Sarasota Fishing Report Capt Jim Klopfer 12/20/2014
Capt. Jim Klopfer
December 20, 2014
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing was very good in Sarasota Bay near New Pass this week with the MIddlegrounds being the top spot. The water was cool and the fish were a bit deeper than normal, out in 8' to 10' of water. But once located, the bite was on! Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, sea bass, and loads of ladyfish hit Bass assassin Sea Shad baits in Glow and Chartreuse. Free lined live shrimp and trolled Rapala X-Raps also caught a few fish. I ran several snook trips to the Myakka River, which is something I do in the cooler months. Fishing was tough on Monday, the water was very cold. But, action improved by Wednesday afternoon where Erinn DeJonge caught the fish of a lifetime; a snook pushing 20 pounds, along with some smaller fish and a couple of bass. Thursday morning was slow, the water was quite low. But that is river fishing, it can be hit-or-miss, but always offers the chance to land a trophy snook.
Sarasota residents Dan Noa, Joe Polidoro, and Val Dolorica had a very productive trip early in the week. The bite was HOT at the Middlegrounds, with Spanish mackerel to 3 1/2 pounds, bluefish to 2 1/2 pounds, and ladyfish keeping the rods bent. Action was very good, with equal numbers of macks and ladies, along with a half dozen bluefish. Bass assassin Sea Shad in glow/chartreuse and chartreuse/silver glitter accounted for most of the fish, though Rapalas and live shrimp also caught a few.
Fishing was very good on Wednesday morning for newlyweds Katie and Herman Radke from Marriman, TN. At first it was mostly ladyfish, but after the tide turned to go out, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, pompano, sea bass, and sail cats joined the party. The Middlegrounds was the best spot and Bass Assassin jigs were the most productive bait.
Sarasota residents Erinn DeJonge and Clement O'Conner had a good trip on Wednesday afternoon, landing several bass and snook, including a 27" snook that Clement caught on a #10 gold X-Rap and Erinn landed a gorgeous snook estimated at 16-18 pounds on a Firetiger Rapala Jointed BX Minnow. I took out Jim Brost from Wisconsin and his dad Jay on Thursday morning and fishing was tough with just small snook being caught, the water was very low.
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