Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Forecast

from Siesta Sand (sec. 2) - August 2023

All Roads Lead to Made in Rome Organic Gelato on Siesta Key!

Tarpon will still be a good option this month. Shallow-water action for reds and big trout will be best early and late in the day. Some of the best action will be with trout, blues, pompano and more on deep grass flats. Catchand-release snook fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway at night or in the surf should also be good options.

Large schools of tarpon will dwindle in size and numbers to singles, doubles and small schools of post spawn fish. I usually find tarpon to be aggressive now, with spawning completed. I also find them to be more curious this time of the year, often swinging closer to check out the sound of a landing bait, lure or fly.

Spin anglers will do best by setting up in travel lanes and drifting live baits under floats while staying ready to sight cast to fish that may pop up with no notice.

The DOA Baitbuster is my “go-to” lure for tarpon. The DOA Swimming Mullet, 4-inch Shrimp and CAL 4-inch swim bait are also good choices, depending on the situation.

This is my favorite time to fly fish for tarpon. The tactics are the same as earlier in the season, anchoring or staking out on travel routes, although fish are in a better mood. Large schools of tarpon are impressive now, but if you spook the lead fish you will spook all of them.

Tarpon will thin out toward the end of the month as they begin to move to inside waters of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. They move into these areas to rest and feed following spawning. They can be targeted in these areas with flies, a variety of DOA lures or live bait.

Also look for tarpon feeding in schools of “breaking” ladyfish in these areas.

Regulations have returned to normal for reds and snook in Sarasota. Spotted seatrout have changed in southwest Florida to a three-fishper-person bag limit and a six-fish boat limit.

Trout must be from 15 inches to 19 inches with one allowed per vessel larger than 19 inches. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be found at myfwc.com.

Catch-and-release snook fishing will be a good option this month. With very warm water this time of year, it is important to use tackle heavy enough to land them quickly. Spin anglers should do well fishing lighted docks and bridges in the Intracoastal Waterway with CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms or DOA shrimp. Fly anglers should do well with clear intermediate sink-tip lines and wide-profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies, since larger baitfish may be more predominant. Docks and bridges close to passes should be the best ones.

You’ll also find snook in the surf, where you can walk along the beach and sight cast to them in shallow water. Gibby’s DT Variation is a “goto” fly for many snook surf anglers.

You’ll find reds very active in shallow water this month. With plentiful baitfish and higher tides, they’ll spend more time feeding over shallow grass flats. Look for them along the edges of bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high.

You’ll also find big trout in many of the same areas where you find reds, but the bite for big trout is usually best early or late in the day. Surface walking top-water plugs or fly poppers and Gurglers may draw some big explosions! Casting CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms ahead of your boat is a good way to locate reds.

I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms, DOA Deadly Combos or Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks on sink tip fly lines to find trout. A drift anchor will slow your drift to a more manageable speed if it’s windy. Look for birds or baitfish on the surface to find fish. You may find Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more mixed with trout on deep grass flats. Flats close to passes or on points that get good tidal flow are usually productive.

In addition to tarpon, you might find false albacore (little tunny), tripletail or cobia in the coastal gulf this month. Look for albies feeding on the surface. I have seen large schools of albies “blitz” the beach while tarpon fishing this time of year. They are usually feeding on larger baits, such as threadfins or pilchards,

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (941) 923-7799 so flies and lures should be sized accordingly. You might even find cobia swimming with tarpon or cruising bars in shallow water along the beach. You can use your tarpon fly or spin tackle for cobia, but a medium spinning outfit or an 8 to 9-weight fly rod will be better suited for mackerel and albies.

I also occasionally run into tripletail this time of year, either around a crab trap buoy, navigational marker or floating debris. There are lots of options this month -- lateseason tarpon, snook in the surf or at night, or fishing skinny water for reds or big trout. Tarpon fishing is best when sweat is pouring down your back, but you’ll want to fish early in the day in shallow water.

Food truck

Continued from page 1V operate on a private business property with permission from the owner, provided the property still allows an adequate number of parking spaces. But out on the Key, there often aren’t parking spaces to spare.

Just as this small window of regulatory opportunity opened, as Dentici tells it, he just happened to meet the owners of the Siesta Key Beach Resort, whose popular Big Tiki Lounge serves plenty of tropical cocktails but no food. The property also happened to have a porch area large enough for a food truck to operate without taking up any parking spaces.

“It fit the parameters [for a food truck],” said Dentici. “It’s one of the few spots you can do it.”

The property owners and management were equally enthusiastic about what an on-site food vendor could offer — not just to the tiki bar customers, but to people staying at the resort, too.

