INSHORE FISHING

Inshore fishing also means what it says. Inshore fishing odysseys in our area explore the waters of our bays and estuaries; these are usually closer than nine miles from shore in waters no deeper than 60 feet. These shallower depths teem with a variety of species, including snook, flounder, redfish, trout and tarpon.

Capt. Matt Scanlon’s “Dreams Reelized” fishing charter business offers inshore charters off Lido Key on a 24-foot Scout boat, which he captains with his business partner Jason Boyll. Scanlon says his main goal is giving other people the joyful fishing experiences that he’s enjoyed over the years. (The company also owns a 35-foot Strike boat for offshore treks.)

“As long as someone learns something at the end of the day, that’s great,” Scanlon says. “I love watching people feel that enjoyment of fishing. You’re creating memories out here. I want everyone to have a smile. That’s the fulfillment I need.”

If You Go: Prices for up to four people range from $650 for four hours to $1,150 for eight hours. Info: 504-8219; DreamsReelized.com.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHARTERS

Fishing’s a blast for adults — and it can also be for children. If you’d like to give your young ones an unforgettable experience, Sarasota Family Fishing Charters is a great place to start. Capt. Scott Tesinsky is a third-generation Floridian and a licensed Coast Guard captain with 35 years’ experience leading fishing expeditions. As Tesinsky puts it, the tradition of Florida fishing was passed on from his grandfathers. “I had a fishing pole in

Continued on Page 78

Terms To Know

Bait: What anglers dangle off a hook to catch their fish. Usually this is another creature, like shrimp, worms or crayfish.

Bobber: Also known as a float. This item allows for a bait or lure to stop at a specific depth in the water.

Casting: The act of swinging a rod so that the line ends up in the water.

Chumming: The act of putting bait, usually ground fish, around your boat to attract more predatory fish. This is done in deeper waters.

Fly fishing: A type of fishing that uses lightweight lures, forcing anglers to change their casting techniques.

Inshore fishing: While the specific definition of the term varies from person to person, it is generally understood to mean fishing that takes place in water 60 feet deep or less and within nine miles of the shore.

Jigging: The act of dropping a lure and moving it up and down to attract fish.

Lure: Any artificial object used to attract fish. An alternative to using bait.

Offshore fishing: Specific definitions vary from angler to angler, but it is generally used to mean fishing that takes place in water that’s 60 feet deep or more.

Reel: A device that allows for holding and spooling a fishing line.

Rod: A pole used to get your bait or lure into the water to catch fish.

Sinker: A weight, usually lead, that helps a lure or bait sink in the water.

Still fishing: Fishing without moving, or jigging, the bait once in the water.

Tackle box: A box filled with lures, hooks and other nonbait fishing gear.

Trolling: The method of slowly moving a boat forward while trailing a lure or bait behind it. This method allows anglers to cover a wider area.

Continued from Page 76 my hand since I could walk,” he says.

What makes his charters so family-friendly?

Tesinsky recounts a recent father-and-son trip. He noticed that the boy was reluctant to get on the boat, let alone hold a fishing rod. But once Tesinsky drew his attention to the amazing Gulf creatures they encountered, he started to relax.

“He saw his first dolphin, a manatee and a sea turtle,” Tesinsky smiles. “It took him awhile to figure the actual fishing out, but he eventually hooked a large blacktip shark.” Father and son reeled in the shark together after a 30-minute battle. Tesinsky later found out that the son had bought his own fishing rod and planned to continue the hobby.

To Tesinsky, that’s what it’s all about.

“Getting kids away from technology and into the great outdoors is often the spark of a new passion.”

If You Go: Treks start at $400 for four hours with up to three guests; a fourth guest is $50 extra. No additional charge for children under 10. Info: 266-6214; SarasotaFamilyFishing.com.

Continued on Page 80

Continued from Page 78

Night Snook Fishing

CB’s Saltwater Outfitters has been around since 1959. It lays claim to being Sarasota’s largest bait and tackle shop and also offers gear, clothing, boat rentals, parasailing and plenty of fishing charters. CB’s is a great place to launch your fishing adventure — snook fishing, especially. The Snook Alley Evening Trip is one of its most popular charters. This expedition encompasses four moonlit hours of night snook fishing along the Intercoastal Waterway between Sarasota and Venice. Most of the fishing unfolds near lighted docks, where snook cluster to feed on bait that the lights attract.

