Saltwater Fishing Report for Sarasota, Florida.
Capt. Bob Smith
March 12, 2005
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Sheepshead save the day!
March 12, 2005
Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith
Although the fishing has been limited due to the red-tide and poor weather conditions, I still found the sheepshead plentiful and averaging 3 to 6 pounds on the (I) reefs just off of Lido beach. You can find them on any good bottom, artificial or natural in 20 to 30 feet of water. We had fast action on live shrimp fishing the bottom.
It is important to anchor directly over the structure. Drop your lines straight down to the bottom and then pick them up just a bit to avoid snags. I use a ¼ to a ½ ounce of lead, a very sharp and stout 3/0 hook and forty pound mono leader. The hook I prefer for light-tackle bottom fishing on the reefs is the Eagle Claw L253, 3/0. I can only find this size, L253 at Bass Pro. The hook is sharp enough to penetrate the jaw of a sheepshead and is strong enough to hold a big cobia. The other thing is that they only cost about a dime each, so you can afford to lose a few on the bottom. One of the problems is that once you penetrate the jaw of a sheepshead, it is hard to back the hook out. You can eliminate this by squeezing the barb closed and fish barb-less or cut the hook off and retie a new hook.
Some nice keeper size gag grouper are also being caught in with the sheepshead on the live shrimp. You also will find flounder, triggerfish and grunts in the same place as the sheepshead. The cliché about sheepshead is “You need to hook them just before they bite”, good luck.
I would say that sheepshead is better tasting than redfish or trout but not close to grouper or flounder.
Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
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