Getting out early was the key to success with MirrOLure topwater plugs in Northern Sarasota Bay this past week. Calm conditions make finding mullet schools easy and where there are mullet there are redfish and trout. In slick calm conditions, the MirrOLure She Pup (75MR-CRBN) and the Mirro-Mullet (16MR-CH) were both ideal baits that got some action. The key is to cast around the mullet schools and if there were any whitebait schools flickering on the flats. Bailing out of the skiff and wading also helped to add a degree of stealth. When the topwater bite shut down and the tide started to get higher, working the edges with a MirrOLure 5-inch Provoker scented jerkbait in their new molting (MRSP5-45) on a 5/0 weedless, weighted hook got some action from reds and a few snook. They were aggressive to attack the bait, but couldn't seem to find the hook. It's definitely a bait that will get the nod on the next time out.

After the flats bite was done, it was 100% beach snook-on-fly. 5- to 8-weight gear sufficed with small white baitfish patterns. As the tide got higher, the snook pushed up closer to the surf. Using Monic clear floating fly line allowed casters to get multiple shots at fish without spooking them. When walking the surf line for snook, wearing sky colored clothing will also help to add to a degree of stealth.

Capt. Jon Bull
Shadowcast Charters
863-860-7250