“Many of our guests have children, are short on time and simply don’t want to travel far for a decent, quick meal,” said resort manager Dani Hohn, adding that restaurant wait times during season can exacerbate the time crunch. “The food trailer seems to solve some of those problems.”

When it came time to build the truck itself, Dentici followed his impulses. “You’d start with one concept and you end up with another,” he said. “What I want to serve will change at any given moment. I’m very fluid that way.”

Ultimately what you’ll find inside the Porthole Grille food truck is a monument to Dentici’s enthusiasm and adaptability.

“It’s a full kitchen in there,” he said. “It has everything — it’s got a cheese melter, steam table fryers, fry choppers, everything. There’s restaurants in town that would be envious of that kitchen.”

Those comprehensive furnishings explain why the food truck can cover such a far-reaching menu. Proteins served up by the Porthole Grille include Wagyu ground beef as well as frankfurters, fish, fried shrimp, lobster, pulled pork, chicken, tuna, and flame-grilled octopus. (Both Dentici and Hohn say the lobster roll has been the standout seller so far this summer.)

Veggie appetizers include wasabi broccoli slaw and Thai Brussels sprouts.

And when Dentici offers “loaded fries,” he means it.

“You could put octopus on the fries, tuna on the fries, pulled pork. Whatever you want to put on the fries, I’m going to load it up. Nothing’s too crazy,” he said. “If you’re willing to pay for it, I’m willing to do it.”

Despite Dentici’s lifetime of restaurant experience, the food truck has given him a few new challenges. Most noticeably, he discovered that even the most well-equipped of mobile kitchens has very little storage. Everything is fresh because it has to be.

“Space is an issue,” explained Dentici. “It’s just something you have to learn. You’re not storing product for two weeks; you’re making daily runs to Detweiler’s and getting every-other-day deliveries from your food purveyors. There’s only so much space on the truck. There’s no room for old.”

And if they run out of an item? They run out. “That’s fine. Next time get there earlier,” he said. Where “there” is might change in the future, but for now, the Big Tiki location is working out well for everyone involved. And if business slows? Well, that’s the beauty of a food truck: They can just go somewhere else for an afternoon or a weekend. Dentici is already eying other potential locations, in addition to offering up the Porthole Grille for weddings and other private events.

Most of all, the Siesta food truck has been yet another venue for Dentici to get to know his customers. And he really does listen. In a bid to stand out from other local food trucks, Dentici had sworn off tacos at first. But after several requests, he happily added them to the Porthole menu.

“I’m always open for suggestions. I’ll listen to anyone once. I might be like, ‘I never thought about that before.’ Or I might tell you you’re crazy,” he said. “I’m at a point in my life where I can experiment and do different things. I found a pretty cool spot to slide into.”

Siesta Snapshots Photos by Trebor Britt

“Strolling Siesta”

-- Although the shoreline was slightly covered with a bit of seaweed, it didn’t stop Sarasota resident Nancy Sherk from enjoying a Spotify radio station while she got some exercise walking on Siesta Beach. Sherk is a retired intensive reading teacher in the Sarasota County school system.

Southern Tide

Beaufort

Bonnet Company.

“Our Southern Tide client base is 60% men who golf, fish, play tennis, sail, etc.,” said Faaborg.

The beautifully appointed Siesta Key store offers a well-curated collection of men’s performance shirts, shorts, pants, and jackets, all found at the front of the store. The signature Skipjack Polo, made from certified organic cotton, is a best-seller. A selection of print performance polos crafted from the Southern Tide patented Brrr line of sustainable quick-dry materials -- made with UV protection and stretch and created to cool the wearer while providing stretch and comfort -- are also on display. Other styles of men’s shirts include printed camp and sport shirts as well as long-sleeve performance fabric shirts that look good under a blazer. Long pants, shorts and swim trunks in solid and print styles are geared for an active man’s lifestyle.

Golfers have made the Southern Tide men’s Birdie short, designed with an interior elastic waist-grip, a best seller. In November 2022, the company increased its presence in the golf world by signing emerging PGA tour rookie Kevin Roy as its first PGA tour ambassador. On the golf course, Roy wears the brand’s skipjack logo.

Women will find stylish, preppy golf and tennis wear that features pockets for scorecards and cell phones. These looks also look fit right in on a pickle ball court or while taking a bike ride around the Key.

“A Book and a Beach” -Relaxing together under their popup wind and sun shade are Sonia and her 1-year-old son Gabriel. His father grew up here and has been coming to Siesta Beach since he was Gabriel’s age.

Continued from page 1V

The women’s line, Faaborg said, features the same Brrr performance fabric. “It’s also anti-microbial,” she said.

