Capt Jim's Sarasota Fishing Report 9/12/2011
Capt. Jim Klopfer
September 12, 2011
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
The best fishing of late has been close to the passes. Heavy rains have the backcountry water dirty and too fresh. The deep flats near Bird Key, Marina Jacks, Radio Tower, and the Middlegrounds are producing speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, sharks, mangrove snapper, and ladyfish on the incoming tide on live shrimp and pilchards.
Newlyweds Adrienne and Tom Galles from Sioux City, Iowa had a good morning fishing with me this week. They caught a couple dozen speckled trout to 16" at the Bird Key flats on live shrimp and pilchards. The best spot was Marker # 5 on the incoming tide where we caught four sharks, trout, a huge ladyfish along with several smaller ones, and a couple of mangrove snapper. The sharks were definitely the highlight of the trip, great fun on light tackle!
I have also been doing a little freshwater fishing this week. While I prefer river fishing, recent rains have the waters high and fast in the rivers. The lakes, however, are producing speckled perch (crappie), bluegill, shellcracker, catfish, and bass early and late in the day. Fish the weed edges with black Beetlespins, chartreuse twister tail jigs, and live worms. Upper Myakka Lake and Lake Manatee are the best bets.
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