Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 9/1/2012
Capt. Jim Klopfer
September 1, 2012
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Tropical storm Isaac put a damper on fishing this week. I did get out Sunday morning, just ahead of the storm. We did not experience any damage, but strong winds had the Gulf of Mexico churned up and the dirty water is all over the bay. Speckled trout remain the best bet on the deeper flats while snook fishing in improving as more fish move in off the beach. Excellent fishing should resume this week.
Bill Lauderdale from Jacksonville, FL and his future son-in-law Andrew Rice from Orlando braved the elements on Sunday morning. The wind started at 15 knots and was 25 knots by the time we finished. We started out casting jigs at the Marina Jack flat and caught a few jacks and trout. There were fish breaking and a lot of bird activity, but it was difficult to stay on them. I ran into Robert's Bay to a protected spot where I had been catching bait. Being out on the water every day paid off as this is an unusual spot to catch bait, but I filled the well and after that the action was steady. Hiding behind Bird Key gave us some protection and we did well on trout to 20", jack crevelle, a several Spanish mackerel, sea bass, mangrove snapper, flounder, grouper, and ladyfish. We got in at 11:00, just ahead of the nasty stuff.
By the end of the week if was fishable, though the water in the bat was dirty. The cleanest area was between the Moorings and Buttonwood Harbor, where trout (mostly small) kept the rods bent using jigs and Gulp! Shrimp.
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