By RICK GRASSETT

Anglers fishing with me recently on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had fast action with bonito, Spanish mackerel, trout, bluefish and pompano in Sarasota Bay and along the coastal Gulf.

On a recent trip off Lido Key, we caught and released about a dozen bonito weighing 10 pounds or more and numerous Spanish mackerel on Clouser flies on intermediate fly lines. We fished Stephens Point and near Butttonwood Harbor in Sarasota Bay another day and had good action with trout to 21 inches, bluefish to 3 pounds and pompano to 2 pounds on Clouser flies on intermediate sink-tip fly lines.

Fly anglers fishing with me have been particularly successful, both in the bay and on the coastal Gulf with crab-colored Clousers, which are olive, tan and white.

Captain Jim Klopfer, of Adventure Charters in Sarasota, reported steady action on the flats around Bird Key and north of Siesta Key. His clients caught Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, trout to 18 inches, bluefish and jacks to 2 pounds, mangrove snapper to 13 inches and a variety of other species on live and artificial baits. They either drifted the deep grass flats, casting ahead of their drift with Gulp shrimp on a Cotee jig head, or anchored on the edge of the flat and free-lined live baits.

On his best trip of the week, fishing a drop off in Big Pass, Klopfer’s anglers caught five legal gag grouper from 22 to 26 inches and a few Spanish mackerel on live pilchards and small pinfish on 10-pound-class spinning tackle.

Fishing should be good in both the coastal Gulf and Sarasota Bay this weekend, depending on wind conditions. The best time to take a look in the Gulf is when the wind is out of the east. When the wind blows onshore, conditions should be good for fishing the shallow and deep flats of Sarasota Bay.

Call captain Rick Grassett at (941) 923-7799 or visit http://www.flyfishingflorida.net or http://www.snookfin-addict.com.