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Tarpon Action Hot Near Sarasota

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Rick Grassett.

Anglers fishing with me on the Snook Fin-Addict, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had great action with tarpon recently. We landed five of six tarpon that jumped, including three on flies.

Fly anglers scored with chartreuse Toad flies fished on intermediate sink-tip fly lines off Lido Key. The other tarpon were caught on live pinfish and crabs along Siesta Key. We also had more than 20 shots with flies at tarpon in shallow water another day.

Anglers fishing the west side of Sarasota Bay near Bishops Point caught and released trout, bluefish, mangrove snapper and an 8-pound redfish on DOA Deadly Combos, CAL jigs with shad tails and Clouser flies.

We cast around schools of glass minnows on deep grass flats for the trout, blues and mangrove snapper and along mangrove shorelines for the redfish. Action in the Bay is best early and slows noticeably as it heats up by late morning.

Other fly anglers reported great catch-and-release action with snook in the surf along Manasota Key. The best action has been with DT Special flies fished on intermediate sink-tip fly lines. Even though this is usually all sight fishing, they have even been successful in blind casting areas known to hold snook.

Captain Jim Klopfer, of Adventure Charters, reported good action recently with trout on DOA Deadly Combos with a 3-inch glow shrimp in Little Sarasota Bay near Midnight Pass. He also had good action with trout to 22 inches, bluefish to 3 pounds, Spanish mackerel, jacks and mangrove snapper on live baitfish near Bishops Point.

Tarpon action should continue this week and even get better as we move toward the first quarter phase of the moon Thursday.

Call captain Rick Grassett at (941) 923-7799 or visit www.flyfishingflorida.net or www.snookfin-addict.com.

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