Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had action with tarpon during the past couple of weeks. Following a persistent west wind during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of May, the wind finally switched back to the east and allowed us to fish the gulf for tarpon. We had several bites, a couple of hook ups and one fish landed during the week of May 26th. Fly angler, Rick Happle from Tampa, FL, hooked up on Wednesday on a chartreuse Toad fly only to have the hook break causing him to lose the fish. After casting a black and purple Toad into a beautiful school of tarpon about a dozen times, we changed anglers and the color of the fly and he hooked up on his 3rd cast. Fly angler, Hal Lutz from Parrish, FL scored on Saturday, May 31st with an estimated 60-pound tarpon for an entry into the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club tarpon tournament. We found a laid up school of tarpon along Siesta Key at first light and Hal hooked up on his 2nd cast with a black and purple Enrico Puglisi Peanut Butter fly.
The action continued into the following week when fly anglers Mike Merritt and Ron Gager, both from Boulder, CO, fished with me on Monday. Mike had the hot hand that day as he jumped a pair of tarpon on a black Deceiver. One of the fish was on for about 20-minutes and broke off on a jump. The other fish ate the fly in shallow water, so we got to see the bite. Very cool!
Anglers fishing with me the rest of the week were mostly fly fishing except for a couple of spin anglers. Although fish were plentiful, they didn't bite that well. A new moon on Tuesday, June 3rd, probably had them more focused on spawning rather than eating. Several other anglers that we saw fishing with bait jumped and landed a few fish, but the action wasn't fast. We also missed a few bites on a DOA Baitbuster, flies and a live crab.
We are entering a good time frame for tarpon. As we move further away from the new moon towards the 1st quarter next week, tides will improve and tarpon should bite better. I'll keep my fingers crossed for good fishing conditions in the gulf.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.
FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.flyfishingflorida.net and www.snookfin-addict.com
