Tarpon Action Still Hot in Sarasota
Capt. Rick Grassett
June 25, 2011
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Tarpon action continues to be good in the coastal gulf off Sarasota beaches, although west wind prevented us from tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf a few days. Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, jumped numerous tarpon and brought 3 to the boat recently. We also caught and released trout and bluefish in Sarasota Bay.
A fly angler fishing the coastal gulf on my boat jumped a pair of tarpon on Monday, 6/13. Singles, doubles and small schools of tarpon, rather than large schools, responded best to the fly. The wind shifted to the west for a few days and forced me to fish the protected waters of Sarasota Bay. Jennifer Brady, from Sarasota, and her guests, Sheila and Connie, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Wednesday, 6/15. They caught and released more than 15 trout and a bluefish on DOA Deadly Combos along the west side of the bay near Bishop's Point.
Virl Mullins, from Lakewood Ranch, FL, and Al Coke, from Smithfield, VA, tarpon fished in the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Friday and Saturday, 6/17 and 18. They had good action on Friday, jumping 3 tarpon and bringing 1 of them to the boat. One of the fish was on a live crab, one on a DOA Baitbuster and one on a fly. The DOA Baitbuster has been very dependable this season, accounting for numerous hook ups.
Al's goal was to catch a tarpon on a fly and he was successful. He hooked and jumped the first tarpon that he cast to and successfully fought the fish to the boat after an hour long battle. Virl jumped a pair of tarpon, fought one for quite a while and had it close to the boat before the hook pulled. With big game fish like tarpon, some fish will jump off or break off, hooks will pull loose or there may be missed bites, but it's all a thrill! When all goes well we will bring them all the way to the boat.
Fly anglers on my boat early on Monday and Tuesday, 6/20 and 21, had numerous shots at tarpon and several bites. They jumped 2 and landed one of them, a 120-lb fish, on a Deceiver fly. Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL and Trent and Lindy DeWald, from Dallas, TX, fished with me on Thursday, 6/23. They had a great day with several bites on live crabs and 2 tarpon to the boat, including a 130-lb fish.
Fly angler Vic Cook, from Columbus, OH, fished with me on Friday and Saturday, 6/24 and 25. The best action was in the afternoon near the bottom of an outgoing tide when he had numerous shots at tarpon and several follows.
Tarpon fishing should be good next week as we approach a new moon on July 1st. Fish the outgoing tides in the afternoon for the best tarpon action. Deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay should have good action with trout, Spanish mackerel and more. Sight fishing for snook in the surf or around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW should also be good options.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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