Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released several snook, lookdowns, mutton snapper and jack crevalle on DOA Lures in the Indian River at the DOA/River Palm Outdoor Writer Festival out of Jensen Beach, FL and had good action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota on DOA Baitbusters, live baits and flies during the past couple of weeks.
Capt. Andy Cotton and I towed our boats over to Jensen Beach (Stuart area) on Sunday, 6/22 for the annual DOA/River Palm Outdoor Writer Festival at River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp. 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 "cool place to stay" for a weekend or a week long fishing getaway.
Guides, outdoor writers and sponsors were matched up to fish the area on Monday and Tuesday, 6/23 and 24. Nice snook and trout, false albacore (little tunny), tarpon and more were caught and released and numerous tarpon were jumped with DOA Lures by various anglers in the group.
Outdoor writers, Michael "Mookie" Wilson, with the Lakeland Ledger and Pete Barrett, from Jupiter, FL, fished St. Lucie Inlet with me one day. We found some snook and jacks busting baits along a rock jetty and had some action catching and releasing them on DOA Shrimp. We also caught and released several lookdowns, a member of the jack family, and a mutton snapper around rocky areas of the inlet also on DOA Shrimp. Thanks to Mark Nichols and the entire crew at DOA Fishing Lures (www.doalures.com) and Rufus Wakeman, owner of River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp (www.riverpalmcottages.com) for hosting the event and to other sponsors, Lazer Trokar Hooks, Shimano, Power Pro, Engel Coolers, Tailin' Toads, Johnson Outdoors (Minnkota & Humminbird), Pilar Rum and Costa Sunglasses.
The Notari family, from Longboat Key, FL and the Chicago area, tarpon fished in Sarasota with me and Capt. Jack Hartman on Thursday, 6/26. Everyone had good action with 3 out of 4 anglers landing tarpon and jumping several others. The DOA Baitbuster continues to produce for my anglers with a couple of bites and 1 tarpon, an estimated 120-pound fish, caught and released by Josh Notari with the lure. The other tarpon were on a variety of live baits. Friday's fly fishing trip had a dozen or more shots at tarpon before conditions went downhill with wind, rough water and thunderstorms closing in on us.
Frank Zaffino, from Rochester, NY, fly fished for tarpon several days with me last week. The goal was tarpon on a fly and he did well, especially since it was his first time targeting tarpon. Tuesday, 7/1 was a great day with lots of shots and Frank caught and released his first tarpon, an estimated 90-pounder!
Shots were fewer on Wednesday, 7/2 and our day ended when a thunderstorm pushed through roughing up the water. Tarpon fishing is usually a waiting game, much like hunting whitetail deer or turkeys, so we often see other things along the way. Over several days we saw bull and hammerhead sharks, manatees and had a shot at a couple of cobia while we waited for tarpon.
Conditions deteriorated on Thursday, 7/3 as a stiff west wind made it rough. Frank hung in there and made his shots count, hooking up with another tarpon, an estimated 70-pounder, and successfully catching and releasing the fish on the last cast of the day! Going 2 for 2 on tarpon with a fly, especially on your first attempt-priceless!
Tarpon fishing should remain strong next week as we head towards a full moon. Large schools of tarpon should become more plentiful as they prepare to head offshore to spawn. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in passes and around docks and bridges close to passes. You should find reds and big trout on shallow flats or edges of bars in Sarasota Bay or fish deep grass flats for trout, blues and more.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
IFFF 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.snookfin-addict.com
