Good Snook and Tarpon Action in Charlotte Harbor Canals
Capt. Rick Grassett
August 25, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action catching and releasing snook and had numerous shots at tarpon in Charlotte Harbor canals on a couple of trips during the past week. A juvenile Goliath grouper was also caught and released.
After being gone on a family vacation and then hosting a group of fly anglers in Montana the following week, I had a few chores to catch up on when I returned. I left my 1720 Flyfisher with Action Craft while I was gone to fix a couple of things and give it a good going over. They replaced hardware, striping and decals as needed and did a great job detailing and waxing the boat. I picked the boat up Monday afternoon and it looks great! Action Craft is alive and well (under new ownership) and building quality flats and bay boats.
Capt. Andy Cotton, also out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters, fished Charlotte Harbor canals with me on Thursday. We covered water to find rolling tarpon and cast DOA Shrimp and TerrorEyz to them. We found quite a few tarpon in the 10 to 30-pound class in a couple of areas and had several eats on our DOA baits. We also skipped DOA baits under docks while we hunted tarpon and were rewarded with several snook. Andy also caught and released a juvenile Goliath grouper from under a deep mangrove shoreline on a DOA shrimp. Saturday's trip in the same area had similar tarpon action.
Tarpon are a good option around bridges at night and juvenile tarpon are a good option in creeks, canals and basins at this time. Tarpon are also still an option in the coastal gulf . There are fewer fish now, since many may have already moved into inside waters, but they are aggressive. Beat the heat by catch and release snook fishing before daylight in the ICW and then look for trout, blues, Spanish mackerel, tripletail and more in Sarasota Bay.
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
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