Casual pullovers and a selection of softly colored women’s dresses and bathing suits are also in store.

Women, she noted, have discovered the men’s navy blue Charleston blazer. “They’re wearing it with a skirt or over a dress. It looks great on both women and men,” she said. “It’s also very travel friendly, lightweight and unpacks wrinkle free.”

Flipjacks, Southern Tide’s take on the classic flip-flop, are sold in men’s and women’s sizes. Hats, blue-and-white-striped pickle ball paddles, fragrances, candles and a Southern Tide-branded Yeti cooler and tumblers are among the store’s accessories and gift items.

Boys’ wear includes T-shirts, shorts, and trunks. “We specialize in boys’ youth,” said Faaborg. “Lily carries girls’ youth items.”

This fall and in the early part of 2024, Southern Tide’s new men’s line will feature “reversibles” and vests for golfers with placket zips for stashing scorecards and cell phones. A larger selection of women’s wear for golf, pickle ball, tennis, power walking and more is also coming.

A new stand-up women’s paddle board two-piece suit with UV-protection long sleeves and a built-in bra, along with new oneand two-piece bathing suits and dresses, both short and long, are among the new women’s items that will be coming in the next few months.

The June opening of the Siesta Key store marked the brand’s first entry into the Sarasota market. A second Southern Tide store opened last month at the University Town Center Mall. In addition to stores that dot the east coast, from as far north as Cape Cod, Nantucket and Newport, Rhode Island, there are 10 Southern Tide stores in Florida. Specialty retailers and department stores at more than 850 locations across the United States also carry Southern Tide merchandise. In keeping with Southern Tide’s commitment to coastal well-being, the company implemented its Reclaim the Tide sustainability movement that is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its products.

Southern Tide has also partnered with the non-profit Folds of Honor organization, a group that supports children and spouses of fallen military personnel and first responders with educational scholarships.

“We’re very excited to be a part of the Siesta Key community,” said Faaborg. “To show our support we are offering all military personnel, teachers, police, firemen and EMT’s with identification a 20% discount at the Siesta Key store.”

Southern Tide is located at 5116 Ocean Blvd. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit online at southerntide.com. or call (941) 2100018.

Big G’s Oyster Happy Hour from 3-6 Every day

Island Chatter

Local lifeguard completes charitable paddling mission

A Siesta Key lifeguard not only finished a charitable mission by paddling 80 miles across a portion of the Atlantic Ocean, he won the best time in his surf and ski division.

Island Chatter

Great Strides event is Sept. 30 on Siesta Beach

The annual 3-mile Great Strides walk on Siesta Beach will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. Check-in is at 8 a.m.

Crystal Classic tickets now on sale; event is Nov. 10-13

Advance-sale tickets and parking passes are now on sale for the annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival, slated for Nov. 10-13 on Siesta Beach. Visit siestakeycrystalclassic.com to make your purchase.

Leaving Bimini in the Bahamas at midnight on June 25 with a group of brave participants, Robert Martini reached Lake Worth Beach on Florida’s east coast in 13 hours and 54 minutes. In doing so, he raised $2,500 for cystic fibrosis and an additional $1,335 for Sarasota’s Better Life Academy.

To walk, support a walker, or volunteer, go to: fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/ GreatStrides/36_Florida_ Tampa?pg=entry&fr_id=9563

Aug. 3 is next meeting for Siesta Key Association

The Siesta Key Association civic group will next meet Thursday, Aug. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the community room at St. Boniface Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd. Visit SiestaKeyAssociation. com for more information and membership details.

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Siesta Key houses for sale are featured in HGTV contest

Three houses for sale on Siesta Key are part of HGTV’s “Ultimate House Hunt” competition. All listed by Michael Saunders & Company, they are among several properties in eight categories showcased by the show and awaiting your vote. You have until Aug. 3 to do so by visiting hgtv. com/design/ultimate-house-hunt.

Voters can also register to enter a $10,000 sweepstakes afterward.

The local houses on Siesta Key are: 7430 Point of Rocks Rd. (on the Gulf), 8324 Sanderling Rd. (on the Gulf), and 5131 Jungle Plum Rd. (on the Intracoastal Waterway).

The categories are Amazing Kitchens, Beachfront Homes, Countryside Retreats, Curb Appeal, Downtown Dwellings, Homes with a History, Outdoor Escapes, and Waterside Homes.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar, or “SKOB” as the locals call it, is the hangout with the laid-back, beachy atmosphere that will get you right into the Island Spirit. One of the things that set SKOB apart from the other restaurants in Siesta Key Village is that we have some of the best food on the Key.