Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith
The magic numbers are here! As the Gulf’s temperature rises to over seventy degrees, the fishing is starting to percolate. King mackerel are starting to be caught in thirty to seventy feet of water by trolling or live bait. They are not in thick schools yet, but are being caught frequently. Large schools of blacktip sharks seemed to be everywhere on Thursday. Spanish mackerel have been hot along the beaches and the artificial (I) reefs in twenty to thirty feet of water. The Spanish mackerel have also been spotty on the bay. Large schools of baitfish started moving into the bay and the action started to pick up on Friday.
Also on Friday, some boats found large grouper and snapper chewing very good in eighty feet of water. They also stopped at the “M” reefs on the way out for some kings. Take plenty of live pinfish and shrimp and don’t forget the Sabiki rigs.
Cobias are also in the mix along the beaches but they are just starting. Sheepshead, grouper, snapper, flounder and sharks are some of the others hanging out around the (I) reefs in 20 to 30 feet of water.
We had plenty of light tackle action on the bay. Most of the action has been ladyfish but some anglers have been able to limit out on 18” plus trout. Pompano, mackerel, redfish, snook, snapper, sheepshead, bluefish and even a few keeper size grouper have been part of the mix.
It all sounds good but it is no free lunch, you still need to work at it to get the keeper fish. DOA shrimp and live shrimp have been working will for me.
The high winds have been a problem but the Red tide seems to be gone, for now.
Enjoy & Protect
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com
