’s to tarpon schools passing by. Fly anglers should do best later in the day when visibility is best. It is usually a matter of the right presentation to the right fish. Tight Lines,
PHOTO: Randy Ruskey, from Peoria, IL, with a nice bluefish caught and released on a fly while fishing Sarasota Bay with Capt. Rick Grassett. Kirk Grassett, from Middletown, DE, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. We caught and released trout, jacks and ladyfish on Clouser and Flats Bunny flies at Stephens and Bishops Point. Next week’s tides will improve towards the end of next week as we get further away from the full moon. Fishing deep grass flats for trout and the ICW for snook at night should continue to be good options. Tarpon should start to show up along our beaches any day now. Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassetts Andros South, Bahamas Fishing Report for 5/1-5/8 PHOTO: Jon Yenari, from Sarasota, FL, with a bonefish caught and released on a fly while fishing out of Andros South bonefish lodge. We caught and released lots of bonefish to more than 7-pounds with many fish in the 2 to 3-pound class. Hot flies were Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp and a Mantis Shrimp pattern. I also caught several bonefish on a bonefish version of my Grassett’s Flats Minnow (white Estaz body, tan fly fur wing and pink thread on a #4 hook). Eric Peterson, creator of the Peterson Spawning Shrimp, was also fishing on south Andros and stopped by the lodge to say hello and leave us with a few “originals”. PHOTO: Capt. Rick Grassett with a bonefish caught on a fly out of Andros South lodge Norm and Francie also had good action fishing with several different guides. Francie used spinning tackle and was successful casting a jig while Norm had good success with a variety of flies. Their last day with guide Fredlon was the best with about 20 bonefish for the day! Kirk and Jon also both had some very good days with several days in “double digits”! This was one of my best trips ever at Andros South. The weather and fishing were near perfect, although it was breezy at times. This is typical in the tropics and actually makes fish less spooky than on a calm day. This is a yearly trip for me and I plan to be there again during the first week of May in 2011. Look for more info on my web sites in coming months. Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 4/10 through 4/25/2010 Fly anglers Pete Kazmier, from Lakeland, FL, and Tracy Baker, from Homestead, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Sat, 4/10. They caught and released numerous trout, including several large trout weighing 3, 3 ½ and 4 ¼ lbs, and several Spanish mackerel on Grassett Deep Flats Bunny and Ultra Hair Clouser flies. One of the big trout was sight-fished in skinny water. Jack Sinton and Dave Duerson, from Bend, OR, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Mon, 4/12. They had steady action with trout, including several in the slot, and Spanish mackerel on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay on Clouser and Deep Flats Bunny flies.
After cancelling several night snook trips in Jan and Feb due to the freeze and subsequent extended cold weather, we were pleasantly surprised to find snook plentiful and feeding aggressively in the lights. We spent the next couple of days fishing both deep and shallow flats of Sarasota Bay where they had steady action with trout and scattered blues, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish on CAL jigs with shad tails and Clouser and Deep Flats Bunny flies. Keith Peplinski, his wife, Becky and dad, Don, all from MI, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Friday. They had fast action with trout to 3-pounds, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and a flounder on CAL jigs with shad tails at the Middleground flat, Stephens Point and near Long Bar. A 30-pound cobia swam up to the boat and gave us a shot, but it didn’t eat. Matt Murray and his son, RJ, from CT, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Saturday morning. They caught numerous Spanish mackerel, blues and a 2-pound trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and Grassett Flats Bunny and Clouser flies at the Middleground flat and Bishops Point. John Freedman and Dan Roach, from Venice, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday, 4/19. They had some action with trout along the east side of the bay on Flats Bunny and Clouser flies fished on intermediate and intermediate sink tip fly lines. Orvis’s Royal Oak, MI store fishing manager, Rich Merlino, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Tuesday. We checked the coastal gulf off Siesta Key and found beautiful conditions but no action. However, we did find a few snook in the surf along Siesta and north Casey Key. We came back into Big Pass where we had fast action with blues and large ladyfish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies for a couple of hours. With the sea breeze up in the afternoon, we worked the west side of the bay near Bishop’s Point and caught and released trout and ladyfish on Flats Bunnies and a variety of other flies. Long time friends and customers, Les and Kimball Beery, from North Port, FL and Estes Park, CO, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. They had a great day with large trout on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. They caught a few blues and ladyfish in Big Pass to start the day, but the action wasn’t as fast as Tuesday. We moved to deep grass flats along the east side of Sarasota Bay where they had steady action with trout on CAL jigs with gold shad tails. The action got faster and fish got bigger throughout the day. They finished