If You Go: Four hours is $550 for one to two anglers; $100 for a third person. Info: 3494400; CBsOutfitters.com.

Luxury Charters

Fishing is often an everyman’s sport. Pelagic Color Fishing Co. caters to a more upscale clientele. But its idea of luxury is far from tame. According to its website, the company’s mission is to “change your life by giving you an experience where your senses are heightened, adrenaline is pumping and your heart is beating out of your chest.”

Given owner Noah Neumann’s hospitality background, it’s no wonder that his fishing treks are more deluxe than most. “Our mission is to deliver something you’re not going to get anywhere else,” says Neumann. He adds that his guests receive gourmet meals catered by

Harry's Continental Kitchens and a selection of top-shelf beverages. The ride is a super-fast, high-performance Yellowfin 42 — a “big, brawny, no-holds-barred powerhouse of a boat.” Pelagic Color trips can net you mahi mahi, goliath grouper, king mackerel, swordfish, wahoo and other monsters of the Gulf. One trip even nabbed a 13-foot tiger shark.

If You Go: Pelagic “Quests” can last 24 hours and cost up to $11,880; less expensive options are also available. All Pelagic trips are for up to six guests. Info: 807-9655; PelagicColor.com.

Fishing From Shore

Beginning anglers who don’t have their sea legs yet can bypass the boat. Bait-casting off a pier or bridge are great places to start. There are plenty of local options.

Matt Scanlon, of New Pass Grill and Bait Shop, says there are multiple piers near New Pass that yield good results. Other public fishing spots include Longboat Key’s Overlook Park and Quick Point Nature Preserve and Sarasota’s Hart’s Landing pier. Public beaches like Siesta Key Beach also hold the potential for successful fishing. What bait to use?

“Beginners probably want to stick with live shrimp,” Scanlon says, noting that the strong scent of shrimp attracts fish. “We sell a lot of tackle that fit a plethora of different styles. We’re not going to give you the wrong bait and then send you catfishing.”

If You Go: New Pass Grill and Bait Shop, 1505 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; Info: 3883050; NewPassGrill.com.

CAPT. RICK GRASSETT

When it comes to fishing, few can claim Rick Grassett’s level of expertise. He’s a captain with CB’s Saltwater Outfitters and has been a fishing guide since 1989. Grassett’s specialty is fly fishing — a variety of cast fishing employing lightweight rods and lures. Since the gear’s not so heavy, anglers can change their typical casting techniques. For Grassett, the constant balancing act between artful technique and good results is fly fishing’s main attraction. Fly fishing is hard — and that’s why he likes it.

“Fly fishing is the pinnacle in terms of both challenge and reward,” Grassett says. “It’s like a hunter who previously hunted with a gun trying to hunt with a bow and arrow. You’re bumping everything up a level. It is the hardest thing you can do, but also the most fun.”

Grassett has been fishing since his Delaware childhood. He got serious as an adult when his friends told him about casting for snook at night near dock lights and bridge lights. Grassett tried it for himself and he was instantly hooked. His passion earned him the epithet “Snook fin-addict,” which now doubles as the name of his website. He decided to turn his passion into his life’s work and carved out a niche for himself in the fishing market.

Along with his captain duties, Grassett writes about fishing on his site, documenting his trips and forecasting which types of fish will be available at what time. He’s done almost everything an angler can do, yet he still would rather do nothing else.

According to Grassett, his favorite fishing memories are the ones in good locations with good company. Every year, Grassett takes fishing fans on trips to far-flung places, including Montana, Belize and Venezuela. These trips aren’t designed for folks just starting their angling journeys.

“The actual fishing is only part of it,” Grassett says. “We’re in some of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s that and the camaraderie. The people, the travel and the preparation.” Grassett has helped hundreds of anglers get into the hobby, and the hobby is still paying him back tenfold.

Info: SnookFin-Addict.com.