Hot Tarpon Action in Sarasota
Capt. Rick Grassett
June 21, 2014
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action jumping numerous tarpon and landing several in the coastal gulf and catching and releasing trout and bluefish in Sarasota Bay on DOA Baitbusters, live baits and flies during the past couple of weeks. Large schools of tarpon were prevalent during the week of 6/9 as we headed towards a full moon, however singles, doubles and small schools of tarpon, probably recently spawned fish, outnumbered large schools last week as we headed away from the full moon.
Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL and his dad, Dennis Ondercin, from OH, tarpon fished all week long with me during the week of 6/9. They had great action jumping 14 tarpon and landing 4 during the week. Even though conditions deteriorated towards the end of the week as a west wind pattern roughed up the water and caused numerous thunderstorms, the action was good through Thursday. We drifted live crabs and baitfish while waiting to cast DOA Baitbusters and live crabs to passing schools. The DOA Baitbuster was on fire, accounting for ½ of the tarpon jumped! In addition to doing a great job with the fish, they also did a great job shooting photos while I was handling their fish. Friday, 6/13 was too rough to fish the coastal gulf for tarpon in my boat. We tried to fish Sarasota Bay, but were chased off the water by a large thunderstorm before we even got started.
Fly angler Frank Angelona, from WV, fished with me on Saturday, 6/14. Due to the rough water in the coastal gulf on Thursday and Friday, we planned to fish Sarasota Bay and possibly tarpon later in the day if conditions in the coastal gulf improved. He caught and released several trout and bluefish on a Half & Half fly (Half Clouser & Half Lefty's Deceiver) fishing deep grass flats on the west side of the bay. Conditions improved by late morning, so we went to the gulf to check conditions for tarpon fishing. We were pleasantly surprised to find the swell was way down and although visibility wasn't great, it was fishable. We only stayed a short time, but had several shots. Frank laid a back cast down to a small school of tarpon trying to sneak by only 20' behind us and jumped one on a tarpon bunny fly. A great way to end the week!
Harry and Jiske Ong, from Tampa, FL, tarpon fished in the coastal gulf with me on Monday, 6/16. We had good action for the first couple of hours of the day with numerous schools of tarpon passing by. Harry caught and released an estimated 75-pound tarpon on a DOA Baitbuster. The Baitbuster has been hot this season, often jumping and catching tarpon when they didn't eat live baits!
Fly angler David Morgan, from Sarasota, FL, tarpon fished with me on Tuesday, 6/17. It was his first time fly fishing for tarpon and he did well. He had numerous shots at tarpon, but it was his first shot that was the best. He hooked up, jumping and bringing the fish, an estimated 75-pound tarpon, to the boat where it was leadered after a short battle.
Anglers had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly on Wednesday and Thursday, 6/18 and 19. We didn't hook up on Wednesday but on Thursday we jumped 2 tarpon and had another bite. Wind shifted to the west on Friday, 6/20 and tarpon were fewer, deep in the water column and not giving us many shots.
Tarpon should school heavily as we head towards a new moon next week. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. Look for reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
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