Blues, jacks and tripletail to be had in the Gulf

Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff, the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout, blues and jacks in Sarasota Bay and tripletail in the coastal Gulf on flies during the past week.

Chris Smith, from Nashville, fished Sarasota Bay with me Monday. We worked deep grass flats and edges of bars on both sides of the bay. It was his first saltwater outing and he did well catching-and-releasing trout, jacks and bluefish on Ultra Hair Clouser flies fished on a sink-tip fly line.

Nick Thompson, from the UK, fished the same areas with me on Tuesday and had similar action catching-and-releasing numerous trout and a bluefish on the same fly patterns. Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, fished the coastal gulf with me on Friday.

We found baitfish plentiful, although the water is still a little warm for some migratory species at 80 degrees. With stone crab season opening on the 15th, there are plenty of places for tripletail to pop up, and we caught-and-released a few tripletail on a shrimp fly pattern. Although the tripletail were small, the challenge is still big! Cooler water should push some larger tripletail as well as albies, Spanish mackerel and more into our area.

Action with false albacore and Spanish mackerel should turn on as each passing front cools the water. Tripletail are also a good option now in the coastal gulf. You may find trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and jacks on deep grass flats. Snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges close to passes with flies and DOA Lures should also be a good option. Look for reds, snook and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars.

Tight Lines.

Capt. Rick Grassett

snookfinaddict.com

snookfin@aol.com

923-7799

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Blues, jacks and tripletail to be had in the Gulf ."