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Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 8/3/2013
Capt. Jim Klopfer
August 3, 2013
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing was VERY good once again this week on the deep grass flats near both Big Pass and New Pass. Several speckled trout over 20" were landed, along with others in the slot and some short fish. We averaged ten Spanish mackerel per trip and caught some nice mangrove snappers, black sea bass, gag grouper, jack crevelle, bluefish, silver trout, and ladyfish. A few fish were caught using Gulp! Shrimp but chumming with live bait produced very consistently. Bait was a bit tough early in the week but as tides improved nice bait was easier to catch. A full well almost guarantees a bunch of bent rods! There are also a fair amount of jacks in Robert's Bay.
Russell Archer and his 15 year old grandson Cameron, both from Cartersville, GA started the week off with a great trip on Monday. We ran to Big Pass, loaded up on bait, then sat in one spot for two and a half hours, getting bit on almost every cast. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, speckled trout, silver trout, jacks, and ladyfish kept the boys busy. We finished up in the Intracoastal near Stickney Pt. with a nice little "jack attack". I was trying to catch a redfish or snook but the jacks were too aggressive, a nice problem to have.
I had a two boat trip with Capt Bruce on Tuesday. Tom Moroney from Tampa, his two sons Jack (12) and James (10) along with their cousin Andrew (10) experienced steady action near Big Pass using live pilchards. They put 8 Spanish mackerel on ice and released a couple more along with speckled trout, sea bass, jack crevelle, and ladyfish. We made a move to the Radio Tower and really lit them up! Bluefish, mackerel, ladyfish, and trout kept the boys busy until it was time to head in.
Sarasota residents Martha and Brian Heard along with their daughter Selena experienced steady action on Wednesday. We started off casting Gulp! Shrimp at first light near the Ringling Bridge and they quickly put a 16" and 22" speckled trout in the box. Action slowed so I went to catch bait. There was a lot of small bait with some decent threadfins mixed in. Chumming the nearby flats resulted in several Spanish mackerel, a couple more slot trout, a lot of ladyfish, jack crevelle, black sea bass, mangrove snapper, and catfish. A good day with a great family!
Long time client and friend Tommy Hyser from Cambridge, MD fished with me on Thursday. We started off casting Gulp! Shrimp at the Radio Tower and Marina Jack flats, catching some undersized trout and a few ladyfish. I caught bait and we had non-stop action on Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and trout near Big Pass. We left them biting (usually a mistake) to go try the deep structure at the north end of Siesta Key; nothing happenning. Same with the inshore reef off of Lido, pretty slow. So, we came back in and lit them up at the Middlegrounds, catching a 23" speckled trout along with some other trout, Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper, black sea bass, jack crevelle, and ladyfish.
Diane and Scott Blackledge from DeForest, WI took out their two children Campbell (6) and Grady (9) out on their first saltwater charter. I caught bait and we sat in one spot for three hours. The kids did great, especially Grady, who caught a 3 1/2 lb Spanish mackerel, keeper mangrove snapper, speckled trout, ladyfish, and jacks. The rest of the gang chipped in with more macks, trout, ladyfish, snapper, and grouper. Diane finished off the trip with a fat 13" mang. All in all, we landed 60 fish or so, great morning!
Sarasota resident Laura Ritchey and her dad Bill who was in town visiting from Akron, OH had a good trip on Saturday. Once again, live bait was the ticket. It was very still with little breeze or tide; this normally results in tough fishing. But the chum brought them to the boat, especially the Spanish mackerel. The bite was on with the pair landing a couple dozen up to 3 1/2 pounds on pilchards near Big Pass. We finished up at the Middlegrounds as the tide turned to go out catching a pair of 18" trout, a nice sea bass, and several big mangs.
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