Rick Grassett

Fly anglers fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota with me, out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters on Siesta Key, had good action with tarpon during the past couple of weeks. We had numerous shots at tarpon on several days of fishing, a couple of hook ups and one tarpon landed. Spin fishing anglers also got in on the action, hooking up several times and bringing a couple of tarpon to the boat.

Joel Morsch, from Bradenton, FL, fly fished for tarpon in the coastal gulf in Sarasota several days with me early in the week of 6/20. He had several eats and hooked up a couple of times. He fought one fish through numerous jumps and a long run before bringing the fish to the boat!

Terry Notari, from Longboat Key, FL, son Craig from Chicago and grandson James, from Austin, TX, tarpon fished a couple of days in the coastal gulf in Sarasota with me 0n 6/24 and 25. Craig and James used both spin and fly tackle, getting some shots with a fly and James hooked up and landed a tarpon with spinning tackle on a live crab. He fought the fish through numerous jumps and runs before bring the fish to the boat.

Hal Lutz, from Parrish, FL and Jeb Mulock. From Bradenton, FL, fished with me on Thursday, 6/30. With poor visibility, Hal laid a quick back cast down and hooked up on a short cast. He fought the tarpon through numerous jumps and runs before the fish was leadered and successfully released. Well done!

Mike Storey, from Bradenton, FL, fished with me on Friday, 7/1. Mike had previously done some fly casting instruction and a flats fly fishing trip with me and was ready for the challenge of tarpon. Since it was his first time targeting tarpon with a fly, we worked on line handling, presentations and various other aspects of fly fishing for tarpon. He has a good eye and was able to spot numerous fish at a considerable distance. It all came together for him late in the day as he spotted a single and made a quick, accurate cast that resulted in a hook up. He fought the fish through several jumps and a smoking run before the hook pulled. A great job!

Tarpon fishing in the coastal gulf should be a good option next week depending on conditions, as we head away from a new moon on July 4th. Outgoing tides in the afternoon should be best. Snook season is closed now on the west coast of Florida, but catch and release night snook fishing around lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with flies and DOA Lures should be another good option. Trout, bluefish and more should also be good options on deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay.

Tight Lines,

Capt. Rick Grassett

IFFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor

Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters

Orvis Outfitter of the Year-2011

Fish Species: tarpon & trout
Bait Used: Flies and live bait
Tackle Used: fly & spin
Method Used: fly fishing & spin casting lures and live baits
Water Depth: 4'-8'
Water Temperature: 88
Wind Direction:
Wind Speed:
Capt. Rick Grassett lands a tarpon caught and released by James Notari, from Austin, TX, while fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota.
Capt. Rick Grassett lands a tarpon caught and released by James Notari, from Austin, TX, while fishing the coastal gulf in Sarasota.

Hal Lutz jumps a tarpon on a fly in the coastal gulf in Sarasota while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.
Hal Lutz jumps a tarpon on a fly in the coastal gulf in Sarasota while fishing with Capt. Rick Grassett.


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Rick Grassett

About The Author: Captain Rick Grassett

Company: Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc.

Area Reporting: Soutwest Florida

Bio: Capt. Rick Grassett, owner of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service, Inc., is a full time fishing guide and outdoor writer based in Sarasota, FL. He has been guiding since 1990 and is an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter fly fishing guide at CB's Saltwater Outfitters in Sarasota. Specializing in fishing with flies and lures on light spinning tackle, Capt. Rick fishes the bays, back country and coastal gulf waters from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor in his 18' Action Craft flats boat. He is a Federation of Fly Fishers certified fly casting instructor. Destination fishing trips are another specialty of Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service. Capt. Rick has lead groups of fly anglers to remote fishing locations around the world. Crane Meadow Lodge, MT, Los Roques, Venezuela, Andros Island Bonefish Club and Bonefish Bay Club in the Bahamas are several destinations where he has hosted groups in the past. Capt. Rick is a field editor for Saltwater Angler magazine and a monthly columnist for the Tampa Tribune. He has written articles for The Fisherman magazine and Orvis News. In addition to writing for these publications, he has been featured in articles in Florida Sportsman, Sportfishing, The Fisherman and Fly Fishing in Saltwater magazines. Capt. rick's web site, www.snookfin-addict.com features weekly fishing reports, current photos and and monthly fishing forecasts. He also maintains a second website that is specific to fly fishing and fly casting instruction, www.flyfishingflorida.net.

941-923-7799
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Rick Grassett