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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
June 26, 2004
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 6/20 through 6/26/2004
Spin and fly anglers continued to have good tarpon action during the past week. Southwest wind was a problem for a couple of days early in the week, but by Wednesday we were back into a normal pattern of an east breeze in the morning and an afternoon sea breeze. Although we didn’t connect with the numbers of tarpon that we have in previous weeks, it wasn’t due to the lack of fish. Anglers caught 4 out of 8 tarpon jumped, including one on a fly and in addition, we caught a cobia with a fly on Friday.
Ken Trotter, from Sarasota, FL, tarpon fished with me on Monday. It was rough due to a steady southwest breeze and we almost opted to fish the bay, but decided to tough it out. It paid off as we found several hungry schools of tarpon that were eating everything in their path. We had five bites on live crabs, connected with two and landed one. Many times when conditions are rough, tarpon are more aggressive although they are harder to fish.
Bill Roth, from Longboat Key, FL, was joined by his son-in-law, Mike Paton from Columbus, OH, to tarpon fish with me for a couple of days. Tuesday was rough and we only had one bite, which we missed. The weatherman was wrong on Wednesday. With a forecast for 10 to 15-mph southwest winds, we awoke to a gentle east breeze and calm conditions. They had a great day, jumping 4 tarpon and fighting 2 to the boat.
Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, FL, and his son, Craig Notari from Winnetka, IL, fished with me on Thursday and Friday. The goal was for Craig to catch his first tarpon with a fly. We worked hard on Thursday for only a few shots. We had a tarpon follow the fly but didn’t eat. Terry jumped a hot one with a live crab on spinning tackle. The tarpon jumped off on about its 6th jump but it was fun while it lasted!
Friday was the day for Craig. We had numerous shots during the first couple of hours and had a bite on the fly but didn’t hook up. The action slowed after a couple of hours and we moved to try and locate some of the schools that had passed us going south. While working a school of tarpon, a pair of cobia popped up following a pair of large spotted eagle rays. Craig made a nice cast and connected with the largest cobia on a black and purple bunny tarpon fly. The cobia, a 14-pounder, was his first ever with a fly.
We continued our quest for a tarpon on a fly and had several shots at singles and small groups before locating a nice school over a 6-foot deep sand bar. We had several shots before we finally got right with them. Craig made a good cast and connected with a hot 75-pounder. The fish blasted off numerous jumps and streaking runs before Craig had her at the side of the boat. His first tarpon with a fly!
I look for tarpon action to continue as we head toward the full moon on July 2nd. As long as the weather pattern is good, we should have good tarpon fishing along the beaches. Hopefully, this action will continue into July as we come off the full moon.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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