Steady action in Sarasota in Big Pass and the surrounding flats
Capt. Jim Klopfer
April 16, 2016
Sarasota - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing was good this week as the weather improved. Early in the week we were greeted with slack tides; this is a good time to fish structure in the passes. Structure Big Pass held sheepshead, snapper, and grouper. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and a bunch of ladyfish were caught drifting shrimp and casting Bass Assassin Sea Shad jigs, the color did not seem to matter. Speckled trout, bluefish, and ladyfish were found on the grass flats near Bird Key and at the Middlegrounds, and hit the same baits. A trip to the Myakka River resulted in snook to 22" and gar using Rapala Jointed BX Minnow plugs.
I started my week off with a fun and productive trip with Linda and Rick Martin from Xenia, OH. We ran to Big Pass, where I planned n drifting the incoming tide. However, it was still trickling out with little current and no wind. So, I changed plans and we bottom fished structure in the pass instead. Slack times are best for that. The couple experienced steady action on sheepshead, snapper, grouper, and a Spanish mackerel. The tide finally turned to come in and we left to drift the pass near Marker #19. Large ladyfish and several 1 pound bluefish hit Bass Assassin jigs and live shrimp. We finished up the trip catching speckled trout to 18" on the nearby grass flats using large live shrimp.
I stayed in Big Pass all morning again on Wednesday, this time with Cari and Craig Stoller from Ann Arbor, MI and their children Simon (9) and Maggie (6). Bottom fishing ledges produced steady action on sheepshead, mangrove snapper, red and gag grouper, jack crevelle, and ladyfish.
I ran a late-season river trip on the Myakka on Thursday afternoon. I did not expect to catch any big fish, as most usually move out by this time. Ed Lynch and his buddy caught snook to 22" and gar on Rapala plugs, though it was a bit slow.
Steve Jensen from PA and his friends Steve and Dave had a productive charter on Friday. We started off in Big Pass catching ladyfish on Bass Assassin jigs and free lined live shrimp. After a while we moved to the deep flats at the Radio Tower and Middlegrounds, catching speckled trout, bluefish, sea bass, and more ladyfish on jigs and shrimp. In all, they probably landed near 50 fish.
I finished off the week on a breezy morning with Chris Harwick from CT, his dad Jim and 8 year old son Brady. We made several drifts in Big Pass, catching some ladyfish, but the wind and strong current made it difficult to stay on the fish. WE moved to the Bird Key flats and found a break from the wind, as well as a bunch of ladyfish with a few trout mixed in. Bass Assassin Sea Shad jigs and live shrimp fooled most of the fish. Drifts at Marina Jack and Stephen's PT. produced a few more before we called it a morning. Chris tried the fly rod, but conditions were tough and he only caught a couple.
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