Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida

Sarasota fishing guide

Sarasota anglers work the shallow and deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay, the docks and bridges along the Intracoastal, and the tide-swept passes at New Pass and Longboat Pass. Snook, redfish and seatrout carry the inshore fishing most of the year, tarpon run the beaches from late spring into summer, and Spanish mackerel, kings, cobia and false albacore show in the coastal Gulf on the spring and fall bait runs. South of State Road 64 the water falls in FWC's own Sarasota Bay management region for snook, redfish and trout, separate from Tampa Bay to the north.

Conditions now
Chart and depths
Fishing reports
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

Today’s bite

A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.

Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.

Tides

Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water: Checking
Wind: Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

7 day forecast

National Weather Service, for Sarasota. Updates through the day.

Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Sarasota, Sarasota Bay, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Port Manatee, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

12 ft, the chart

Chart and depths

The official NOAA chart, centered on Sarasota. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.

The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.

NOAA electronic navigational chart: soundings, depth contours, channels, markers and hazards. Zoom in to see more soundings. Not for navigation. Open NOAA ENC Online

15 ft, fishing reports

Fishing reports

What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.

Latest reports

From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.

Checking the latest reports.

Report sources: CB's Saltwater Outfitters weekly reports and monthly forecasts (opens in a new tab)

Straight from the dock

Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.

Checking for reports.

Run a shop or charter here? Send a report

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Sarasota. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Sarasota. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Snook	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good
Spotted seatrout	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow
Spanish mackerel	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Slow	Good	Slow	Good	Slow	Peak	Peak	Slow
King mackerel	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Slow	Good	Slow	Good	Slow	Peak	Slow	Slow
Sheepshead	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good
Mangrove snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
Cobia	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Slow

Snook
Peak: March, April, May, October, November
Fish docks and bridges along the ICW and the edges of sand bars and potholes on the flats, with live pilchards or white jigs and flies.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: August, September, October, November
Schools push onto the Sarasota Bay flats from late summer into fall; a popping cork with live shrimp on a rising tide is the standby.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout
Peak: June, July, October, November
Drift the deep grass flats in 3 to 7 feet with a live shrimp under a cork or a jig, best at sunrise and sunset in summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: May, June
Migrating fish run the beaches and stage at the passes and bridges from late spring into summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: March, April, October, November
Look for diving birds in the coastal Gulf and on the deep grass flats and throw small white flies, spoons or jigs.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
King mackerel
Peak: March, April, October
Kings follow the spring and fall bait runs along the beaches and nearshore structure.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February
Live shrimp or crab around docks, bridges and New Pass in the cool months.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mangrove snapper
Peak: June, July, August
Summer snapper sit on markers and grass flats in Sarasota Bay and around Longboat Pass.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Spring and fall fish turn up in the coastal Gulf around crab traps or cruising the surface.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

30 ft, seasons and rules

Seasons and rules

Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.

Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), fall
Remaining 2026 schedule: Sept. 23 to Oct. 4, every day Oct. 9 to 22, Oct. 23 to 25, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22, Nov. 26 to 29, Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20, Dec. 25 to 27, and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit, in state waters only.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
2026 recreational season was Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, matching the NOAA season in adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
2026 recreational season was Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Sarasota Bay region
Harvest closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31. Keeping one also requires a snook permit with your saltwater license.
FWC, current (standing rule) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red drum, Sarasota Bay region
Open year-round. Slot, bag and vessel limits are set by region, check FWC.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Sarasota Bay region
Open year-round under the new regional seatrout rules that took effect in 2026.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

A snook permit is required on top of a recreational saltwater license to keep a snook.
Anglers fishing for gag, amberjack, triggerfish and other listed reef fish from a private boat must sign up each year as a State Reef Fish Angler.
On for-hire trips the captain and crew may not keep a bag limit of snook, redfish or seatrout.
Snook, redfish and seatrout must stay whole until landed ashore.
Sarasota is in FWC's Sarasota Bay region for snook, redfish and seatrout, which runs from State Road 64 in Manatee County south to near the Venice Municipal Airport and includes Palma Sola Bay, Phillippi Creek, Cow Pen Slough Canal and Curry Creek.
Hart's Landing says a fishing license is not required on the Saprito Pier by the Ringling Causeway.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-27

