Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 10/26/2013
Capt. Jim Klopfer
October 26, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing was very good once again this week, despite a front that moved through. Snook to 23", redfish to 25", Speckled trout to 22", Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, jack crevelle to 5 pounds, snapper to 13", gag grouper to 18", and ladyfish all provided great fun on charters this week. Bait can become difficult to catch after a front, but I have a "secret" spot where I loaded the well with ease. Once bait is procured, success is practically guaranteed. Most of the fish were caught using live pilchards but we did catch a few on Rapalas.
I started off the week with long-time client Chaz Boyter from New Jersey. Chaz stays at Fisherman's Inn on the south end of Siesta, right next to the ramp at Turtle Beach, so we meet there. We ran up to the Intracoastal Waterway and cast Rapals at first light, hooking a pair of snook, 2 tiny ladyfish, and several jacks. The bite is over once the sun comes up, so we headed north, caught bait, and hit a couple of Bird Key spots. Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, jacks, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, and ladyfish hit on nearly every cast. After an hour or so of "action" fishing, we decided to try for bigger game. I hit a snook spot along Siesta Key; no snook but Chaz landed several slot trout and a couple of nice jacks. I decided to finish up down south near Midnight Pass. I had not fished there in months. Action was steady on jacks to 5 pounds, they responded enthusiastically to the chum! Chaz finished off the trip with a snook, fun trip, great guy!
Terry Mark from Olean, NY fished with me on Thursday after Wednesday was rained out. Terry is one of my most "tenured" client; he has been fishing with me for many years now and we always have a great time. Despite cool and breezy conditions, Terry caught over 30 fish including several slot trout, the largest of which went 22", Spanish mackerel, jacks, ladyfish, grouper, and snapper. Most of the fish were caught in the Yacht Club Channel, all on pilchards.
Ed Grenke from Hudson, NH, and his friends Madeline and Bob Gagnon along with Mary O'Brien finished up the week for me. The fishing was outstanding! Bait was easy and we sat at Marker #5 for 2 1/2 hours, catching fish steadily. The girls had the prime spots on the rear corners and had a bite on nearly every cast. The boys did OK, too. A lot of Spanish mackerel were hooked, along with trout (2 in the slot), jacks, several nice mangrove snapper to 13", jacks, grouper, and ladyfish. We decided to get out of the wind and try a shallow spot, and it worked out nicely. Madeline caught an 18" grouper and a couple of trout, then Mary landed a 23" redfish. Ed followed with a nice 25" red. Several more trout were caught and we called it a morning.
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