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Tarpon Action Heating Up in Sarasota
Capt. Rick Grassett
May 13, 2012
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing the coastal gulf and Tampa Bay with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, jumped a pair of tarpon on flies and had numerous shots at tarpon during the past week. We also caught and released several bonnethead sharks and a large southern stingray on live crabs while tarpon fishing.
Mike Perez, from Sarasota and Richmond, IN, tarpon fished a couple of days with me during the past week. We fished the coastal gulf off Sarasota one day and despite rough conditions he had numerous shots at tarpon with a fly. It was too rough to fish the gulf on his second day, but we found some protected water in Tampa Bay where Mike and his guest, Darren Dimick, from Sarasota, had good action. They caught and released a pair of bonnethead sharks and a large stingray on live crabs while spin fishing early in the day. They switched to fly fishing later in the day and each jumped a tarpon on a black Lefty's Deceiver fly. Both fish were on for about 30 minutes and were close to the boat before the hook pulled on one and the other wore through the 80-pound bite tippet.
On a couple of other trips in the coastal gulf off Sarasota we had numerous shots at tarpon with flies, DOA baits and live bait and caught and released another bonnethead shark on a live crab. Large schools of tarpon are becoming more plentiful as we head towards a new moon later in the month.
Look for schools of tarpon at first light in the morning in deeper areas along beaches. Spin anglers should score with live crabs, pinfish, DOA 4" shrimp, Baitbusters and Swimming Mullet. Fly anglers should do best fishing shallower water later in the day when visibility is best with baitfish fly patterns such as Lefty's Deceiver and EP flies. Reds, trout in Sarasota Bay and catch and release snook in the surf or around lighted docks and bridges close to passes at night should also be good options.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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