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Sarasota and Venice
Capt. Rick Grassett
July 30, 2006
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Capt. Rick Grassett’s Fishing Report for 7/23 through 7/29/2006
Just like when football season ends, I hate it when tarpon season starts to wind down. Although the big schools of tarpon that we see during May and June are gone, there are still plenty of singles, doubles and small schools moving up and down our beaches. This is an ideal time of the year to target tarpon in skinny water with flies or in the inside waters with a variety of lures and flies. When tarpon move into bays, their priorities change from spawning to feeding. They will sometimes feed very aggressively, as they get ready for the fall migration to wherever they go. It’s tough for me to go from catching giant tarpon to smaller fish, but you can do both, if you are prepared.
Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action during the past week with tarpon, trout and bluefish. Jason Miller, from Wheeling, WV, and his girlfriend, Erica, fished the canal systems of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda for juvenile tarpon on Wednesday. We found plenty of fish and had some action. They jumped a pair of tarpon, an estimated 20-pounder and a 40-pounder, on DOA TerrorEyz. Color didn’t make a difference, since one was on rootbeer and the other on nightglow. Most times with tarpon, it is a matter of having your fly or lure in the right place. Make it easy for them to eat!
The best action was in Sarasota Bay early in the day, when schools of bluefish, trout and ladyfish fed in glass minnow schools at the Marina Jack and Middleground flats, Bishops Point and near Long Bar. Dave Lincul and his daughter, Elena, both from Sewell, NJ, fished with me on Thursday. They caught and released more than 15 trout to 17” and jumped a large tarpon near Long Bar on a DOA Deadly Combo. The following day, my friend Randy Inscoe and his new bride, Cathy, both from Lubbock, TX, caught several bluefish and jumped another tarpon, also on DOA Deadly Combos. We watched a food chain develop as bluefish and ladyfish drove glass minnows to the surface, pelicans and terns got in on the action and then tarpon showed up to get their share. Although we didn’t land either tarpon, Randy had his close to the boat after 30-minutes with medium spinning tackle, before she gained her freedom.
Juvenile tarpon will continue to be a good option until early November. We should have some decent action with large tarpon in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor, as well as the coastal gulf for at least a few more weeks. Fish lighted docks and bridge fenders for catch and release snook action and then hit the flats at dawn. Whatever you do, do it early before it gets too hot!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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