Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 5/11/2013
Capt. Jim Klopfer
May 11, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing was steady once again this week on the deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. Gulp! Shrimp on a 1/4 ounce Cotee jig head caught most of the fish, though clients also caught fish on live shrimp. Species total for the week included redfish, speckled trout to 20", silver trout to 16", flounder to 18", Spanish mackerel to 2 pounds, bluefish, black sea bass, jack crevelle, ladyfish, and sailcats. Bream are available in Upper Myakka Lake and Lake Manatee.
It was quite breezy on Sunday and Monday, no fishing for me. On Tuesday I had a full day with Sarasota resident Doc Dojutrek, who was treating himself to a fishing trip for his birthday. Action was steady on the flats at Marina Jack, Radio Tower, and the Moorings. Speckled trout to 20", silver trout to 16", Spanish mackerel to 2 pounds, jack crevelle, ladyfish hit Gulp! Shrimp and live shrimp. The silver trout bite was very good and we put a dozen or so in the box for a few meals.
On Wednesday I went out to Myakka River State Park with Bonnie Czepiel. Fishing was pretty slow, we caught some bream using live worms and black Beetlespins and we each lost a big "mystery" fish.
Cody Thompson from Madison, WI fished with me on Thursday. Action was steady on a variety of species using Gulp! Shrimp and live shrimp. We started off in Big Pass just as the tide had turned to come in. Drifting with the current and free lining shrimp and casting jigs resulted in several jack crevelle and ladyfish. A move to the nearby deep flats produced a pair of 20" speckled trout along with a bunch of smaller fish, silver trout to 14", sea bass, jacks, and ladyfish. Most were caught using Gulp! Shrimp. We finished up catching a redfish on a live shrimp in Robert's Bay.
Andrew Court from NYC took his friends Kira and Niels out fishing on Friday. Action was steady, nothing spectacular, but very similar to Thursday's trip. Silver trout, speckled trout to 16", sea bass, ladyfish, and other species hit Gulp! Shrimp and live shrimp on the deep flats near the Ringling Bridge.
Staurday's charter with Dave Betts and his two grown sons (22 and 25) Phil and Marshall who also live in the NYC area, was the best of the week. We started off at the Radio Tower flat and quickly got socked in by the fog. No worries, however, as the fish were biting! Casting Gulp! Shrimp produced speckled trout to 20", silver trout to 12', sea bass, flounder, ladyfish, and sailcats. A move to the Middlegrounds resulted in jacks crevelle, ladyfish, and more trout. The Moorings and Bishop's Pt. gave up a more trout along with a bluefish and a Spanish mackerel. We finished up at Helicopter Shoal with a fat 18" flounder. Great trip with great guys!!
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