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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
May 22, 2004
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 5/16 through 5/22/2004
Fly anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict connected with tarpon during the past week. As expected, tarpon have become plentiful along our beaches from Anna Maria Island to Venice. The action was slow to start early in the week as we saw a few schools of tarpon but didn’t have good shots at them. However, everything came together as the week went by. Tarpon schools were happy and fly anglers had the shots they needed to hook up. We also jumped a tarpon on a live crab on Friday.
If you’ve ever pursued tarpon with a fly rod, you know that presentation is most of the battle. We had tarpon in the same school eat a chartreuse crab pattern and a black and purple bunny fly, so obviously color wasn’t the issue. The most effective presentation is a head on shot with tarpon swimming directly toward the fly. Slower moving schools of tarpon that remain higher in the water column are ideal. If you can’t get a head on shot, a cast that is quartering away from the fish is the next best option. A perpendicular cast will work, but the strike zone is smaller and if the boat is moving at all, the fly will swing toward the fish and probably spook them.
There are some schools of tarpon that may not eat anything, including live bait. After casting flies at several different angles, I’ll usually let them go and look for a different school of fish.
We are headed into the prime of our tarpon fishing as we approach the full moon in June. Be patient, use common sense and courtesy and you’ll be successful.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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