Good Sarasota Bay or Tarpon Fishing Depending on Conditions
Capt. Rick Grassett
June 6, 2012
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing Sarasota Bay with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released trout and snook on CAL jigs with plastic tails and top water plugs and jumped several tarpon on live pinfish and crabs in the coastal gulf during the past 10 days. Although a persistent west wind kept us from tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf on most days, we found protection from the wind on the west side of Sarasota Bay and had some action.
A group of 8 anglers consisting of Keith McClintock and Barry Slee, from Lake Forest, IL, Paul Browring, from the UK, Dave Kinnamon, from Milwaukee, WI, Dan Kinnamon, from Miami, FL, Greg Short, from OH and Steven Liska and his friend, Matt, from NJ, fished Tuesday through Friday, 5/29-6/1 with Capt. Andy Cotton, Capt. Kelly Stilwell, Capt. Jack Hartman and me. The week started off with west wind from tropical storm Beryl and with an approaching front the wind continued out of the west all week long. Some of the group spent some time tarpon fishing in a couple of areas in Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay and had a few bites on live crabs and pinfish but no hook ups. Capt. Jack's boat caught and released a 24" grouper in Tampa Bay one day. Capt. Kelly ventured out onto the beach the same day off Anna Maria with Barry while the rest of us fished the inside waters of Tampa Bay. Although conditions were tough, they doubled on tarpon with a threadfin and a crab and landed one of the fish. The group also caught and released snook, trout, bluefish, jacks and a red on CAL jigs, flies and top water plugs during the week in Roberts Bay and near Bishop Point and Buttonwood Harbor.
Although the wind continued out of the west, it dropped enough to allow us to get out into the coastal gulf a couple of days earlier this week. Everette and Sherry Howell, from Nashville, TN, tarpon fished with me on Sunday and Monday, 6/3 & 4. They had good action on Sunday, jumping 4 tarpon on pinfish and live crabs and fighting one for almost an hour before it wore through the 80-pound fluorocarbon leader. Tarpon were plentiful and moving fast, but by setting up in their travel lane and keeping baits in the water we were successful. We also spent some time in shallow water that day where Everette had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly. Conditions weren't as good on Monday as west winds increased and sea conditions deteriorated. Tarpon didn't show as well, although we jumped one on a live crab that day.
Although a normal weather pattern this time of year is an east wind in the morning switching to an afternoon sea breeze, occasionally the wind will shift to a westerly flow. Usually this is the result of a tropical disturbance or a late season cold front. However, when conditions aren't good in the coastal gulf to tarpon fish, we can usually find some protected waters to fish for other species in Sarasota Bay. There are also a few inside areas to find tarpon in Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor when conditions aren't good in the gulf.
When conditions allow us to get back into the gulf to tarpon fish, they should be hungry. Look for schools of tarpon at first light in the morning in deeper areas along beaches. Spin anglers may hook up with live crabs, pinfish, DOA 4" shrimp, Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet. Fly anglers should do best in shallower water with baitfish fly patterns such as Lefty's Deceiver and EP flies in dark colors fished on intermediate sink tip fly lines.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis- Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Sarasota Fishing Forecast:
Capt. Rick Grassett's Sarasota, FL Fishing Forecast for June 2012
Tarpon fishing should be strong this month as the migration hits full stride. Also look for false albacore, tripletail and cobia while tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf. You should find reds and trout in shallow water and trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano and more on deep grass flats. Look for catch and release snook in the surf or around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW at night.
Tarpon fishing will be the focus of many anglers during June. Tarpon schools will increase in size and numbers as we approach the full and new moons and they should be plentiful off Sarasota and Manatee county beaches. There is usually significant surface activity for the first couple of hours after daylight in the morning. They can be finicky, especially when moving fast, but they will eat if you get something right in front of them. Fish in the back of the school may be more likely to eat, so leave your bait in the water as a string of fish swims past. Fly anglers can benefit from the same principle when casting to tarpon schools in shallow water. If you let the lead fish swim by before stripping your fly, you should avoid spooking the whole school and may be more likely to catch a fish in the back of the school.
