Sarasota, FL Kayak Report
West wind continues to plague fishing around the area, either forcing cancellation or forcing us to the west side of Sarasota Bay and surrounding waters.
When we have been able to get out, we've been concentrating around Buttonwood Harbor in north Sarasota Bay where we have been encountering spotted seatrout, redfish, flounder, jack crevalle, ladyfish and bluefish.
Spotted seatrout have been hitting plastic-tailed jigs, D.O.A. Deadly Combinations and flies. The trout have been running on the small side, but we have taken them as large as 22 inches. The top fly has been the olive-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow on a No. 1 hook.
Ladyfish, jack crevalle and bluefish have been attacking baitfish schools in open water just south of Whale Key. The hard-fighting blues have been averaging 3 pounds.
Redfish are cooperating just off sand bars and around mangrove islands. There aren?t great numbers of fish, but there are enough to make it a worthwhile venture.
Best area has been just off a mangrove island south of Whale Key. That's where Mike Jensen of Peoria, lll., nailed four reds to 25 inches, including one on his first cast of the day.
Jensen went on to land several nice spotted seatrout, a few ladyfish and jack crevalle.
Fly-fisher Kevin Hill of Ashland, Ky., had a sub-par day around Buttonwood Harbor. Fishing was slow and we landed a few spotted seatrout, flounder, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Late in the day, Hill did get the opportunity to cast at four redfish and a snook just off the mangroves of White Key.
Deep grass flats around Sarasota should continue to produce spotted seatrout, bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and possibly Spanish mackerel.
We expect beach snook action to be good when the west winds settles and the east winds begin. Snook are in the surf and hitting a variety of flies and lures. Top flies include the D.T. Special (variation), Gibby's Snook Minnow, Clouser Deep Minnow, Wide-Eye Snook Fly and Puglisi Minnows. Top lures are jigs with plastic tails, D.O.A. Shrimp, Sebile Stick Shads and MirrOlure MirrOminnows.
Baby tarpon are available in canals in Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, in addition to a couple of spots in north Sarasota Bay.
Mike Jensen of Peoria, Ill:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Jensen2009.jpg
