Mangrove snapper action on the rise in Sarasota
Capt. Jim Klopfer
August 6, 2011
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing continued to be very good this week. Speckled trout are abundant on the deep grass flats near Siesta Key. Spanish mackerel are not being caught in large numbers, several a morning, but they are quality fish in the 3 lb range. Mangrove snapper showing up in decent numbers both on the flats and around structure near both passes. Pilchards and pinfish will usually catch larger fish than shrimp. Fish of the week was Ann-Christine Brady's nice permit!
On Sunday Farrah and Shawn Cannon did well on trout and ladyfish at the Marker # 5 flat, then caught several nice mangrove snappers under docks at the north end of Siesta Key.
Monday was a spectacular trip! Ann-Christine Brady and her husband Tony Suarez experienced non-stop action on the flats near Bird Key. Speckled trout, ladyfish, snapper and Spanish mackerel ate just about every pilchard that hit the water. But the highlight of the trip was a 7 pound permit that Ann caught on a live shrimp at the north end of Siesta Key.
Tuesday morning the Davisons and McGuires from Canada had a similar trip, minus the permit. We did not keep count, but we caught nearly a hundred fish before the heat chased us in a few minutes early.
Joann and Paul Maranan from Wauwatosa, WI took out thier two sons Mike (16) and Joey (15) on Wednesday. It was steady but the SW wind blowing against the tide made it a little harder to get a good chum line going. They still caught mackerel to 3 lbs, trout to 17", a half dozen keeper snapper to 14", and loads of ladyfish on pilchards at Marker # 5.
Sarasota resident Doc Dojutrek had a good day of fishing with me on Thursday. He caught a bunch of speckled trout at the Bird Key flats, mostly "shorts" but a couple in the slot to 17" along with several keeper mangrove snapper and ladyfish. We then moved to some docks on the north end of Siesta Key and landed several more nice mangs and three reds between 16" and 18". All the fish were caught on pilchards and pinfish.
Scott Blackledge from Deforest, WI caught around 40 trout, ladyfish, snapper, and catfish on the flats at the north end of Siesta Key on Friday morning. Saturday's charter was similar, plenty of small trout, ladyfish, 10 keeper snapper and a blacktip shark on pilchards and shrimp.
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