Anglers aboard Sarasota Fishing Charters ( 941-587-9852) have enjoyed a continued good Tarpon season as well as a Sarasota Bay summer that is unparalleled in recent history. My summer has been very unusual as my charters have been Tarpon one day and Bay trips for a few days , then back to Tarpon.
On Friday June 11, anglers Jay, Robin, Spencer and Sydney Williams from Leesburg Fl joined me for a fun day on Sarasota Bay Catching numerous Sea trout (70+) to 22" , black tip sharks , Bluefish to 4 lbs and Spanish Mackerel to 4 lbs .The key to their success was to find clear water and 6-9 ft depths . Action was fast and furious all morning and often had 3 anglers hooked up at the same time. They kept enough trout for a fresh fish dinner and released all of rest to fight another day.
On Saturday and Sunday , A bachelor party of Steve Jones, Robert Lyons, Ridley Hailey, Chris O'Brien, John Scott Wilson, Josh Wright , Brian Connerat and Zach Hartman joined me for a 2 day ,2 boat adventure. Highlights were a 24" Gag grouper, 6 reds to 29" , Sea trout to 26 " , Blue Fish to 8 lbs and Spanish Mackerel to 6 lbs. Let me tell you these guys were all avid fishermen and between the 2
boats ,they probably landed over 300 fish ! Best of all, they were believers a in Catch and Release so all these species are still swimming out there and ready to be caught again.
Monday was a tarpon trip with, Aldo and Maria Fernandez from Bayonne NJ. Aldo had the hot hand as he caught a 60lber before daylight and later landed a 90lber .Maria had a bit of tough luck as she had 3 hits but nothing to show for it. All of our hits came on pinfish and all of the hits were before 9 am , after 9 am Tarpon action ceased as the winds came from the SW killing all the Tarpon Action for the day. The following day, Chan Altman and Jared Younkman joined me for another try for Tarpon. Although we saw well over 1,00 fish and had numerous great casts into schools , our final result for the day was 2 hits and no landed Tarpon
The following day, Bob Cleveland his fiancée Heather and friends Jay and Asia joined me for a Bay trip. It was the hottest day in Sarasota's history with the temps way above normal at 98 . Fishing was hot as well as the group managed over 100 Trout, Blues, Mackerel, Ladyfish and Jacks . Bob had an especially great time as he caught numerous Blues on very light tackle instead of the wire and heavy tackle they use in Jersey.
Thursday, It was back to the Tarpon for a fun but frustrating trip with Bobby and Mike Hanley from Ohio. We hooked 6 Tarpon and landed only 1 . Bobby managed to whip a 110lber in 35 minutes , mainly because the Tarpon jumped 9 times early and simply wore itself out quickly.
For the next 2 days it was back in Sarasota Bay . Drs. Richard and Brian Conroy joined me for a father and son trip. It turned out to be one of the best trips I have had this summer. They were on fish from beginning to end and I have no idea how many were landed. Brain managed a 20" flounder and a magnificent 27" Sea trout to win big fish honors. Laura Connell and her boy friend Michael as well as Dad, Rich and Brother Steve fished aboard Sarasota Fishing Charters for a great family day on Saturday catching over 100 Trout, blues, mackerel and other species.
