Action Improving on Tampa Bay & Charlotte Harbor Flats

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action catching and releasing snook and trout on CAL jigs with shad tails and trout on Clouser flies in the Terra Ceia area, reds in Gasparilla Sound 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. A couple of other trips had some action catching and releasing trout on Clouser flies fished on sink tip fly lines and CAL jigs with shad tails over deep grass in the same area. {%image_id=62420%} {%image_id=62418%} {%image_id=62417%} {%image_id=62419%} 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! {%image_id=62421%} Dave Reinhart, from MA, fished the backcountry of Gasparilla Sound near Baca Grande and caught and released several reds on CAL jigs with shad tails. Following a full moon and a front, the better action was in the afternoon when water was warmer and tide higher. Fishing shallow flats usually requires fishing hard to find and catch fish but it is worth the effort. You may not catch big numbers of fish but you may catch some good ones. 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! Tight Lines, Capt. Rick Grassett FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011