Mack attack in Sarasota!
Capt. Jim Klopfer
March 26, 2011
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing continued to be very productive this week, especially for Spanish mackerel, several of which were pushing 5 pounds. Big Pass, New Pass, the middlegrounds and Bird Key flats were the most reliable spots for me this week. Free lined shrimp, Rapala X-Raps and gold Cotee jigs all were effective.
On Monday Anne and Matt Baas fished with me. The best action was on the inshore reef off of Lido Key. We caught a bunch of sheepshead to 3 pounds, gag grouper to 20", Key West grunts, and mackerel. I had two trips on Tuesday, experiencing fast action in the morning and fair action in the afternoon on mackerel, trout, ladyfish, and pompano at the middlegrounds and Marina Jack flats.
On Wednesday I had 2 trips with a bunch of young ladies. Girls ruled that day! In the morning, Ashleigh (13) Julia (11) and Abigail (9) Manby from Brookfield, Wisconsin caught some VERY nice Spanish mackerel in Big Pass on free lined shrimp. Mom Maria topped it off with a 5 pound fish. In the afternoon, George Long and his 2 girls Kate (8) and Anne (4) from Orlando experienced non stop action on ladyfish and mackerel at the Bird Key flats.
Thurday I had Gary Langfitt from Columbus, Ohio and his buddy Mike out for a 6 hour trip. Macks, blues, trout, and ladyfish at Big Pass, the middlegrounds, and the Moorings hit gold Cotee jigs, olive Rapalas, and live shrimp. Gary finished off the day with a 4 pound Spanish and a 24" speckled trout at the Bird Key flats.
Friday morning Dave Ferguson from Bradenton took out his 8 year old son Will fishing as a birthday present. They had a good morning, Will spanked his dad pretty good! Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, and trout hit free lined shrimp and gold Cotee jigs in Big Pass and at the middlegrounds. Will caught his first sheepshead under the Bird Key docks.
Fly fisherman Crispin and his friend Ross had a great time catching mackerel and ladyfish in Big Pass on white Crystal Minnow flies and shrimp on Saturday morning.
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