Sarasota, Rick Grassett

Anglers fishing with me, out of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had some action with tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota during the past couple of weeks. Spin fishing anglers hooked up several times and brought one fish to the boat. Sea conditions have been poor, with a lot of rough and cloudy water, making sight fishing for tarpon tough.

Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL and Andrea Lutz, from Atlanta, had good action fishing the coastal gulf with me last Monday. They hooked up a couple of times on a live crab with spinning tackle, jumping one and fighting another fish to the boat after a 45-minute battle. A strong front approached on Tuesday and Wednesday, roughing up the gulf and forcing the cancellation of the rest of the week of tarpon fishing.

Tarpon action will pick up as sea conditions improve. Snook season is closed on the west coast of Florida until Sep 1st, so please handle them gently and release them quickly. This is a good time frame to sight fish for snook in the surf when conditions are good. Fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW for snook with flies and DOA Lures continues to be a good option. You should also find larger trout in shallow water along with reds when conditions are good.

Tight Lines,