Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 7/27/2013
Capt. Jim Klopfer
July 27, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Live bait, primarily pilchards and threadfins though I did use a little shrimp, was the key to success for my clients this week. Pilchards were thick on the flats near both passes and it only took a few minutes to "load up". After that it was just a matter of choosing a spot where the wind and tide would help the chum bring fish to the boat. Speckled trout to 26", Spanish mackerel and bluefish to 2 1/2 pounds, mangrove snapper to 13", jacks, sharks, sea bass, ladyfish, and more kept rods bent and provided fresh fish dinners for satisfied clients out of CB's Saltwater Outfitters this week. All of the deeper grass flats seem to be holding fish, the flats close to the passes; Marker #6, Marina Jack, Radio Tower, and Middlegrounds, were all productive spots.
The week started off nicely with a very productive trip for Benjamin Adams and his son Sam from Flower Mound, TX. We left the ramp at first light and baitfish were thick; two tosses resulted in a full well. After that, it was steady action throughout the morning on the flats near Big Pass and New Pass. Spanish mackerel, big bluefish, speckled trout to 19", jacks, mangrove snapper, ladyfish and catfish kept the rods bent.
Mark Gruber from Dayton, OH took his two sons Jesse and Justin out on Tuesday. The tide was still falling as we left CB's, so we hit a couple of edges where bait schools were present and caught a couple of decent mangrove snappers on live shrimp. I then ran to Big Pass, caught bait, and action was steady the rest of the morning on the nearby flats. They put speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, snapper, and sea bass in the box for dinner. Jesse caught a BIG trout, just under 26" and Mark landed a nice bonnetthead shark. Of course we also caught ladyfish and catfish, too.
Jacob Rabinsky and Christian Marrero, both from the Miami, FL area, had a very good morning on Wednesday. Even though it was a bit breezy and cloudy, I was able to load the bait well in two tosses of the net. After that, it was steady action on speckled trout to 17", along with a dozen Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, and ladyfish on the nearby deep flats. We finished up on the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway in Robert's Bay. I still had a bunch of bait left, so I chummed like crazy and got the fish whipped up into a frenzy! Snapper to 12", a nice bluefish, catfish, and then several double-headers on 2 pound jacks ended the trip on a high note.
I had a great charter on Friday with Lori and Jack McLaughlin and their son Eric from Billerica, MA. It was a bit breezy when we departed and I was concerned that catching bait would be a problem, but I ran across a big wad of it in a protected area in Robert's Bay and loaded up. After a short run to a flat near the twin Bridges, I anchored up and we caught fish steadily. Speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper to 14", of all things a yellowtail snapper, black sea bass, catfish, and ladyfish provided good action. We kept a couple of mackerel and snapper, one 19" trout and released another 23" trout, gotta let those big girls go! To finish off the trip I hit a mangrove shoreline where Lori landed a beautiful 24" redfish.
Kerry Rea, her son Shane, nephew James Casey, and fiance Curt Trascher had a fair trip on Saturday. For whatever reason, it was tough getting the fish excited and feeding in the chum. They caught quite a few speckled trout, with Kerry landing one about 18". They also caught some decent snapper; Shane landed a fat 14" fish. Ladyfish, sea bass, and other species were also caught along with a pair of mackerel cutting us off right at the boat.
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