Sarasota fishing report Capt Jim Klopfer 3/14/2015
Capt. Jim Klopfer
March 14, 2015
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
While the sheepshead bite continued to be VERY strong this week, variety was the theme as clients landed a multitude of species in both Sarasota Bay and the Myakka river. Bass Assassin jigs (dark colors seem to work best) cast over the deeper grass flats at Marker #5, Marina Jacks, and Radio Tower produced speckled trout, jack crevelle, and sharks. Bottom fishing with live shrimp resulted in sheepshead to 4 pounds, mangrove snapper, gag grouper, red grouper, and more. Free-lining live baits near bars and flats produced trout to 18", snook, flounder, and whiting. Anglers casting Rapala X-Raps in the Myakka River landed snook, largemouth bass, bluegill, and gar. Quite a productive and diverse week of fishing!
Dr Bill Ritchie from Akron, OH treated his daughter Laura to a trip on Sunday. The bite was on in Big pass, and for two hours it was a snapper, sheepshead, or grouper on every drop. We finished up with steady ladyfish action near Marina Jacks casting jigs.
On Monday John Booth and his son Kyle had a similar trip. They landed a bunch of nice sheepies in the pass, then moved to the nearby flats for some ladyfish and trout action casting jigs.
I ran two trips on Tuesday. In the morning, Tom Lawrence celebrated his 72nd birthday by going fishing with hid buddy Randy Stricker. We started out with steady action on ladyfish at Marker # 5 casting jigs. Then, we moved to an oyster bar near Selby Gardens and landed flounder and a big whiting. After the tide turned, docks along Siesta Key produced nice sheepshead and grouper. Action and variety, a nice morning! In the afternoon, Jack Gallagher and his son Jack, both from Chicage, IL, caught some nice sheepshead and grouper off of docks and then good action on trout and ladyfish on jigs and shrimp at the Radio Tower and Marina Jacks.
I was in the Myakka River on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday George Harris from Long Island, NY fished with me and we landed a couple of snook around 20", two bass including one nice 3 1/2 pound fish, and a gar casting Rapala plugs. Thursday's trip was similar with Vint Rathbone and his grandson, several snook and bass and a 4' gar.
Dan Whitener was in town from California and took a family friend out fishing. Action was steady at Marina Jacks and the radio Tower or the pair casting jigs and catching ladyfish and trout. A move to Big pass resulted in good action on gag and red grouper along with sheepshead and mangrove snapper.
I finished up my week with Nick Maggio from NW Indiana and his girlfriend Tayla. It turned into one of those "mixed bag" trips as the duo landed ladyfish, jack crevelle, and blacktip sharks casting jigs near Marker #6. We then did a little bottom fishing where sheepshead, snapper, grouper, pufferfish, and a big oyster toadfish were caught. Tayla was quite impressed with her puffer! Freelining live shrimp and pilchards on the edges of grass flats near Bird Key resulted in speckled trout to 18" and more ladyfish and jacks. Nick ended the trip with a snook in Phillippi Creek. A fun trip with a great couple!
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