Sarasota Tarpon Fishing (June 11)
Capt. Rick Grassett: Anglers did some Sarasota tarpon fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota, getting numerous shots at tarpon, jumping one and fighting the fish to the boat one day during the past week. The early part of the week was blown out as tropical storm Colin passed on Monday, churning the gulf into rough seas and muddy water for a few days. However, conditions improved by Friday and tarpon returned to their normal patterns.
snook1
Photo: Denis Clohisy, from WI, fights a tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett. snookfin-addict.com
Denis Clohisy, from WI, and Jim Dempsey, from IL, went out Sarasota tarpon fishing with me on Thursday and Friday. With the coastal gulf still churned up on Thursday, we opted to fish inside waters in Tampa Bay on Thursday. However by Friday, even though the wind was still from the west, seas were down and water had cleared enough to allow tarpon to return to their normal patterns. We had shots at numerous tarpon in the form of scattered singles and schools of fish.
Denis hooked up with a “hot” tarpon on a live pinfish. He fought the fish through several long runs, almost getting spooled on the initial run and numerous jumps and had the fish alongside the boat. Unfortunately, just as I was preparing to land the fish it was attacked by a large hammerhead shark. We tried to fend off the shark but the shark succeeded in getting it’s meal. Although sharks are more prone to attacking hooked tarpon in some areas, I haven’t had this happen for several years.
Sarasota tarpon fishing should be good next week, depending on conditions, as we head towards the next full moon. Trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and more should also be good options on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Snook season is closed now on the west coast of Florida, but catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW or in the surf with flies and DOA Lures should be another good option. Look for reds, snook and big trout mixed with mullet schools or cruising shallow flats and edges of bars in backcountry areas of Charlotte Harbor and lower Tampa Bay. Come out for some Sarasota Tarpon fishing today!
Contact:
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
Phone: 941-923-7799
Email: snookfin@aol.com
snookfin-addict.com, snookfinaddict.com and flyfishingflorida.us
