Expert-Guided 4-Hour Sarasota Inshore Fishing

Black Drum

Black drum are the heavyweight cousins of redfish, often found in the same areas. These bulldogs can reach 30-40 pounds inshore, with bigger ones offshore. Look for them around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and in deeper holes of bays and estuaries. They're bottom feeders, so use fresh shrimp, crab, or cut bait on the sea floor. Black drum are most active in cooler months, making them a great winter target. They're not known for long runs, but their sheer power can be surprising. Smaller "puppy drum" under 15 pounds are excellent eating, with a sweet, flaky meat. Larger ones can be tough and wormy, so they're usually released. Here's a local secret: when you see their whisker-like barbels moving, it often means they're actively feeding.

Crevalle Jack

Crevalle jacks are powerhouses that'll test your tackle and stamina. These silvery bruisers average 3-5 pounds but can top 20. Look for them busting bait on the surface near passes and beaches, especially in summer and fall. Jacks travel in schools, so when you find one, there's usually more nearby. They're not picky eaters - throw topwater lures, spoons, or live bait and hang on tight. The fight is the main attraction here; jacks make blistering runs and don't give up easily. While not the best for eating, they're a blast to catch and release. A local tip: watch for diving birds to find feeding schools. When you see the action, cast beyond the school and retrieve quickly through it. Be ready for an explosive strike that'll make your drag scream.

Florida Pompano

Florida pompano are prized both for their fight and their delicious, mild flesh. These silvery, deep-bodied fish typically run 1-3 pounds, though they can reach up to 8. Look for them along sandy beaches and in passes, especially during their spring and fall migrations. Pompano feed on the bottom, so use small jigs tipped with shrimp or sand fleas. They're not huge, but they put up a scrappy fight on light tackle. The best time to target them is usually on a rising tide when they move in to feed on sand fleas in the surf. Pompano make excellent table fare - their buttery white meat is considered a delicacy. Here's a local trick: use a double dropper rig with small, brightly colored jigs to increase your chances of a hookup.

Redfish

Redfish are one of the most popular inshore gamefish in Sarasota. These bronze-colored beauties typically run 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds, though trophy fish can reach 40+ inches. Look for them in shallow flats, around oyster bars, and near mangroves, especially during falling tides when they're feeding. Redfish put up a great fight and are known for their powerful runs. They're most active in spring and fall, but can be caught year-round. When sight fishing, scan for their copper backs or tails sticking out of the water. For best results, use live shrimp or small crabs on a circle hook. A local trick is to chum with crushed blue crabs to get them fired up. Redfish make excellent table fare too, with a mild, flaky white meat that's great on the grill.

Sea Trout

Spotted seatrout, or "specks," are a staple of Sarasota's flats fishing. These slender, spotted fish usually run 15-20 inches, though gator trout over 24 inches aren't uncommon. They prefer grassy flats in 3-6 feet of water, especially near deeper channels. Trout are most active in cooler months but can be caught year-round. They're aggressive feeders, hitting both live bait and artificial lures with gusto. A popping cork rig with a live shrimp is hard to beat. Trout make for great light tackle sport and are excellent table fare. Many anglers practice catch-and-release with larger specimens to help maintain the population. Pro tip: fish the first few hours of a falling tide over grass flats near channels for your best shot at a gator trout.

Sheepshead

Sheephead Fish (Archosargus Probatocephalus) Description 

The Sheepshead is a beautiful fish with a deeply compressed grey body. They have five to seven dark bars on the sides of its body, giving it the nickname of convict fish. They also have sharp dorsal spines, but what they are really famous for are their human-like teeth. 

Size 

Sheepshead are common at 1-8 pounds and 14-20 inches. However, if you are lucky, you could come across one at 20 pounds, 35-inches. They live a relatively long life, about 20 years. 

Spawning 

Sheepshead form spawning groups of up to 10,000 fish. They migrate to structures at channel passes and offshore reefs, jetties, and oil platforms. They primarily spawn in the early spring from February through April. 

Interesting Facts 

• Sheepshead fish are nicknamed convict fish for their gray and black stripes.
• Sheepshead Bay in New York got its name from these fish there were once abundant. However, the bay's popularity caused water pollution, and the Sheepshead have all but disappeared from the bay.
• The delicate white flesh and delicious mild flavor of the Sheepshead make it excellent table fare, but their tough scales and strong fin spines make this species difficult to clean or fillet. Because of this, it is sometimes passed over in favor of other food fish.

