 |
Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
July 10, 2004
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Southwest Florida Fishing Report for 7/3 through 7/10/2004
Anglers on the Snook Fin-Addict had good action during the past week on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor with trout, bluefish and ladyfish on flies and DOA Deadly Combos. In addition, tarpon fishing continues to be an option from Anna Maria Island to Sarasota. Fly anglers had multiple shots at tarpon and jumped one on a black and purple bunny fly.
Al and Rich Lavacca, from Long Island, NY, fished Charlotte Harbor with me on Wednesday. They caught and released 40 or more trout on DOA Deadly Combos on the deep grass flats of Gasparilla Sound. In addition, they had numerous shots at skinny water reds but they weren’t in an eating mood.
Fly anglers, Jules Clement from Sarasota, FL and Dave Hutchinson, from Punta Gorda, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Thursday. The action was slow to start, but after a short while we got dialed into the fish. The best action was on deep grass flats at the Middleground flat and near Bishop’s Point. Jules and Dave caught and released trout, bluefish and ladyfish on Clouser and Grassett’s Flats Minnow flies.
Conditions were near perfect for tarpon on Thursday afternoon, so I couldn’t resist checking the beach for tarpon after my trip with Jules and Dave. I found singles, doubles and several small schools of tarpon traveling north and south. After several good shots, I jumped an estimated 120-pound fish on a black and purple bunny fly. The fish was too hot for me to handle by myself! I was fighting the fish while running the boat. I got a half dozen or more jumps and a couple of smoking runs before losing her after about a 15-minute battle. It was fun while it lasted!
Fly anglers also had quality shots at tarpon on 2 other trips. We had a couple of follows, but no other bites. Like the late Del Brown once told me, “the quality of the trip is gauged not by the number of fish caught, but by the number of shots you get.” If you are getting enough shots at fish (permit, tarpon, bonefish, etc.) you will catch your share. Some of the fish will ignore you, some will refuse you and some will eat!
Cliff and Kim Langenbach, from Port Charlotte, FL, joined me for an instructional fly fishing trip on Friday. Recently retired, they had traveled the U.S. and done some freshwater fly fishing for trout in the west and Vermont and were anxious to try it in saltwater. They made great progress and are well on their way to enjoying the world of saltwater fly fishing. Kim caught and released a hardhead catfish on a Clouser fly. Her first saltwater fish with a fly!
I look for fishing to be good next week on the deep grass flats for trout, bluefish and a variety of other fish. Catch and release snook fishing should be good in the surf and at night. Tarpon should school again as we head toward the new moon next weekend. Although I don’t expect to have the amount of tarpon that we have had in May and June, it should be a good option.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
