Flounder, Gags On Sarasota Beach Reefs

October 31, 2008

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith

This weekend with a predicted NE wind, the mackerel fishing should still be
good along the beaches! The techniques we are using to catch them are much
the same and we have been covering that extensively for the last few weeks.

So I would like to cover another possibility along the beach reefs. Thanks
to all the mackerel, sharks and barracuda, the area has been well chummed
for the last month. Add a temperature drop in the Gulf and I start looking
for keeper size gag grouper and large flounder to move in to the beach
reefs. Most all baits will catch some gags and flounder, but my favorites
are live pinfish and pigfish. I find I have a big edge if I catch fresh
bait just before I go out instead of buying the ones that have been in the
bait shop tank overnight. The grouper will be in the structure and the
flounder will be on the sand around the structure. Any cobia if around, will
be all over. Depending on the weather and size of fish, the tackle I use is
twenty to fifty pound test line, 60 to 150 pound test mono leader. For
grouper, I like to fish over the structure and let the bait straight down
holding the bait just above, but not into the structure. I also lock the
drag to keep the fish from pulling me into the rocks. If you hook a
different fish that needs to run, you will then need to back-off on the
drag. When fishing over sand bottom, you can let your bait sit on the
bottom. Most of the time in thirty feet or a less, one once of lead works
for me.

The bay has been active for a variety of fish - trout, redfish, snapper,
flounder, mackerel and more. If windy, be ready to anchor or fish in the
lee. Large live shrimp and baitfish or DOA artificial shrimp have all
worked for me.

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