Flyfishing Forecast - snookfinaddict

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for July 2025

Tarpon will still be a good option this month. Catch and release night snook fishing in the ICW or in the surf should also be good options. With water temperatures pushing 90 degrees, shallow water action for reds and big trout will be best early in the day.

Tarpon fishing should be good in the coastal gulf in July, which is my favorite month to fly fish for tarpon. Large schools of tarpon will dwindle in size and numbers to singles, doubles and small schools of mostly post spawn fish. With spawning completed and after a long migration, I find tarpon to be aggressive and curious in July. The tactics are the same as earlier in the season, anchoring or staking out on travel routes, although fish are in a better mood. Unlike the large tarpon schools that we see around full and new moon phases in June, July fish are usually more aggressive. Large schools of tarpon are impressive, but if you spook the lead fish you will spook all of them. Smaller baitfish, shrimp and crab patterns seem to work well late in the season.

Tarpon will thin out towards the end of the month as they begin to move to inside waters of Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. They move into these areas to rest and feed following spawning where they can be targeted in these areas with flies. Also look for tarpon feeding in schools of “breaking” ladyfish in these areas. I have done well fishing inside areas late in the season with wide profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies. When tarpon show up to feed in ladyfish schools, cast to feeding tarpon and strip the fly very slowly to present a large profile to fish cruising the edges of the school and to avoid ladyfish bites.

Catch and release snook fishing will be a good option this month. With very warm water this time of year, it is important to use tackle heavy enough to land them quickly. Fly anglers should do well with clear intermediate sink tip lines and wider profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies, since larger baitfish may be more predominant. Docks and bridges close to passes should be the best ones. You’ll also find snook in the surf, where you can walk along the beach and sight cast to them in shallow water. The same flies that work at night usually also work in the surf, although be observant of the size baits that are present in the area you are fishing so you can “match the hatch”. Gibby’s DT Variation is a “go to” fly for many snook surf anglers.

Reds should be very active in shallow water this month. With plentiful baitfish and higher tides, they should spend more time feeding over shallow grass flats. Look for them along the edges of bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll also find big trout in many of the same areas where you find reds, but the bite for big trout is usually best early or late in the day. I tie my Grassett Flats Minnow in a larger size this time of year to match the size and profile of pilchards or pinfish that are plentiful. Fly poppers and Gurglers may draw some big explosions! In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders

I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with weighted flies on sink tip fly lines to find fish. Diving birds or baitfish “dimpling” on the surface are signs that predators may be present. A drift anchor will slow your drift to a more manageable speed if it’s windy. You may find Spanish mackerel, blues or pompano mixed with trout on deep grass flats. You’ll need to add 6” of 60-pound fluorocarbon to your leader when toothy fish are in the mix.

In addition to tarpon, you might find false albacore (little tunny), tripletail or cobia in the coastal gulf this month. Look for albies feeding on the surface. I have seen large schools of albies “blitz” the beach while tarpon fishing this time of year. They are usually feeding on larger baits, such as threadfins or pilchards. You might find cobia swimming with tarpon or cruising bars in shallow water along the beach. You can use your tarpon fly tackle for cobia, but an 8 to 9-weight fly rod will be better suited for mackerel and albies. I also occasionally run into tripletail in July, either around a crab trap float, buoy or floating debris.

There are lots of options this month, late season tarpon, snook in the surf or at night or fishing skinny water for reds or big trout. Tarpon fishing is usually best when sweat is pouring down your back, but you’ll want to fish early in the day in inside waters. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Federation of Fly Fishers (FFI) Certified Fly Casting Instructor (CI)
Private and group fly casting instruction
Instructor for CB’s Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Schools
Hosted group destination fly fishing trips
www.snookfin-addict.com and www.flyfishingflorida.us
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Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for June 2025

Tarpon should be plentiful in the coastal gulf this month as big schools of fish migrate along our beaches. Also look for cobia, tripletail and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal gulf. Catch and release snook fishing should also be good in and around passes and in the surf. Fishing for a variety of species should also be good on deep grass flats.

Tarpon fishing should be good during June as schools of fish increase in size and numbers. They will head off shore to spawn, close to new and full moons. I’ve done well with Lefty’s Deceiver and my Grassett Flats Bunny fly patterns fished on floating fly lines. Stake out or anchor in travel lanes to get shots at them. Tarpon are creatures of habit and will travel on the same edges and depth contours. The shallower the water, the easier it is to get you fly in front of a tarpon when fly fishing. Since fish may be moving both north and south, setting up within several hundred yards of another angler may negatively affect their fishing. Fly fishing for tarpon is very dependent on conditions and there are a lot of variables that need to come together to be successful.

You should find snook in the surf, in passes and around docks and bridges in the ICW near passes. You can walk the beach and sight fish them in the surf with fly tackle. Small baitfish fly patterns, like Gibby’s DT Special or my Grassett Snook Minnow, should work well. Many of the same flies that work in the surf will also work well at night. Snook will congregate in passes around the new and full moons to spawn, so docks and bridges close to passes will usually hold more fish this time of year.

