Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 9/12/2015
Capt. Jim Klopfer
September 12, 2015
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Once again, catching a well full of live bait and chumming the deep grass flats with them provided clients on fishing charters with outstanding action and variety. The water temperature is still in the mid 80's and there is a lot of bait on the flats. Fishing with live bait is VERY productive under these conditions, with clients averaging 25-30 fish per person on a morning charter. Speckled trout to 20", Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, jacks, snapper, grouper, sea bass, ladyfish, and a cobia were landed this week at the Middlegrounds and Stephen's Pt.
Jesse Stuart and his girlfriend Nikki from Oklahoma fished with me early in the week. We started off casting jigs at the Radio Tower; nothing happening. I saw some birds diving, eased over and caught a bunch of bait. It was mostly small, but still big enough to use. The couple experienced steady action at the Middlegrounds, catching several nice trout to 19", jacks, snapper, grouper, and ladyfish. They had a couple of mackerel cut them off. Action slowed so I moved to another spot nearby, not much going on. I re-loaded with bait and ran up to Stephen's Pt, where the bite was steady for the rest of the charter. Nikki landed a cobia on a pinfish, and plenty of trout also came boatside, as well as some ladyfish. Nikki had a big mackerel just about dump the spool, then fought for a bit before it cut her off. By then it was pretty warm so we called it a morning.
I finished up my week with a charter with Jason Stoltzfus and Brett Ardery from Harrisburg, PA. Conditions were good, incoming tide, overcast shies, light breeze and a front approaching, and the fish responded with great action. We started off catching a few fish on Bass Assassin jigs, but with the weather coming and the chance of the trip being cut short, I hit the bait, then we sat in one spot for several hours with the boys getting a bite on nearly every cast. A dozen Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, speckled trout, mangrove snapper, gag grouper, sea bass, and ladyfish came to the net. The weather was getting more unstable, so we headed in a little bit early to beat the rain. Great trip with fun guys!
On an off day I fished Lake Manatee. I offer freshwater charters in the cooler months. I expected the fishing to be tough, and it was. No wind, 86 degree water, yikes! We caught a couple of small bass on Rapalas, and that was it. We quit early as it was brutally hot. In another month or so the crappie should start schooling up.
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