Sarasota, FL Fishing Report for 5/18 through 5/25/2003
Tarpon schools have been behaving like they sometimes do coming off of last weeks full moon. They have been fast moving and not showing well, making it tough for fly anglers to get a shot at them. Although this can be irritating, if you are committed to catch a tarpon on a fly you have to wait for the right school. Fast moving tarpon can be caught easier by casting a live crab or a DOA Swimming Mullet well out in front of them, however some of last weeks fish would have required a “Hail Mary” to get it there.
It is still early in our tarpon season, so this is a good time to discuss etiquette. Tarpon behavior is most affected by anglers running their outboards too close to the fish. After a school passes you, let them get at least a couple of hundred yards away and then make a wide arc around them, preferably to the deeper water side. Electric trolling motors can also spook fish if they are turned on and off when tarpon are close. The shallower the water, the more they will be affected. Even if you think you aren’t bothering tarpon by running your outboard or electric trolling motors, you are probably pushing them causing them to move faster and stay deeper. This is particularly true if you try to approach them from behind. It is much better to get one or two good “head on” shots.
Tarpon will usually travel on the same line on any given day, so even if they are fast moving and not showing well, try to be on the line that they are traveling and ready to make a quick cast. I have seen tarpon that were streaking by eat a fly, but it is much tougher to get it in their strike zone, especially if it is a perpendicular cast.
Veteran tarpon anglers that fish shallow water usually only use a push pole. The key is to figure their line of travel and anchor just up tide or up wind of that line. As tarpon approach, you can drop your anchor (with a float on the anchor line, of course) and maneuver in front of them. If you get your boat in the right spot, you may not have to move at all.
As we head toward next week’s new moon, tarpon schools should slow down and behave more calmly. Remember that this is big game fishing. You may not jump or land a fish every day, but when you do it’ll be worth it!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail [email protected]
www.snookfin-addict.com or www.flyfishingflorida.net
