Fly 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 with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota during the past week. As conditions improved tarpon became aggressive. We had numerous shots at tarpon each day, jumping 3, landing 1 and getting several other eats on Deceiver and Tarpon Bunny flies.
This time of year most tarpon have already spawned and instead of large schools there are numerous singles, doubles and small schools left in the coastal gulf. There are fewer tarpon, since many may have already moved into inside waters, however they are "happy". You may need to wait long periods of time for a few shots at tarpon, which was the case last week, but they are usually quality shots at fish that will eat. If you have the patience for it, this action will continue for a while.
My friend Capt. Rick DePaiva, from Ft. Myers, FL, tarpon fished with me on Wednesday. Since I needed to be in Cape Coral on Thursday to have some work done on my boat by Action Craft, he invited me to fish tailing reds that afternoon in Pine Island Sound. We waded a bar at sunset and had a few shots at tailing reds. With our light just about completely gone, I caught and released a nice red on my Grassett Flats Minnow fly that Capt. Rick spotted tailing on a large stingray. What a way to end the day!
Tarpon action should continue in the coastal gulf as long as sea conditions are good. Tarpon are thinning out in the coastal gulf so it may require a lot of waiting for a few fish, but they are aggressive now so it should be worth the wait. Tarpon are also a good option around bridges at night and juveniles in creeks, canals and basins. 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
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