Fishing for reds should also be good in June. Look for them over shallow grass, along mangrove shorelines or around oyster bars when the tide is high. You’ll find them in potholes or edges of flats when the tide is low. Fly anglers should score with baitfish fly patterns like my Grassett Flats Minnow or Gurglers.

You may find trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish or pompano on deep grass flats this month. I like to drift and cast ahead of my drift with Ultra Hair Clouser flies tied on long shank hooks on an intermediate sink tip fly line. You’ll need to add a few inches of heavy (40 or 50-pound) fluorocarbon when toothy fish are in the mix. Look for deep grass flats with a mix of grass and sand and a good tidal flow for the best action. Trout regulations in southwest Florida are a bag limit of 3 fish per person and a 6 fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ .

In addition to tarpon look for Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf this month. Although none of them may be thick, I’ve encountered all of them before in June. Keep your eyes open for bird activity or “breaking” fish to find albies and mackerel. Cobia and tripletail may be found around crab trap floats; however I’ve seen cobia swimming with tarpon schools before. An 8 or 9-weight fly rod with a floating or clear sink tip fly line is adequate to catch everything except a big cobia, in which case your 12-weight tarpon fly tackle will work well.

There are lots of options in inshore waters or the coastal gulf this month. If pulling on a 100-pound plus tarpon isn’t for you, fishing pressure is usually light inshore this month so reds, snook, trout and more will also be good options. Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!

Capt. Rick Grassett’s Sarasota, FL Fly Fishing Forecast for May 2025

Tarpon fishing should take off during May as migratory fish arrive along our beaches. Also look for Spanish mackerel, tripletail, cobia and false albacore (little tunny) in the coastal gulf. Snook will be found in passes and the surf and reds and trout should feed heavily on shallow flats as baitfish become more plentiful. Blues, Spanish mackerel and more mixed with trout on deep grass flats should also be good options.

As migratory tarpon start to arrive this month, we should have schools of tarpon moving along our beaches. Early arriving tarpon may be more aggressive due to less fishing pressure early in the season. Fly anglers should do well with a variety of baitfish or crab fly patterns fished on floating or intermediate sink tip fly lines. Staking out or anchoring in shallow water on their travel route should result in some shots at fish. The best angle is a “head on” shot, followed by a quartering shot. A perpendicular shot may work if it’s timed perfectly, although casting too far beyond their line of travel will usually spook them. I use a push pole if I need to adjust my position to make a cast. Give other anglers at least several hundred yards of space and keep in mind that fish can be moving either north or south so setting up too close to another angler may affect their flow of fish.

Snook will be spawning this month so use tackle heavy enough to catch and release them in a timely manner and handle them gently. Larger snook will mostly be females and should always be supported horizontally rather than hung vertically by the jaw. Small white flies, like my Grassett Snook Minnow, work well at night. One of the most fun ways to target snook is to walk the beach and sight cast flies to them in the surf.

Higher tides this month will mean that reds will spend more time feeding on shallow flats. Look for them along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is high and in potholes or along sandbars when the tide is low. When fishing shallow water for reds, be as quiet as possible. I prefer to use a push pole or wade. Reds are one of the most challenging species to catch on a fly. Since they can be very spooky, I often wade for them when fly fishing to keep a lower profile. I like a 12’ or longer leader on a floating fly line. Wide profile baitfish patterns work well this time of year since many reds are feeding on larger baitfish. Lower Tampa Bay and Gasparilla Sound are both good areas for reds this month.

You’ll also find big trout in many of the same shallow areas that you find reds. Trout will also be plentiful on deep grass flats. Drifting and casting ahead of the drift is usually the most productive method. I like Ultra Hair Clouser flies on sink tip fly lines for trout or other species that be found there. Look for flats that have a good mix of grass and sand and good tidal flow. Trout regulations in southwest Florida are a bag limit of 3 fish per person and a 6 fish boat limit. Trout must be from 15”-19” with one allowed per vessel over 19”. In my opinion it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. Full regulations and details for all species can be viewed at https://myfwc.com/ .

You may also find pompano, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on the same deep grass flats where trout are plentiful. They can be targeted in the same way as trout, but you may need to use wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader when toothy fish are around. You may find Spanish and king mackerel, little tunny, cobia and tripletail in the coastal gulf. Keep your eyes open for surface activity such as diving birds, breaking fish or baitfish being forced out of the water which could indicate the presence of mackerel, blues or little tunny. 8 or 9-weight fly tackle should be heavy enough, although your tarpon fly tackle is not too heavy for cobia. Look for cobia either swimming on the surface or around navigational markers or buoys. I have also found cobia swimming with schools of tarpon before. Tripletail may be found around crab trap floats or buoys. When fly fishing for tripletail, a floating line on an 8 or 9-weight fly rod with a shrimp or baitfish fly pattern, like my Grassett Flats Minnow, should get the job done.

This is one of my favorite months of the year. If battling a big tarpon isn’t for you, you should have plenty to do on both shallow and deep grass flats or in the coastal gulf. I’ll be spending my time targeting tarpon in the coastal gulf unless conditions won’t allow it. Fly fishing for tarpon is the pinnacle of fly fishing! Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation, please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!