Angler's aboard the Reelin & Chillin have caught mostly trout as far as table fair this past couple of weeks. The fun fish has been catch and release action with snook up to 10lbs. Also, small black nosed and black tip sharks along with plenty of blue fish have provided great light tackle action.
Several trips produced plenty of trout with white bait being the choice of bait. I had no problem getting our limit all week - hope it lasts. I get out there early before picking up clients catching white bait on the flats and start the fishing trip with a healthy live well full of bait. I'm using light tackle with 10lb test on the reel, twenty pound test fluorocarbon leader and a number four Owner circle hook. Casting as far from the boat as possible I'm free lining the baits (no corks). I'm fishing both sides of Sarasota Bay in grass flats from three to six feet deep. After anchoring I try a spot for no more than ten minutes, if no action I'm moving to another location till I do. One thing I found is they are biting a little slow so I need to let them have it for a few seconds before setting the hook.
If your into blue fish now would be a great time to look for them. My issue is, I like to use the small circle hook for trout and these blues take four out of five hooks before I can get one to the landing net - sharp teeth. Best thing to do if you really want the blues would be to use a long shanked 1/o hook. You would not catch as many trout but would have a better chance at getting the blues to the boat.
The snook have been a blast - using the same tackle as above I have been catching a few in two to three feet of water. I start with chumming of live white baits to get them excited. We had a couple that I thought we would need to chase down, however at the last minute the angler was able to get them turned. Nothing more fun than an eight to ten pound snook screaming line off a reel spooled with ten pound test line in shallow water.
Please spread the word around - we have no oil, or effects of oil at this time in the Sarasota area. Our waters, beaches and fishing are great as ever.