Sarasota fishing report

Fall is definitely in the air and we are moving toward some great October fishing. The redfish bite is right on track for this time of year. The numbers and size is picking up and they are all along the mangrove islands and edges. Both live shrimp and cut bait, fished on the bottom, has been the best bet and try to look for them as close to the top of the tide as possible.

Snook have started to move from the beaches to the passes and mid-bay haunts. Live bait works best if you’re good with a cast net, but they will also go after just about any soft plastic artificial that resembles a bait fish.

The Gulf water is cooling down, so the mackerel bite is heating up just a mile or so off the beaches. Look for the diving birds and you’ll find the fish. There have also been some reports that the bonita are starting to move in.

There are also Kingfish moving into the area.  Most of the ones seen are smaller ones mixed in with the Mackerel. The larger ones are right around the corner and some should be offshore by now.

Catch and release snook fishing before dawn and then moving to the flats for trout and reds in Sarasota Bay should be good next week.

The return of the Fall tarpon is starting to happen along the beaches. They are starting their southward migration toward the Florida Keys. Keep a sharp eye out while fishing off of Captiva, Sanibel and be ready to toss something their way if they suddenly show.