Paddle Launch
Longboat Key Bayfront Park Recreation Center - Kayak Launch
Hand Launch Only; Dawn to Dusk
Directions
Saltwater & Coast
Fly Fishing
Spin, Cast & Bait
Sarasota Bay Fishing Guide
Florida
Photo: Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The bay between Longboat Key and Sarasota, where the state's angling guide sends anglers to City Island, Ringling Causeway, and New Pass for flounder, redfish, sheepshead, snook, and seatrout.
Trip at a Glance
Anglers come to Sarasota Bay for redfish, speckled trout, snook, flounder and sheepshead. In October, redfish, speckled trout, flounder and sheepshead are at their peak, and Clouser Minnow, EP Baitfish and Spoon Fly are a good place to start. There are 12 shops within 25 miles; the closest is All About Fishing in Sarasota, about 6 mi away. Tampa Bay is about 26 mi away if you want to make a trip of it.
Season at a Glance
Redfish
Speckled Trout
Snook
Flounder
Sheepshead
JFMAMJJASOND
Peak: best fishing Open, slower
Plan Ahead
Planning for a Month
Peak in October
Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Sheepshead
Daylight
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Moon
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Typical Weather
86°F high, 68°F low
About 2.8 in of precipitation for the month.
Typical for October, not a forecast. Weather from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals at a station about 3 mi away. Check the live conditions on this page before you go.
Ways In
Ramps and Launches on Sarasota Bay
Paddle Launch
Longboat Key Overlook Park - Paddlecraft Access
Hand Launch Only; 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM
DirectionsPaddle Launch
Ted Sperling South Lido Beach County Park - Kayak Launch
Hand Launch Only; 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
DirectionsBoat Ramp
Linley Street Boat Launch (No Trailer Parking)
Stand Alone Ramp; 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM
DirectionsFrom Florida FWC Boat Ramp Inventory (FWC-FWRI). Hours, fees, and conditions change; check with the operator before you go.
What You'll Catch
Sarasota Bay Species
Redfish
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Year-round
Speckled Trout
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Year-round
Snook
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Mar to Aug
Flounder
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Sep to May
Sheepshead
Prime NowJ
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak: Sep to Mar
Images: Duane Raver, USFWS; jose_colorado-dapa; NOAA Fisheries; U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Public domain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plan by Month
What to Use
Month
Fish
13 picks for October. marks species at their peak in October.
Clouser Minnow #1/0-8
FlyStreamer · Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This FlyEP Baitfish #2/0-2
FlyStreamer · Redfish
Shop This FlySpoon Fly #1/0-2
FlyFlats Fly · Redfish
Shop This FlyPaddle-Tail Swimbait 3 to 5 in
LureSoft Plastic · Flounder, Snook, Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This LureWalking Topwater 4 to 5 in
LureTopwater · Snook, Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This LurePopping Cork Rig 18 to 30 in leader
LureRig · Speckled Trout, Redfish
Shop This LureBucktail Jig 1/4 to 2 oz
LureJig · Flounder
Shop This LureWeedless Gold Spoon 1/4 to 1/2 oz
LureSpoon · Redfish
Shop This LureLive Shrimp 2 to 4 in
BaitLive Bait · Sheepshead, Snook, Speckled Trout, Redfish
Live Minnows 1 to 3 in
BaitLive Bait · Flounder · Mud minnows or finger mullet.
Sand Fleas Small
BaitLive Bait · Redfish · Surf.
Cut Mullet Chunk or strip
BaitNatural Bait · Redfish · Surf and passes.
Live Pinfish and Mullet 3 to 6 in
BaitLive Bait · Snook
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Rod & Reel
Recommended Setups
Redfish
Fly 9 ft 8 wt rod, floating redfish line, 16 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid with a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Speckled Trout
Fly 9 ft 7 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 15 lb leader, Clousers and shrimp flies.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 2500 reel, 10 lb braid with a 15 to 20 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Snook
Fly 9 ft 8 or 9 wt rod, floating or intermediate line, 30 to 40 lb bite leader.
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 reel, 20 lb braid with a 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon leader.
Flounder
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium-light spinning rod, 3000 reel, 15 lb braid, Carolina rig or bucktail.
Matched to These Species
Gear for Sarasota Bay
Fly Lines
RIO Redfish Fly Line
A heavy front taper for quick shots at tailing fish in warm, humid conditions.
Check PriceFloats & Rigs
Cajun Thunder Popping Cork
The clacking cork that calls trout and reds to shrimp or a soft plastic.
Check PriceLeaders & Tippet
Seaguar Tarpon Leader Material
Heavy fluorocarbon shock leader that survives tarpon jaws and gill plates.
Check PriceJigs
Spro Bucktail Jigs
Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.
Check PriceReels
Penn Battle III Spinning Reel
A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.
Check PriceRods
Penn Battalion II Inshore Spinning Rod
A medium inshore rod for jigs, popping corks, and live bait.
Check PriceLine
PowerPro Spectra Braided Line
Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.
Check PriceSoft Plastics
Berkley Gulp! Shrimp
Scented shrimp that out-fish plain plastics on a jighead or under a cork.
Check PriceBuy Local
Rather pick it up in person? Shops near Sarasota Bay:
- All About Fishing, SarasotaWebsite
- Discount Tackle Outlet, BradentonWebsite
- Florida Sport Fishing Outfitters, BradentonWebsite
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Within 25 Miles
Shops Near Sarasota Bay
Within 25 Miles
Guides and Charters Near Sarasota Bay
Charter
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1708 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Dock 3 941-952-8312
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore
Charter
ReelFroggy Charters Inc
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1059 N Tamiami Trl 770-362-3694
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore
Charter
Inshore Addict Charters with Captain Matt Davie
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1059 N Tamiami Trl 941-232-9351
Per their website: Inshore
Charter
Reel Knowledge
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1059 N Tamiami Trl 941-302-7658
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore, Full-Day Trips
Charter
Suncoast Fishing Adventures
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1059 N Tamiami Trl 301-775-0306
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore
Charter
It's All Good Family Charters
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1105 10th Street, 101 Casey key Road 941-323-5486
Per their website: Inshore
Charter
Reel Addiction SRQ
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
1059 N Tamiami Trl 941-650-9788
Per their website: Inshore, Offshore, Half-Day Trips
GuideFly Fishing
Fishing Siesta Key
Sarasota, Florida· 4 mi
4772 Calumet Ave 941-371-1390
Per their website: Wade Trips, Lake Trips, River Trips
Make It a Trip
Nearby Water
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 26 mi
Tampa Bay
The biggest bay system in the state. Speckled trout, redfish, and jack crevalle.
Speckled Trout · Redfish · Jack Crevalle
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 33 mi
Lemon Bay
A narrow aquatic preserve behind Manasota Key at Englewood, where redfish, tarpon, and snook are common and seatrout work the shorelines.
Redfish · Tarpon · Snook
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 49 mi
Charlotte Harbor
A huge estuary including Boca Grande Pass, the epicenter of Florida tarpon fishing.
Tarpon · Snook · Redfish
Saltwater & Coast · Florida · About 63 mi
Pine Island Sound
The sound between Pine Island and Captiva, fed by the Gulf through Redfish, Captiva, and Boca Grande passes, with seatrout, tarpon, red drum, sheepshead, and snook.
Speckled Trout · Tarpon · Redfish