snookfinaddict

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for January 2026

You may find reds and big trout concentrated in potholes on low tides in January. Action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more on deep grass flats can be good depending on conditions. There should also be good catch and release snook action in rivers, creeks and canals this month, although fishing docks for snook and other species is also a good option. It may be worth checking the coastal gulf for tripletail, false albacore (little tunny) and more if it’s warm.

Snook season is closed during January, although catch and release fishing is allowed. Use tackle heavy enough to catch and release snook quickly with as little handling as possible. Since snook are temperature sensitive, I won’t target them if the water temperature dips below 60 degrees. However, fishing lighted docks in the ICW at night with flies can be very good in January. I often also find big bluefish mixed with snook, particularly around bridges in January. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, Gurglers and shrimp fly patterns fished on intermediate sink tip fly lines should work well. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ .

You should also find snook in rivers, creeks and canals this month. Fish deeper water in outside bends to locate snook where you may catch them with wide profile flies fished on sink tip fly lines. You may also find reds, tarpon and even largemouth bass in the same areas depending on salinity.

Reds should be a good option this month. You’ll find them concentrated in potholes when the tide is low. Fly anglers should score with lightly weighted flies, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, fished on a 10’-12’ leader with a floating fly line. Reds feed on crustaceans this time of the year, so crab and shrimp fly patterns should also work well. They may also tail on shallow grass flats when the tide is low. You’ll need flies with weed guards when targeting tailing reds since they are usually in thick turtle grass.

You may also find reds around docks, along with snook, sheepshead or flounder. Little Sarasota Bay has numerous oyster bars and docks that often hold reds, snook and sheepshead in January and with Midnight Pass now open, water quality is better in that area. Use floating fly lines and lightly weighted flies to fish around oyster bars and sink tip fly lines to fish docks. You’re likely to find big trout in many of the same areas that you find reds. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. The same flies and techniques that are used for reds will also work for big trout.

You may also find trout on deep grass flats in January along with blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano or flounder depending on conditions. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with Ultra Hair Clouser or my Grassett Deep Flats Bunny flies fished on an intermediate sink tip fly line. Since trout can sometimes hold very tight to a particular spot or area, try to cover as much water as possible to find them. Once you’ve located fish you can shorten your drift or anchor on them. My favorite deep grass flats all have a good mix of grass and sand with a strong tidal flow.

Even though there may not be much happening in the coastal gulf this month in the way of sight fishing it may be worth a look when it is warm. Migratory species such as Spanish mackerel, cobia and tripletail probably have moved further south, however they could reappear during warm ups. Also look for false albacore (little tunny) when it’s warm since they may move from offshore to inshore depending on where baitfish are located.

January can be one of the toughest months of the year to fish. However if you are able to choose when to fish based on tides and weather, it can be good. Action is usually good as weather fronts approach. Following fronts, fishing may be tough for a couple of days so afternoons may fish better then. I’ll let the stage of the tide determine where to look for fish. When the tide is low, look for reds tailing on shallow grass or reds, trout and more in potholes or around docks. Look for reds or big trout cruising on shallow grass flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Fly Casting Instruction
FFI Certified Fly Casting Instructor (CI)
Instructor for CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Schools
Orvis Outfitter of the Year -2011
Hosted Destination Fly Fishing Trips
snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799 (Land Line/no text)

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for December 2025

You may find reds along with big trout concentrated in potholes, along the edges of bars or tailing on shallow grass flats on negative low tides this month. This is a good month for catch and release snook action around lighted docks in the ICW. Some lights will also have trout and reds making it possible to get a dock “slam”. There may also be some action in the coastal gulf with tripletail and false albacore (little tunny), depending on conditions.

Snook fishing around lighted docks at night can be good in December. Larger baitfish will thin out as the water cools and snook will gorge themselves on glass minnows in the ICW at night. I like docks that have a good tidal flow and deep water, usually 6’ or deeper, under them. Fly anglers should do well with sink tip fly lines and small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow. Shrimp Gurglers on floating lines may work well when snook are chasing shrimp in the lights. They will force them to the surface and chase them where they are visible. Fish peak tidal flows for the best action.

You may find reds in potholes or along the edges of flats and bars when the tide is low. They may also tail on shallow grass flats on negative low tides. Lightly weighted flies, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, will work well in that situation. Weed guards are also important when targeting reds on shallow grass. You may also find reds around docks during the day or at night this month. Use a sink tip fly line and a weighted fly to get your fly into the strike zone for reds.
Flounder prefer a mix of sand and grass, particularly in potholes or on the edges of bars. Fly anglers should score with weighted flies, like Ultra Hair Clousers or my Grassett Flats Minnow fly.

You may find big trout in skinny water this month in many of the same areas where you find reds. I feel that it’s important to release larger over-slot trout, which are usually female breeders. The same flies and techniques that I use for reds will also work for trout in the same areas. I feel that it’s important to protect large trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ .

You should also find trout on deep grass flats this month sometimes mixed with blues, Spanish mackerel or pompano. Blues and mackerel will sometimes feed on the surface in the bay or coastal gulf, so bird activity may give their presence away. Pompano may skip when you drift or run past them and when that happens, circle back upwind and drift back through the area casting ahead of your drift. I tie Ultra Hair Clousers on long shank hooks, leaving a portion of the hook shank exposed, when toothy fish are around. I like the shallow flats of north Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound for reds and trout and deep grass flats that are close to passes, on points and along sand bars for trout, blues and pompano in December.

There should still be some action in the coastal gulf with Spanish mackerel, blues, false albacore and tripletail. Look for terns either diving or hovering low over the surface of the water to find albies, blues and mackerel feeding just below the surface. Once you’ve found them, cast glass minnow fly patterns, poppers or Crease flies to them. Fly poppers may draw fish to the surface, especially over structure. You’ll need to add wire or heavy fluorocarbon to your leader when blues and mackerel are around. Look for tripletail around crab trap floats or channel markers. Once you’ve located a fish, work back into the wind or current with an electric trolling motor to get into casting range and cast a lightly weighted fly to them. Weed guards are important to avoid hooking the crab trap lines.

There should be lots of options in December, although weather becomes more of a factor. When conditions are good, I like to fish the coastal gulf for tripletail or albies. If you’re able to choose when to fish, fish ahead of fronts, in the stable weather between fronts or on the strongest tides for the best action. Shallow water action can be very good on low winter tides. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by agricultural, industrial and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, 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
Fly Casting Instructor at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters,
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Hosted Destination Fly Fishing Trips
www.snookfin-addict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799 (Land line/no text)