Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota during the past couple of weeks. Fly anglers had multiple shots at tarpon, several bites and jumped two and a spin fishing angler caught and released a tarpon on a live bait. Large schools of tarpon were on the move in the coastal gulf as we approached a new moon. Tarpon were still plentiful as we came off a new moon, but a west wind pattern made for tough conditions due to rough water.
Denis Clohisy, from WI, and Jim Dempsey, from IL, tarpon fished with fly and spinning tackle in the coastal gulf with me on Monday and Tuesday, 5/11 and 12. We sight cast with DOA baits and flies in shallow water and drifted live baits in deep water where Jim caught and released a tarpon on a pinfish. A great job on his first tarpon!
Fly anglers got some action later in the week of 5/10. We had some shots, a couple of bites and one hookup. Clark Keator, from the Orlando area, fished with me on Thursday and Friday, 5/14 and 15. He had some shots early in the day both days and hooked up with one on a fly, getting several jumps before the fish jumped off.
Jon Yenari, from Sarasota, FL, fished with me on Friday, 5/22. With very challenging conditions, he hooked up with a tarpon on a fly, got 4 or 5 jumps and fought the fish for a few minutes before it chewed through his 80-pound bite tippet. Well done!
Tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be a good option, especially towards the end of the week when tides will improve as we get closer to a full moon. Look for reds, snook and big trout mixed with mullet schools on shallow flats and edges of bars. Catch and release sight fishing for snook in the surf with flies or DOA baits should also be a good option. You may also find trout, Spanish mackerel, blues or pompano on deep grass flats, particularly close to passes.
Tight Lines,
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.
www.snookfin-addict.com www.snookfinaddict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
(941) 923-7799
