Sarasota fishing report Capt Jim klopfer 10/17/2015
Capt. Jim Klopfer
October 17, 2015
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing ranged from steady to excellent this week in Sarasota Bay. The deep grass flats produced the best action and most of the fish hit live bait. Middlegrounds, Radio Tower, Marina Jacks, and Bird Key flats were all productive. Fish-of-the-week was a 28" gag grouper and we also had a big cobia spit the hook at the boat. One morning we cast Rapala topwater plugs in search of snook, and caught a couple. The species list included Spanish mackerel to 4 pounds, snook, speckled trout, bluefish, gag grouper, black sea bass, mutton snapper, mangrove snapper, jack crevelle, cobia, sharks, flounder, kladyfish, and other small stuff.
I started my week out with a productive charter with the Green family from New Albany, IN. Sarah and Brian took their 9 year old son Jack out on Sunday morning. Action and variety was the theme as they landed Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, bluefish to 2 1/2 pounds, speckled trout, gag grouper, black sea bass, mangrove snapper, a mutton snapper, jacks, ladyfish, and catfish. All of the fish were caught on live bait near the Ringling Bridge. Monday was a boat maintenance day.
Long-time client Chaz Boyter from New Jersey fished with me on Tuesday. We started off at first light casting topwater plugs near Selby Gardens. It was a bit slow, but Chaz did catch a 22" snook. I moved to Big Pass, caught bait, and we hit several spots near Bird Key, landing Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, ladyfish, sea bass, grouper, sharks, and more. Chaz hooked and fought a nice cobia for ten minutes or so before the hook pulled near the boat. Bummer!!
Rich Galloway from Downers Grove, Illinois joined Sarasota resident Doc Dojutrek for a morning charter on Wednesday. Bait was easy and the bite was hot early as the boys landed a bunch of fish including black sea bass, gag grouper to 21", Spanish mackerel to 3 pounds, speckled trout, ladyfish, flounder, and other species. The tide quit mid-morning and turned to come in, and the bait was fair for the next couple of hours.
On Friday Rick Amann took his son Ben and grandson J.D. out fishing. Bait was easy then it was off to Bird Key. The bite was steady, but then tapered off mid-morning. Fishing picked up towards the end of the trip as the tide had turned to come in and we finished up at the Radio Tower with a nice trout and mackerel flurry. All told, the fellas caught Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, jacks, trout, grouper, snapper, flounder, sea bass, and more using live bait.
On Saturday I was part of a six boat group charter out Of CB's, leaving the Hyatt in Sarasota. My clients did well, catching 64 fish (we were counting as there was a little tournament going on) including a 23" Spanish mackerel, plenty of trout and other species. But the last fish was the best one, a 28" gag grouper that Steven landed on a grass flat using 10 lb spinning tackle! Great way to end a good week of fishing in Sarasota!
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