the day with several slot size trout and 6 trout over the slot. Kimball ended the day with a “gator” trout of over 4-pounds on a DOA Deadly Combo. My son-in-law, Capt. Andy Cotton, and I fished Sarasota Bay together on Friday to scout for the 15th annual Sarasota CCA Photo All-Release Challenge fishing tournament. We caught several snook, trout to 4-pounds, Spanish mackerel and blues on Clouser and Flats Bunny flies and located some reds to come up with a plan for the next day. On Saturday we fished the tournament and although things didn’t go quite as planned, I won the Fly Fishing division with a snook and a trout. We had 15-20 mph SSE wind by 10 AM, which is straight up Sarasota Bay, causing very rough conditions! More than 120 anglers, in divisions for anglers, youth, fly and ladies fished the tournament. The event is low key and fun for the whole family and also raises money for CCA’s conservation efforts. Next week’s tides are good as we head towards a full moon on Wednesday, although daytime flats fishing can sometimes be slow as a result. Fishing deep grass flats, snook at night and the coastal gulf for Spanish mackerel, cobia or tripletail should be good options. Keep your eyes open for the first tarpon of the season along the beaches. Tight Lines,
We fished around Stickney Point bridge using a 9 wt. rod with intermediate sinking line and small white shrimp flies from Economy Tackle. We were lucky to have a strong outgoing tide and a dark moon. In just over 2 hours we brought 8 nice snook to the boat, with the largest at around 7 pounds, and that didn't count the couple that wore through the light fluorocarbon leader I use to entice more bites. Courtney showed some real fishing prowess in controlling the fish, and Charlie was able to cast, catch and land his first snook all by himself. Way to go guys! It was great to see the smiles on Charlie's and Courtney's faces, but I am also smiling since it's obvious that our snook fishery has survived the extreme cold blast from just a few months ago. Get out there and try this great fishery! P. S. I went out again on Saturday night with my wife and found someone fishing in the same spot I had taken Charlie and Courtney. So I went to a nearby light in the neighborhood, caught two nice snook, and lost a couple when they spit the barbless hook. Oh well, I'm still Ron Whiteley Fishing Report - April 17th Back in at 1:30. nice day on the water!!! More snook are appearing and seem to be ready to eat. Tarpon are beginning to show well enough to fish in the southern areas of my range. A few permit were seen on sand flats near the passes. Late week weather turned sour on Thursday with high winds creating dirty water. Thursday was almost a bust but we managed a few nice trout in about three hours.
Bryan Katchur, of Charleston, WV. and his son Michael fished top water plugs taking only 10 fish in six hours. However, every one was a large fish including redfish over 26 inches, snook to 25 inches, seatrout to 22 inches. Fishing big plugs eliminates the little fish and can be very rewarding.
Those of you coming for tarpon in May, June and July should probably make plans soon. Most days are filled already and we expect a good tarpon season. Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 3/29 through 4/9/2010 Mark Torkos, from Jacksonville, FL, fished several days with me in Sarasota Bay during the week of 3/29. The best action was at Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Buttonwood Harbor where he caught and released trout and Spanish mackerel on CAL jigs with shad tails and Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies. Greg Smith and his son, Alex, from the Detroit, MI area, fished the same areas with me on Friday morning of that week. They caught and PHOTO: Perry and Dirk Greene, from MI, with a nice Sarasota Bay trout caught and released on a Grassett Flats Bunny fly while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett. Bill Beauchamp, from Bradenton, FL and Phil Belmore fished Sarasota Bay with me last Monday. They had fast action with trout to 3 1/2-pounds, Spanish mackerel to 7-pounds and pompano to 2-pounds on CAL jigs with shad tails at Stephens Point and along the west side of Sarasota Bay. The Spanish mackerel were some of the largest that I have ever caught. Fly anglers Perry Greene and his son, Dirk, from the Detroit, MI area, had also fast action with trout and Spanish mackerel on Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies and Ultra Hair Clousers at Stephens Point, Bishops Point and near Buttonwood Harbor. Pierre Fortier and Alexandre Brassard, both from Quebec, Canada fished the same areas with me on Wednesday. They had similar action with trout, Spanish mackerel and pompano on Grassett Deep Flats Bunnies and CAL jigs with shad tails. Sarasota winter resident Nick Reding and I waded several flats in north Sarasota Bay on Thursday. Reds have been tough on lures and flies lately, but Nick did get one to eat a chartreuse Clouser fly. Fishing in skinny water for reds and snook and in the coastal gulf for Spanish and king mackerel, cobia and more should improve as the water continues to warm. Action should continue to be good on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Tight Lines,
On Wednesday, I had Todd Dawson and his son, Matt, 14, of Bradenton. Since the win was predicted to blow out of the northwest, I chose the west side of Sarasota Bay. We launched at Buttonwood Harbor and paddled south to a deep grass flat just north of Harborside Moorings. Using D.O.A. CAL Jigs with gold paddle tail and gold shad tails, we caught and released 57 spotted seatrout to 4 pounds. Action was steady. In addition, we caught flounder and a number of ladyfish.