My tarpon gear consists of 20-30-pound class Crowder spinning rods with Quantum, Cabo and Boca 60 reels spooled with 50-pound Hi-Vis Power Pro braid. I use about 4' of 80-pound Orvis Mirage fluorocarbon as a leader with a 3/0-5/0 Owner AKI hook depending on the size bait used. Spin anglers should do well with live crabs, pinfish and threadfins. I like to keep some rods rigged with a DOA 4" Shrimp, Baitbuster or Swimming Mullet. When tarpon aren't showing well on the surface, I've caught them by blind casting with a DOA bait in their lane of travel.
Fly anglers typically use 12-weight rods with floating, intermediate sink tip or full intermediate lines depending on water depth. I use Orvis Helios rods with Orvis Mirage Large Arbor reels. Tarpon leaders usually have one or 2 bimini twists, to absorb shock from jumps, terminating in 80-pound Orvis Mirage fluorocarbon. Top producing flies are Lefty's Deceiver, Tarpon Toads and EP flies in a variety of colors, although black or other dark colors usually work well.
You'll find snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes this month. Snook season remains closed, so this is a catch and release only fishery. Use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them quickly with minimal handling. You can walk along the beach and sight fish them in the surf. You will find them in the trough, very close to the sand, and it is much like sight fishing for bonefish on a gin clear flat. Fly anglers should do well with small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, DT Specials or Lefty's Deceiver. Spin anglers should score with a 1/16-ounce CAL jig and shad tail or jerk worm or a DOA shrimp. You might also find them around lighted docks at night, where the same lures and flies will work, or in passes and bridge channels. Drift bridge channels and passes and vertically jig with a DOA TerrorEyz or Baitbuster. Also, swinging a 4" DOA shrimp across the current may also work well. The highest concentration of snook this month will be around passes both on the inside and along the beaches.
You'll find reds in skinny water early in the day. It will be best then when the light is low and the water is cooler. Look for them along the edges of bars when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines or roaming over shallow grass when the tide is high. Surface walking top water plugs, DOA Shallow Running Baitbusters and CAL jigs with shad tails and jerk worms are some of my favorite lures for reds. Fly anglers should score with Gurglers or wide profile baitfish patterns, such as Lefty's Deceiver fished on floating fly lines with a 12' or longer leader. You may also find big trout in the same areas and the same lures and techniques will work for them. Some of my favorite flats for reds and big trout are in north Sarasota Bay and the south shore of lower Tampa Bay.
You may also find blues, Spanish mackerel, pompano or flounder mixed with trout on deep grass flats. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with CAL jigs and shad tails or jerk worms or DOA Deadly Combos. Fly anglers should do well with lightly weighted flies, such as Clousers or my Grassett Flats Bunny. Drift until you locate fish and then either shorten your drift or anchor on them. Deep grass flats in Sarasota Bay that get good tidal movement such as the Middleground, Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats and Bishop or Stephens Point should all produce this month.
In addition to tarpon, look for false albacore (little tunny), Spanish mackerel, tripletail and cobia in the coastal gulf during June. You can find Spanish mackerel and false albacore by looking for diving birds or fish breaking on the surface. You might find cobia or tripletail around crab trap floats, buoys or channel markers. An 8-weight fly rod with a sink tip line and a Grassett Flats Minnow fly will work well for tripletail. You can fish a Grassett Snook Minnow or an Ultra Hair Clouser fly for Spanish mackerel and false albacore on the same fly tackle. Your 12-weight fly tackle and whatever tarpon fly you have tied on will also do double duty for cobia.
This is a great month for tarpon. It's hard for me to fish for anything else unless conditions won't allow tarpon fishing, but there are plenty of other options in Sarasota Bay and the coastal gulf if battling a 100-pound or more tarpon isn't for you. Whatever you choose to do, please limit your kill, don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Guide
CB's Saltwater Outfitters-2011 Orvis Outfitter of the Year
www.flyfishingflorida.net
Target Species:
tarpon, trout, reds, snook
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