Mackerel Still Strong Off Sarasota

October 26, 2008

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

King and Spanish mackerel are still going strong along the beaches! Live
sardines, pilchards and shrimp on free-line are working best.
Diamond jigs and deep running plugs are working best with trolling and
casting. Don't forget your Sabiki bait rigs for the larger bait-fish. We
have had barracuda, little tunny and black-tip sharks mixed in with the
mackerel along the beaches and out to about the thirty foot depth.

The standard live bait rig for the above is a 4/0 to 6/0 hook, six inches of
#5 or #7 coffee wire, black swivel, three to four feet of forty to sixty
pound mono leader attached to double line with a blood knot. I like to
double my line with a Bimini or spider hitch. I use this on twelve to
twenty pound test line. Some anglers like to add a stinger hook for less
missed fish.

If the fish get picky or I just want to pick up the action, I use a 4/0
Aberdeen 202 light long shank gold hook with thirty to forty pound mono
leader without the wire leader. I use this rig on twelve pound line. Yes!
They eat a few more hooks but I put more fish in the boat and have more fun.

The bay fishing has been good on the deeper Middle ground grass flats. A
mixed bag of, seatrout, mackerel, bluefish, flounder, snapper, jacks, and
ladyfish is being caught, just to name a few. Live bait, shrimp and fish
is working well. Artificial lures like the DOA shrimp will help you pick
out the better fish and not feed the pinfish.

I know that the small pinfish and grunts can be agitating, but this is the
sign of healthy grassflats and is what will draw the better fish to the
area.

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

Thank you!

Capt. Bob Smith
Phone: (941) 366-2159 Cell: (941) 350-8583.
Email: capt.bobsmith@verizon.net
My Website: http//www.sarasota-fla-fishing.com