Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had great action jumping numerous tarpon and catching and releasing a couple up to 120-pounds on DOA Baitbusters, flies, live crabs and pinfish in the coastal gulf and had good action catching and releasing snook, trout, mutton snapper and jumping tarpon on DOA Lures in the Indian River in Jensen Beach, FL at the DOA/River Palm Outdoor Writer Festival during the past couple of weeks.
Cliff Ondercin, from Sarasota, FL and his dad, Dennis Ondercin, from Middleburg Heights, OH, tarpon fished with me from 6/17 through 21. Cliff and Dennis are both accomplished anglers who really enjoy the challenge of tarpon fishing. They are also participating in the Sarasota Sportfishing Anglers Club Tarpon Tournament, the world's oldest tarpon tournament, in existence since at least 1930. This tournament led the way as one of the first catch and release tarpon tournaments. All fish must remain in the water, a girth measurement is taken and a DNA sample is collected before the fish is quickly released on the spot.
Our game plan is usually to spend the early part of the week trying to get a couple of tournament entries before Cliff, also a good fly angler, spends some time fly fishing for tarpon. They had great action every day. We had numerous bites and several fish were jumped on live crabs and a Lefty's Deceiver fly on Monday, 6/17. Tuesday's, 6/18, action was almost as fast, with several more tarpon jumped, including 4 fish on a DOA Baitbuster. Cliff caught and released one of the fish on the Baitbuster for a tournament entry that day. The Baitbuster is my "go to" tarpon lure for large tarpon. It was very impressive that with a variety of live baits being drifted or cast to rolling tarpon, it was the Baitbuster that produced the best that day.
The action continued on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 6/19, 20 and 21. The pendulum swung back in our favor, as the ratio of caught and released fish to jumped fish increased and Dennis landed an estimated 120-pound fish on a live pinfish for another tournament entry. The fish was measured, DNA sampled and successfully released. The last couple of days with each angler having a tournament entry, we spent some time with Cliff fly fishing for tarpon in shallow water where he had a few shots and another "eat" on a Tarpon Bunny fly. Dennis also had a few shots with a DOA Baitbuster in shallow water. In addition to doing an excellent job with the tarpon, they also manned the camera while I was handling their fish at the side of the boat and captured some explosive action. A great week of tarpon fishing!
I towed my boat over to Jensen Beach (Stuart) on Sunday, 6/23 for the annual DOA/River Palm Outdoor Writer Festival at River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp (www.riverpalmcottages.com). Located right on the Indian River with quaint cottages, a long pier with boat dockage, swimming pool, tiki hut and a boat ramp next door, it's a great place for a weekend or a week long fishing getaway.
They grow their trout and snook big over there and this trip was no different. Guides and outdoor writers were matched up to fish the area on Monday and Tuesday, 6/24 and 25. Snook to more than 30-pounds (caught by Capt. Ed Zyak), big trout and tarpon were all caught and released with DOA Lures by the group. Doug Olander, editor of Sport Fishing Magazine and Capt. William Toney, from Homosassa, FL, fished the Indian River near Ft. Pierce with me on Monday, 6/24. We caught and released snook, trout and mutton snapper on DOA shrimp and a CAL Curly Tail. We also jumped a 30-pound tarpon on a DOA TerrorEyz.
Shimano rep, Anthony Puleio from Melbourne, FL, fished the Indian River with me on Tuesday, 6/25. We worked a sand bar near Stuart Causeway and caught and released numerous trout and couple of mutton snapper on CAL jigs with shad tails and DOA Shrimp. Thanks to Mark Nichols and the entire crew at DOA Fishing Lures (www.doalures.com) and Rufus Wakeman of River Palm Cottages for hosting the event and to other sponsors, Lazer Trokar Hooks, Shimano, Power Pro, Tailin' Toads, Johnson Outdoors, and Costa Sunglasses.
Back in Sarasota, numbers of tarpon increased as we headed away from last Saturday's full moon. Fly anglers tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf several days, 6/26, 27 and 28, with me had numerous shots at tarpon, a couple of "eats" and jumped one on a Tarpon Bunny fly. Singles, doubles and small schools of tarpon were more aggressive than large schools, often showing interest or following our flies.
Depending on conditions, tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be good next week, particularly towards the end of the week as we approach a new moon. If conditions aren't good for tarpon in the gulf, there should be good action with trout, blues, Spanish mackerel and more on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Look for reds and big trout in shallow water early in the day. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW near passes should also be a good option.
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