This is what its all about and how it all got started. A true back country adventure from the hundreds of square miles of lush turtle grass flats, miles of mangrove shoreline, oyster bars, creeks, and shallow bays this is where we chase redfish, snook, seatrout, and tarpon. Along the way we’ll see everything from alligators to roseate spoonbills as we quietly pole our way in pursuit of the back country’s best game fish. This area offers some of the best variety you can encounter in days fishing from tailing redfish on the grass, snook ambushing in the mangroves, and tarpon laid up in slick calm bays. 6 to 10 weight rods with floating or sink tips lines will be our weapons and don’t forget your best casting skills!  In the fall for those who are game, we’ll pack the over and unders, or maybe your favorite autoloader, my cork decoys and we’ll have a good old fashion cast and blast! Decoying teal, widgeon, ringnecks, and mottled ducks in the morning followed by an afternoon of back country fishing.

Coastal Gulf of Mexico

In the spring and fall our coastal Gulf of Mexico becomes home to some of my favorite migratory predators. King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, Tripletail, and Cobia cruise the near shore and make for awesome fly rod and light tackle targets. From the Albies crashing threadfins to a tripletail suspended under a stone crab trap buoy coastal gulf fishing can be unparalleled for excitement and variety. 8 to 12 weight rods with floating, sink tip, and intermediate fly lines and a calm sea can make for some coastal excitement only rivaled in the northeast.

Night Snook and Tarpon

Southwest Florida and the Gulf Inter coastal waterway are littered with bridges and docks and when the sun goes down the action can light up! From Sarasota to Naples some of the fastest fly and light tackle action for Florida’s two most exciting game fish can be found in the lights and shadow lines. Ripping tides, dodging yacht traffic, fish exploding on glass minnows and shrimp, not being able to see your fly line in the air all combine for crazy action! 6 to 10 weight rods, floating lines, and big snook and juvenile tarpon lurking in the shadows is something every saltwater fly rodder can’t miss.

Captain Ladd Stevens

941-356-2069
3956 Breck Lane Sarasota, FL.34232
www.sportinglifeflyfishn.com
2009 East Cape Lostmen