On Friday, it was Brian Bourdages of Traverse City, Mich. We had originally scheduled his all-day outing on Monday, but weather forced us to reschedule on Friday. Good decision. Brian had a blast on his second saltwater fly-fishing outing and he caught a good number of fish. This action should last for at last another couple of weeks. It’s the spot to fish on an east wind. I’m updating my fleet of kayaks. I think I’m going to add a couple of Native Watercraft Manta Ray 14s. They’re great looking boats that will be perfect on those days when the conditions call for it. Beach snook trips are picking up. This is a great trip for those who like to sight-fish for Florida’s most popular gamefish. On average, my client will see up to 300 or more snook per outing. Last season, my clients and I caught and released 332 snook to 20 pounds. In addition, we caught redfish, spotted seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle and flounder. We also jumped a trio of 100-pound tarpon, but didn’t stand a chance! Steve Gibson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Archives of Older Fishing Reports, Click here... And check out the Fishing Forecast so you can report on your own fishing success, Click here... |
Ron Whiteley Fishing Report 7/29
Upon arrival we had the flats to ourselves, and a myriad of fish and bait. The flat was alive with bait being hammered by Speckled Trout and Spanish Mackeral, it didn‘t take long at the action was on. On the first 2 drifts Paul had a strike on almost every other cast on a mylar popper. 
PHOTO: Fly angler Jerry Poslusny from Rochester, NY, battles a tarpon off Siesta Key caught and released on a black Deceiver while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.
When I got there, everybody had a good chuckle at the flyrod, though they did admit that the fly looked pretty
similar to the real thing: the abyss, letting the outgoing current "swing" my fly Steelhead style. This continued for a couple hours until almost midnight without so much as a nudge. As my friends started to pack up, I made just a few more casts. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what happened next. 
could do to hold onto the rod. Still can't believe I didn't get broken off on all the rocks below, or chewed through, or bend/break the hook, or whatever else. I didn't have a tape measure but I put the fish against my rod and it was past the first stripping guide, which is 33" from the fighting butt. I know it weighed over 10 pounds, but not sure by how much. And yes, that's an incredibly stupid look on my face, but I just couldn't help it I was so freakn' shocked.
PHOTO: Chris Cucchiara, 12 years old. 32 inch redfish on a 6wt. TFO -TiCR-X. 
PHOTO: Capt. Rick Grassett with a 115-lb tarpon caught and released by Rob Brady, from Sarasota, FL, in Tampa Bay.
Thunder got closer, so I moved to the keys around Turtle Bay. Worked a Mangrove shore and picked up a red about 24 inches.
a few trout and scattered blues and Spanish mackerel on a variety of flies and DOA Deadly Combos.
Ron Whiteley May 10th Fishing Report
PHOTO: Redfish - Mike Arledge, Charlottesville, VA. - 27 inches
Jack Sinton and Dave Duerson, from Bend OR, caught and released more than 15 snook to 24” in the ICW at night near Venice on Monday night. They caught their fish on Grassett Snook Minnow flies fished on sink tip fly lines.
for about 12 years and this was my 5th trip to Andros South lodge. We hit it just right this time as the weather was near perfect and the fishing was hot!
Eric’s fly has become one of the top flies at Andros South. I can’t wait to try the new tarpon and redfish shrimp patterns that he gave me.
PHOTO: Denis Clohisy, from Hudson, WI, with a nice snook caught and released at night on a Grassett Snook Minnow fly while fishing the ICW near Venice, FL with Capt. Rick Grassett.
I've known and fished with Charlie's dad, Tony McCallister for 40 years (yikes, time flies!) and I was excited to show his son and new daughter-in-law how this fly fishing technique can really get your motor running. 
Boca Grande Report - 10 April 2010 By Capt. Pete Greenan
David Rudnick caught redfish and seatrout last weekend on a new fly pattern I've developed. We took the fish near Sand Fly Key in Gasparilla Sound. His nephew, Chad, caught some very nice seatrout on a subsequent day. 
Next week we will be fishing tarpon, snook and reds in Pine Island sound and the Bull & Turtle bay areas. We have six days until the new moon, so plan your trips now to take advantage of goodconditions. 
released more than a dozen trout to 3-pounds on the same lures and flies. Don and Rose Johnson, from Indianapolis, IN, fished with me that afternoon. They also caught trout to 17” and ladyfish on jigs and flies.
On Tuesday, I had Jason Beary of Warren, Pa., out for a half-day. We fished Palma Sola Bay in Bradenton. Wind made it difficult, but we were able to tuck behind some mangroves and cast flies to spotted seatrout. I found these trout about a month ago and knew they would hit on the outgoing tide. Jason caught a half dozen slot trout on my Big Eye Baitfish Fly. Largest fish went 20 inches and all trout were in the slot.
On Thursday, I had Jason Beary for another half-day outing. Wind was out of the east, so we launched at Stephens Point on Sarasota Bay. When we arrived, the bay was very calm. We paddled out and immediately started catching fish. On the day, Jason caught and released a load of pompano, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish and spotted seatrout. All were taken on 6-weight fly rod and my Big Eye Baitfish Fly. One mackerel went 4 pounds. The pompano went up to 3 ½ pounds.