Fishing around Sarasota, Florida has been good. Anglers fishing with me over the last few weeks caught snook, speckled seatrout, redfish, jack crevalles, and other flats species. We fished as far north as lower Tampa Bay and south down to Charlotte Harbor. Wind has been a factor as we transition to more consistent warm weather. Both juvenile and adult tarpon are beginning to show up near the mouths of rivers, bays, passes, and in the Gulf itself. Finding good sea conditions to get a fly or lure in front of fish has been a challenge. That should change soon and anglers should be getting more consistent shots at tarpon soon.
There is quite a bit of bait around our area. There is plenty of bait just off the beaches and mackeral have been active in those areas. Even areas far removed from passes, like Little Sarasota Bay, have plenty of white bait. Jack Crevalles and ladyfish have been in and around the inshore bait on a fairly consistent basis. Fish are still feeding on glass minnows, so if you find an area where they are really concentrated, it’s worth stopping and making a few prospect casts.
Seatrout have been active in areas of grass from 4- 6′ deep. In the morning, working soft plastics near the bottom has been the most productive. By late morning and early afternoon, the larger fish are willing to charge up towards the surface after suspending plugs. The Mirrolure Mirrodine XL is one of the best baits I’ve found for locating these seatrout. Once you find one, there are usually plenty more in the same area. For flies, a chartreuce over white clouser minnow has been effective. Larger articulated deer hair flies are working well on the larger trout. Leaving long pauses in the retrieve has been the key. Dock Light fishing for snook has been consistent. Glass minnow patterns are still working, but shrimp and EP patterns are becoming more popular with fish on the lights.
See you on the water soon!
Captain Brian Boehm
Quiet Waters Fishing
941-400-6218
Guide at CB’s Saltwater Outfitters
Sarasota, FL
