January 6, 2009

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report

By Capt. Bob Smith

Kingfish are being caught offshore! That is not normal in January but they are scattered around and can be found. Most of the action offshore has been Grey snapper on jigs tipped with shrimp. Natural bottom in 40' to 60' has been best. There are too many predator fish on the artificial reefs. Goliath grouper love to wait until you hook the snapper so that they don't have to run after them. Keeper gags and red grouper are also being caught on live pinfish.

It has been spotty on the bay with spotted sea trout on the grass-flats. Pompano, snapper, bluefish, black seabass, sheepshead, ladyfish, and lots of short grouper are scattered all around the bay and passes. We have found some slack times but most of the time we can keep the rods bent. This is also the time that keeper size grouper start coming into the bay, so hold your rod tight.

Fresh caught live pinfish and grunts make excellent bait on the bay for the larger fish like grouper. On the bay, I like to free-line my pinfish. Pinfish normally dive to the bottom, but if you see him dancing on top, you know you're on a good spot.

Enjoy & Protect

My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com

Fish Species: King, snapper, trout, grouper
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About The Author: Captain Bob Smith

Company: Fishing In Sarasota

Area Reporting: Sarasota Florida

Bio: Bay and coastal light tackle fishing guide. 25 years, full time guide in Sarasota.

You will be fishing with the top of the line in fishing platform. My 22' 10" center console Panga Marquesas is one of the most fishable bay and coastal guide boats in the Sarasota area that can fish all of the skinny water and back water on Sarasota bay plus the coastal offshore waters in the Gulf of Mexico. You can mix your fishing up with a little inshore and offshore in the same trip.

With a very large variety of fish in this area, this boat will allow you to fish the shallow grass flats for Trout and Redfish or move to the docks and Mangroves for Snook. On those windy days, make the long runs across the open bay to the protected fishing grounds without taking a bath. We can fish the swift waters of the inlets for Pompano and Bluefish, the beaches for Tarpon and Cobia, or move offshore for Black Grouper, Barracuda, Permit, Snapper, and Kingfish just to name a few. I carry plenty of live bait and artificial lures on board with a large assortment of rods and reels for different kinds of fishing. This is hands on fishing for the novice or experienced. I find them you catch them! I find it more gratifying for both of us if I teach you how to catch fish rather then catch fish for you.

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