Sarasota Fishing Report 7-6-2011

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota & Stuart, FL Fishing Report
7/2/2011


Tarpon fishing remains good off Sarasota beaches, although conditions this week made it challenging. Anglers fishing with me on my Action Craft flats skiff the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, jumped several tarpon on flies and landed one. I also spent a couple of days over in Stuart, FL at the annual DOA Guide/Outdoor Writer Festival, where we caught and released snook, trout, flounder, black drum and jacks.

The DOA event is held out of River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp, “A Cool Place to Stay”, on the banks of the Indian River in Jensen Beach, FL. It is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Not only is it right on the Indian River, it has a Florida Keys atmosphere with a nice Tiki Hut, dockage for boats and they’re pet friendly, too. Outdoor writers, sponsors and guides were matched up daily to fish the fertile waters of the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers. Tarpon to 100-lbs, snook to 30-lbs, trout to more than 10-lbs, reds and permit were caught and released on DOA baits by anglers participating in the event.       

Capt. John Irwin, from Charleston, SC, fished the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers with me on Monday. The action wasn’t fast, but we caught a variety of species including snook, trout, flounder and black drum on DOA TerrorEyz, DOA shrimp and CAL jigs with shad tails. Capt. Dave Lear, from Tallahassee, FL and Rusty Chinnis, from Longboat Key, FL, fished with me on Tuesday. We caught and released a couple of snook on DOA shrimp in the St. Lucie Inlet and a couple of nice trout on a sandbar in the Indian River near River Palm Cottages.

Back in Sarasota conditions weren’t great for tarpon fishing, although fish were aggressive; free jumping, tail slapping and eating baits off the surface. Overcast skies, thunderstorms and rough water caused fish to be deep in the water column requiring quick presentations. Despite poor conditions, we had numerous shots at tarpon each day. The issue was seeing a fish soon enough to make a presentation and get your fly deep enough in the water column. An angler on my boat on Wednesday jumped 3 tarpon on Deceiver and Tarpon Rat flies and landed one of about 70-pounds. Two tarpon were hooked with only 20’ of line outside the rod tip.

Tarpon action should be good next week as we head away from the new moon. The best action has been on afternoon outgoing tides. Flats action in Sarasota Bay for trout, Spanish mackerel, blues and more should also be a good option although the best action is usually in the morning before heat becomes an issue. Catch and release snook fishing around lighted docks and bridge fenders close to passes should also be a good option and is a great way to beat the heat.

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 with a nice Indian River trout caught and released on a DOA holographic shrimp at the annual DOA Guide/Outdoor Writer festival held out of River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp in Jensen Beach, FL. Rusty Chinnis photo.

 

Capt. John Irwin, from Charleston, SC, caught and released this nice flounder on a DOA Terroryz in the St. Lucie River while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett at the annual DOA Guide/Outdoor Writer festival held out of River Palm Cottages & Fish Camp in Jensen Beach, FL.