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Flats
Sarasota Bay deep grass flats
Flats in 3 to 7 feet hold trout mixed with blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano in the cooler months; drift and cast ahead of the boat.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bridge
ICW docks and bridges
Snook stack up on dock and bridge lights and shadows, and small white flies or jigs work well.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pass
New Pass
Sheepshead around docks and structure in winter, and a bait shop and charter dock right on the pass at City Island.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pass
Longboat Pass
Snook gather to spawn in early summer, tarpon stage here in May and June, and snapper hold nearby in summer.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Saprito Pier and Werlin Park seawall
Walk-on fishing at the foot of the Ringling Causeway next to Hart's Landing bait shop.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pier
Ken Thompson Park fishing pier
City park on City Island with a fishing pier on the northwest side and a boat ramp.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Offshore
Coastal Gulf off Siesta and Lido
In fall look for birds over false albacore, Spanish mackerel and blues, and tripletail and cobia around crab traps.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Sarasota
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Ken Thompson Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Ken Thompson Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	1700 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
Saprito Pier (Hart's Landing, Ringling Causeway) (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	920 John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota, FL 34236

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle (4)

Showing all 4 shops

Bait shopLive bait
Hart's Landing
Bait: live shrimp, live pinfish, frozen shrimp, frozen squid, frozen finger mullet, frozen sardines, frozen sand fleas, frozen octopus
920 John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota, FL 34236
Sarasota's oldest bait shop, at the foot of the Ringling Causeway next to the Werlin Park seawall and Saprito Pier; rents fishing poles but does not sell licenses.
Call (941) 330-0650 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Website (opens in a new tab) Source (opens in a new tab)
Bait and tackleLive bait
New Pass Grill & Bait Shop
Bait: live shrimp, frozen bait
1505 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236
On New Pass at City Island; bait shop opens at 6am seven days a week, rents poles, and charters leave from the dock.
Call (941) 388-1618 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Source (opens in a new tab)
Tackle shopLive bait
Economy Tackle / Dolphin Paddlesports
Bait: live shrimp, worms, live pinfish
6018 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
Tackle and kayak shop on US 41 since 1948, open Mon to Sat 8am to 6pm and Sun 9am to 3pm.
Call (941) 922-9671 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bait and tackle
CB's Saltwater Outfitters
1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key, FL 34242
On-the-water bait and tackle shop at the Stickney Point bridge since 1959, open 7am to 6pm daily, with boat rentals and guides.
Call (941) 349-4400 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Website (opens in a new tab) Source (opens in a new tab)

Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Sarasota
Charter	Fishing
CB's Saltwater Outfitters fishing charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Capt. Rick Grassett, Snook Fin-Addict Guide Service (Orvis-endorsed, out of CB's) (opens in a new tab)	Fly
Capt. Kelly Kurtz, Mangrove Charters (out of CB's) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
New Pass Grill & Bait Shop charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

CB's Saltwater Outfitters Orvis-endorsed fly fishing school (opens in a new tab)
one-day casting classes for beginning and intermediate fly anglers, held at CB's on Siesta Key
2026: Saturday, October 24

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Sarasota, asked and answered

Can I keep a snook in Sarasota?

Sarasota is in FWC's Sarasota Bay snook region, where harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Aug. 31. In the open months you need a saltwater license plus a snook permit, and the slot and bag are on FWC's snook page.

When is the best time for redfish in Sarasota Bay?

Late summer through fall. Schools push onto the Sarasota Bay flats from late summer into fall, with August through November the peak months, and a popping cork with live shrimp on a rising tide is the standby.

Where can I fish Sarasota without a boat?

The Saprito Pier and Werlin Park seawall by Hart's Landing on the Ringling Causeway, where Hart's says no license is needed on the pier, and the fishing pier at Ken Thompson Park on City Island.

Where do I buy live bait in Sarasota?

Hart's Landing on the Ringling Causeway sells live shrimp and pinfish, New Pass Grill and Bait Shop opens at 6am with live shrimp, and Economy Tackle on South Tamiami Trail carries live shrimp and worms.

What is biting in November?

Snook around ICW docks and bridges and on the flats, reds on the flats, trout mixed with blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on the deep flats, and false albacore, Spanish, cobia and tripletail in the coastal Gulf.

90 ft, the kit