Sarasota fishing report Capt Jim Klopfer 7/3/2015
Capt. Jim Klopfer
July 4, 2015
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
The mangrove snapper bite was hot this week on the deep grass flats in Sarasota at the north end of Siesta Key. Snapper to 15" were caught using live pilchards and pinfish. As has been the case, anchoring up and chumming has been the key to success. Clients also hooked and jumper two tarpon, 60 and 90 pounds, on light spinning tackle. No chance to actually land them, but VERY exciting anyway! Action and variety was the theme as speckled trout, silver trout, lane snapper, mutton snapper, bluefish, jack crevelle, gag grouper, black sea bass, flounder, sharks, ladyfish, and more were also landed this week on fishing charters. I did have a slow morning on Friday, that is fishing.
I started my week off with a good charter with the Dorton family from Kentucky. Denny and his grand sons Ashton (11) and Tristan (12) experienced steady action along with quite a bit of variety, including jumping a tarpon and catching a mutton snapper, chumming and fishing the deep grass flats. Speckled trout, silver trout, jack crevelle, mangrove snapper to 15", lane snapper, gag grouper, black sea bass, flounder, ladyfish, and catfish were also landed.
Fishing was good on Tuesday, with Ray Mills and his son Connor from PA being my clients that morning. Connor got a big thrill, hooking an 80 pound tarpon right near the boat, getting a blistering run and three spectacular jumps before it spooled him! The mangrove snapper bite was hot with the boys landing around 20, most of which were nice ones between 11" and 14". Speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, sea bass, ladyfish, and sharks were also landed.
Once again, fishing was good on Wednesday with a lot of action for Colby Ward and some guests. Bait was easy and chumming produced the usual suspects; trout, snapper, grouper, sea bass, jacks, ladyfish, and catfish. Marina Jacks was the best spot.
On Thursday the Desjardins family from Quebec experienced steady action as Marina Jacks was once again the best spot. Speckled trout, fat mangrove snapper, jacks, ladyfish, sea bass, grouper, and other species kept the girls (and Capt Jim) busy most of the morning.
The bite was slow on Friday for Frank Regnery from NYC, his son-in-law Mike Cribbs and Mike's 5 y/o son Keegan. We just kind of picked at them, we could not get a nice flurry going. Still, they landed plenty of speckled trout, mangrove snapper, jacks, ladyfish, and a bluefish. I took off Sat, July 4, the boat traffic is insane!
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