Anglers fishing the coastal Gulf of Mexico off Sarasota with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, caught and released a tarpon on a live crab early last week. Conditions deteriorated later in the week as tropical storm Debby formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico and pumped clouds and moisture over us. Although the wind direction was from the east, a 4' swell out of the S-SW made fishing in the gulf tough, especially in shallow water. A new moon and rough conditions in the coastal gulf may have pushed many tarpon offshore.
A fly angler had some shots at tarpon and had one bite, but didn't hook up in the coastal gulf off Sarasota with me on Monday, 6/18. Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL, and his mom, Andrea Lutz from Atlanta, GA, tarpon fished with me on Tuesday and Thursday, 6/19 & 21. We saw several schools of tarpon moving in both directions on Tuesday morning and Andrea hooked up on a live crab out of a happy school that popped up right next to the boat. She and Hal double teamed the fish and had it alongside the boat in about 30 minutes. The tarpon was DNA sampled, measured at a 34 ½" girth X 67" length and released. A perfect size tarpon! Hal also had a few shots at tarpon with a fly later in the morning.
Conditions were poor for tarpon fishing on Thursday and Friday, 6/21 & 22, with a big swell, clouds and drizzling rain. As Debby intensified in the gulf over the weekend, conditions deteriorated even more. Heavy rain and wind gusting to 40 mph early in the week churned the gulf into a mess and wiped out tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf during the week of 6/25.
However, tarpon should become plentiful again as water quality improves and we head towards a full moon next week. Look for tarpon several hundred yards off our beaches and set up in their travel "lane" to intercept them. You may be able to see them below the surface later in the day when sunlight and visibility are best. Fishing deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay for trout, blues and more should also be a good option as water clarity improves.
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
