Jumping Sarasota Tarpon

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota Fishing Report
6/5/2011

Anglers fishing the coastal gulf along Sarasota beaches with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with tarpon during the past week. The best action was during the middle of the week when we averaged 4 or 5 bites per day, jumping 7 or 8 tarpon and bringing several to the boat. We had only a few shots with a fly on Memorial Day Monday, probably due to increased recreational activity in shallow water. Action also slowed a little towards the end of the week as we experienced some negative effects coming off of Wednesday’s new moon.

Keith McClintock, from Lake Forest, IL, and his group of 6 other anglers fished with Capt. Kelly Stilwell, Capt. Jack Hartman and me from Tuesday through Friday of last week. The rest of the group consisted of Dave Kinnamon, from Milwaukee, Dan Kinnamon, from Miami, Steve Liska, Sean Moore and Ray Van Hoorebecke, all from NJ, and Greg Short, from OH. All boats had similar action, jumping numerous fish throughout the week and landing several. Greg had a few shots with a fly and had at least one take and Steve hooked up on a DOA Baitbuster one day, although most of the action was with live crabs. Tarpon got happy for a couple of days, working slowly and giving us good shots, however some days they were on a “mission”, moving fast and not showing well on the surface. There are many parts of the equation including tide, moon phase and angler experience, which is what makes tarpon fishing both challenging and rewarding.

Tides are favorable for tarpon fishing next week as we approach the quarter phase of the moon heading towards the next full moon. My experience with moon phases are that negative effects are sometimes experienced several days after the full and new moons as tarpon head offshore to spawn. However, the days preceding these moon phases usually have good action.

 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



Capt. Rick Grassett leaders Keith McClintock's tarpon, which was caught and released in the coastal gulf on a live crab.

 

Keith McClintock with a tarpon caught in the coastal gulf while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett, which was measured and DNA sampled before being released.