Tarpon, Snook and Trout Action Hot in Sarasota Bay
Capt. Rick Grassett
August 25, 2008
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with snook, tarpon and trout during the week of August 11. The best action continues to be on deep grass flats with a variety of species including trout, bluefish and mangrove snapper. We also had action fishing lighted docks for snook before dawn and large tarpon around bridges and on the flats after daylight.
Charlie and Linda Alexander, from Osprey, FL, fished Sarasota Bay with me on Monday. We had steady action with trout to 4 ½ pounds and bluefish on DOA Deadly combos, CAL jigs and Clouser flies along the west side of Sarasota Bay near Buttonwood Harbor and Long Bar.
A couple of other fly fishing trips later in the week produced tarpon and snook. After a 4-hour trip on Wednesday morning, I scouted Sarasota Bay and found tarpon feeding on glass minnows that they had balled up around bridge pilings. I jumped a pair of 75-pound tarpon on my Snook Minnow (a.k.a. Grassett's Grass Minnow). I tie this fly on a 1/0 owner AKI hook, instead of the normal Mustad 34007 #4 hook, when I throw it at larger fish.
Montana fly fishing guide, Harrison King from Bozeman, MT, fished with me on Friday. We fished lighted docks on the north end of Siesta Key before dawn and he landed several snook, including a 28" fish, on my Grassett's Snook Minnow. We headed for the tarpon that I had located on Wednesday at dawn and found them crushing glass minnows around bridge pilings. It required finesse and timing to connect with them, but Harrison was up to the challenge. I had him drop his fly in the fray when tarpon busted glass minnows at the surface and a fish inhaled his fly the instant it touched the water! After a 45-minute battle, including numerous jumps, Harrison had the estimated 60 to 70-pound tarpon alongside the boat. Great job!
This type of action should continue into September. There should also be good action with schooling reds in lower Tampa Bay, north Sarasota Bay and Gasparilla Sound and with tarpon of all sizes in upper Charlotte Harbor.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
www.flyfishingflorida.net
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