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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Siesta Key fishing guide
Siesta Key is the barrier island just south of downtown Sarasota, bounded by Big Sarasota Pass on the north end, the Siesta Key and Stickney Point bridges over the Intracoastal, and Little Sarasota Bay to the south. Where the Sarasota guide centers on City Island, New Pass and the Ringling Causeway, Siesta anglers work Big Pass from North Shell Road, the ICW docks and bridge lights for snook, the shallow and deep flats of lower Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay, and the coastal Gulf off the beaches for Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail in the fall. CB's Saltwater Outfitters has run bait, boats and guides off the Stickney Point bridge since 1959, and the whole island sits inside FWC's Sarasota Bay management region.
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 Siesta Key. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Siesta Key, Big Sarasota Pass, 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 Siesta Key. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
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) Visit Sarasota County monthly fishing reports (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.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Siesta Key. This month is marked.
| 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 | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Slow | Good | Slow | Good | Slow | Peak | Peak | Slow |
| False albacore | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Slow |
| Cobia and tripletail | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good |
Snook
Peak: March, April, May, October, November
In fall snook stage on docks and bridges in the ICW and on shallow flats; live shrimp or pilchards, or small white jigs and flies around the bridge lights.
Redfish
Peak: August, September, October, November
Big schools roam the flats in August and September and break into smaller groups in October, sitting in potholes and along bars at low tide and on mangrove shorelines at high tide.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: June, July, October, November
Drift the deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay in 3 to 7 feet with a live shrimp under a popping cork or a jig, casting ahead of the drift.
Tarpon
Peak: May, June
Migrating fish run the beaches in late spring; juvenile tarpon hang in creeks, canals and the ICW into early October.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: March, April, October, November
Look for diving terns over breaking fish in the coastal Gulf off the beaches and on the deep grass flats, and use wire or heavy fluorocarbon.
False albacore
Peak: October, November
Fall albies feed with Spanish mackerel in the coastal Gulf; find the birds and throw small jigs, topwater plugs or small flies.
Cobia and tripletail
Check crab trap floats, buoys and channel markers inside and in the coastal Gulf while searching for mackerel.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February
Live shrimp around bridges, seawalls and docks in the cool months, like the Siesta Key Bridge area at Bay Island Park.
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 regional seatrout rules adopted in 2026.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pass
Big Sarasota Pass from North Shell Road
Fish the pass from the north end of the key, where the channel current concentrates fish when the tide is right.
- Bridge
Siesta Key Bridge and Bay Island Park
Bridge structure, seawall and grass beds with several access points for walk-on anglers.
- Bridge
ICW docks and bridges (Stickney Point to Siesta Key Bridge)
Fall and winter snook stack on dock and bridge lights; small white flies, jigs or live shrimp work well.
- 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.
- Bay
Little Sarasota Bay
The bay behind the south half of the key, reached from the small Vamo Drive Park launch, which is also the start of the Jim Neville Marine Preserve paddling trail.
- Offshore
Coastal Gulf off Siesta Key
In fall look for birds over false albacore, Spanish mackerel and blues, and check crab trap floats for tripletail and cobia.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Beach Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 8918 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, FL 34242 |
| Turtle Beach Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 8918 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota, FL 34242 |
| Vamo Drive Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 1700 Vamo Dr, Sarasota, FL 34231 |
| Blackburn Point Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 800 Blackburn Point Road, Osprey, FL 34275 |
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 (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- Tackle shopLive bait
Economy Tackle / Dolphin Paddlesports
Bait: live shrimp, worms
6018 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
Tackle and kayak shop on US 41 since 1948, a short drive off the Stickney Point bridge, open Mon to Sat 8am to 6pm and Sun 9am to 3pm.
- 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
Bait shop at the foot of the Ringling Causeway, about 20 minutes north of Siesta Key, open 6:30am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and to midnight Friday and Saturday.
- Bait and tackle
CB's Saltwater Outfitters
1249 Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Siesta Key's largest on-the-water bait and tackle shop since 1959, at the Stickney Point bridge, open 7am to 6pm daily, with boat rentals and fishing charters.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| CB's Saltwater Outfitters fishing charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Capt. Rick Grassett (charter captain with CB's Saltwater Outfitters) (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
| Abbott's Family Charters (Capt. Greg Abbott) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| The Miss Venice (Sarasota Fishing Fleet) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Siesta Key, asked and answered
Where can I fish Siesta Key without a boat?
Fish Big Sarasota Pass from North Shell Road on the north end, the seawall and bridge at Bay Island Park by the Siesta Key Bridge, or the fishing pier at Turtle Beach Park on the south end.
What is biting off Siesta Key in the fall?
Snook move onto ICW docks and bridges and shallow flats, reds and trout peak on the flats, trout mix with blues, Spanish mackerel and pompano on the deep grass, and the coastal Gulf has Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail.
Can I keep a snook on Siesta Key?
Siesta Key is in FWC's Sarasota Bay region, where snook harvest is closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Aug. 31. In open months you need a saltwater license plus a snook permit; check FWC for the slot and bag.
Where do I launch a boat near Siesta Key?
Turtle Beach Park on Midnight Pass Road has a county boat ramp on the key itself, Vamo Drive Park launches into Little Sarasota Bay, and Blackburn Point Park in Osprey is a few minutes south.
Where do I buy bait on Siesta Key?
CB's Saltwater Outfitters at the Stickney Point bridge is the on-the-water bait and tackle shop, open 7am to 6pm daily. Economy Tackle on South Tamiami Trail sells live shrimp and worms.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Siesta Key
Sources for this guide (19), last checked 2026-10-27
- cbsoutfitters.com/capt-rick-grassetts-monthly-forecast-for-november-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gag-grouper-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/recreational-red-snapper-0926/ (opens in a new tab)
- annamariainshorefishing.com/whats-biting-calendar (opens in a new tab)
- economytackle.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- hartsbaitshop.com/faq (opens in a new tab)
- siestakeychamber.com/listing/abbotts-family-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- siestakeychamber.com/listing/cbs-saltwater-outfitters-boat-rentals-fishing-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- siestakeychamber.com/listing/the-miss-venice-deep-sea-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- visitsarasota.com/article/locals-guide-fishing-sarasota-county (opens in a new tab)
- visitsarasota.com/article/monthly-fishing-reports-sarasota-area (opens in a new tab)
- visitsarasota.com/beaches-parks/turtle-beach (opens in a new tab)
- visitsarasota.com/beaches-parks/vamo-drive-park (opens in a new tab)
- visitsarasota.com/discover-natural-sarasota-county/boat-ramps (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Siesta Key
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.