Flats fishing in and around the Sarasota, Florida area has been very productive over the past few weeks. We’re easing our way into summer weather patterns. There are currently great opportunities on the shallow flats for snook, redfish, and seatrout. There are baitfish spread throughout the flats right now. Focusing fishing on areas that are holding bait has been a productive approach. It is best to move quickly through areas lacking bait or other signs of life.
Seatrout have been aggressive in depths between 4 – 6 feet of water. Areas where bottom composition is mainly seagrass dotted with smaller patches of sand have been productive. Finding areas like this near channels or a source of consistent current (tidal or wind) has produced seatrout in size and numbers. Lures like the the Mirrolure Mirrodine XL and the 52 MR have been highly effective when targeting seatrout. Large clouser minnow flies have done the job for fly anglers on seatrout . Working larger flies erratically with long pauses just a few feet below the surface has taken the largest trout on the fly.
Snook have not been far from bait. They have used potholes and mangrove island points as ambush points and have been willingly pulling the trigger on artificial lures and flies. Jerk shads, Mirrodine XLs, and Aquadream spoons have worked well in areas holding snook. Snook have made their presence felt on the beaches as well. Using a little white fly when targeting them along the beach is a tough approach to beat.
Redfish are still in the mix. They are not nearly as concentrated as they were earlier in spring, but working oyster bars and broken shorelines with an Aquadream spoon was effective for anglers fishing with Quiet Waters over the last few weeks.
Night fishing for snook around docklights has remained steady. Bluefish are still coming to the boat at night. Most importantly, we are beginning to see juvenile tarpon stacking up along bridges and feeding heavily at night. On our last trip out, we hooked four fish and three came to the boat. Very exciting fishing. The night tarpon trip is the perfect experience for those who love tarpon fishing and it generally produces more action than tarpon day trips along the beach.
See you on the water soon!
Captain Brian Boehm
Quiet Waters Fishing
941-400-6218
Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
Sarasota, FL
