I spoke with Sut at New Pass Grill & Bait Shop in Sarasota this morning. He was telling me that fishing is good both inshore and offshore. There are lots of tarpon in the area with the majority of the fish on the beaches. The best way to target tarpon is to anchor in an area where you have spotted fish before and put out a spread of baits with a fresh dead greenback on the bottom and either a crab or a live greenback under a float. You can also "Leap Frog " the fish. Cruise the beach until you spot rolling tarpon and watch to see what direction they are traveling. Then motor to a spot well ahead of the school, cut your motor and wait for the school comes to you. Again, put a bait on the bottom and one on top. After the fish have swam well past you, start your motor and make a wide arc around the fish until you are well in front of them again. Amberjack to 28lb are on offshore reefs and wrecks. A small bluerunner has been the best bait. Yellowtail snapper are also on offshore wrecks in deeper water. Large jigs and big shrimp have been the best bait for the snapper. A few good sized kingfish are still on local reefs. Sut caught a 12lb kingfish and a 28lb kingfish this last week. Snook are biting well in the passes and on the beach. Snook season is closed so all snook caught must e released. Redfish are biting well around docks, oyster bars and mangrove shoreline. Live shrimp or cut mullet and ladyfish are good baits for redfish. For more information contact;
New Pass Grill & Bait Shop
941-388-3050
1505 John Ringling Pkwy
Sarasota, FL 34236
