Great speckled trout action in Sarasota!
Capt. Jim Klopfer
June 26, 2016
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Well, it is officially "white bait season" here as the bait showed up in large numbers this week on the flats and bars near both passes. A well full of frisky pilchards and threadfin herring practically insures a productive trip. Live shrimp were effective, as always. Jigs also produced some fish, especially first thing in the morning. Clients landed a LOT of speckled trout to 21", cobia, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jack crevelle, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and more. The Radio Tower and Bird Key flats were the most productive spots this week. Live shrimp, baitfish, and flies all caught fish.
I started off my week on Monday with Aaron Jenkins, his wife Brie, her brother Chuck and dad Kevin. The bite was very steady at the Middlegrounds, Bird Key, and Marina Jack flats, with the gang catching speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jacks, snapper, ladyfish, and Brie landed a nice cobia. Live shrimp caught most of the fish. My Tuesday morning charter was cancelled as my clients decided it was more fun to go out drinking the night before; a day off with pay for me.
Fishing was terrific on Wednesday for Jake Bria from Cincinnati, his girlfriend Julia and her dad Greg. The trio landed around 50 speckled trout with a dozen nice ones to 20", several Spanish mackerel to 2 1/2 pounds, jacks, snapper, and ladyfish using live shrimp and live pilchards. The Radio Tower was the top spot.
Otis Leach from Indiana took out hos 14 year old grand daughter Anna on Thursday. The trip was about her, she wanted to catch some fish then do a little nature viewing and sight-seeing. I netted up some bait and she landed 30 fish including speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, jack crevelle, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and catfish. We then drove around, looking at bird rookeries and big houses before heading in.
Kurt Phinney from Longboat Key and his associate Eric wanted to try their hand at fly fishing on Friday. After a quick casting lesson, we drifted the flats near New Pass, with the boys catching a half dozen trout and a couple of ladyfish before it slowed down. I don't usually use live bait on a fly trip, but since I wanted them to get some practice setting the hook and landing fish, I caught some bait and anchored up near Bird Key. It did not take long to get the fish worked up into a feeding frenzy, and the fellas caught close to 50 trout to 19", mackerel, jacks, and ladyfish using white Clouser Minnow patterns.
I finished up the week with Sarasota resident Doc Dojutrek and a couple of friends from Chicago, Bill and Cliff. We cast jigs early, doing well on speckled trout and ladyfish. It slowed mid morning and I netted up some bait. Chumming the flats at Bird Key and Radio Tower resulted in fast action on speckled trout to 21", Spanish mackerel, jacks, snapper, grouper, and ladyfish.
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