Habitat and Distribution

You will find these fish around structures of any kind, docks, bridges, petroleum rigs, and reefs. Any barnacle-covered pilings make for great places to catch some big Sheepshead fish. Although they usually stay near cover, occasionally, they will also come closer to shore to feed on sand fleas (a type of crab). 

Sheepshead are found along the entire east coast of the United States and around Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. The highest concentrations are found in south Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the large number of artificial structures and pier pilings in northwest Florida, you will also find large concentrations. They can also be found as far north as Nova Scotia. 

Fishing Techniques - How to Catch Sheepshead

If your fishing from a boat, pull up to the structure without dropping an anchor, if possible, as it will startle the fish. They seldom go after baits too far from their cover, so get as close as you can. Anglers on land can still catch the big one off the dock or seawall. Just as the boat angler would do, cast your bait as close to the pilings as possible. Using light tackle, let the bait hit bottom, then slowly bring the bait up in 1-foot increments to determine where the fish are suspended in the water as they are pelagic. They may lurk near the bottom or hover in any depth. Sheepshead are notorious bait stealers. They will nibble on the bait in an attempt to loosen it from the hook, so always have it set up firmly. They also have powerful mouths and jaws, so once you feel the fish's weight nibbling at the bait, set the hook aggressively.

Look for these King-of-the-Reef fish around structures where they love to feed on barnacles, small stone crab, and fiddler crab. They also eat shrimp, mollusks, minnows, clams, and squid. When choosing a bait, a natural one is the best way to go. However, if you are looking for a jig to use, consider a shrimp-tipped jig. The heavier weight helps keep the bait down and from being dragged with the current. If your local laws allow, you may even scrape barnacles off the pilings with a rake to create a seeping area of meat pieces in the water. The Sheepshead will quickly hone in on the scent, and you will have them come to you. 

Sheepshead Good to Eat?

Sheepshead is an excellent choice for those who love delicious, sustainable seafood options. This fish has a mild flavor that makes it suitable for any palate. Its white, sweet and succulent flesh is a perfect complement to any dish. Sheepshead is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a healthy choice for anyone looking to maintain a well-balanced diet. It is also low in mercury, which means you can enjoy it without worrying about any potential health risks.   A diet rich in Sheepshead fish can help in improving heart health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart diseases. It can also support brain function, boost immunity, and aid in muscle growth and repair. Whether grilled, baked, or fried, Sheepshead fish is an excellent addition to any meal.  So, if you have not tried this fish yet, it is time to do so and discover its exceptional taste and health benefits.

Snook

Snook are the prize of Sarasota's inshore waters. These sleek, powerful fish average 24-34 inches but can grow over 40. They love structure, so target mangrove shorelines, docks, and bridge pilings. Snook fishing heats up in spring and fall as they move between inshore and nearshore waters. They're ambush predators, so accurate casts are key. Live bait like pilchards or pinfish works great, but artificial lures can be deadly too. Snook are famous for their acrobatic jumps and powerful runs - they'll test both your skill and gear. There's a strict slot limit, so many are catch-and-release, which is fine by most anglers who just enjoy the thrill of the fight. Pro tip: fish the outgoing tide at night around lighted docks for some of the best action.

Summer Flounder

Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) Fish Description 

Summer Flounder are a flatfish species. This fish is one of several “sand flounders”, with both eyes on the left side of the head; this means that Summer Flounder live on the seafloor, lying on the blind side of their bodies, facing the open water column. 

Summer Flounder are grayish-brown with lighter spots, helping them blend in with the areas surrounding the seabed. When they hatch from their eggs, the Summer Flounder resemble normal fish, with an eye on each side of the head. As they mature, the bones on the right side of the skull grow significantly faster, so the right eye and nostril slowly migrate to the left side. Their jaws do not change significantly, so they bite sideways, from left to right.

Diet and Size

Summer Flounder are active ambush predators, which mean that they utilize their camouflage to blend in with their surroundings to catch unsuspecting prey. They also chase them down using their excellent swimming ability when dealing with prey that move faster. Their diet consists of a variety of bony fish including the sand lance, menhaden, atlantic silverside, mummichog killifish, small bluefish, porgies and a wide range of invertebrates like crabs, shrimps, and squids.

The average Summer Flounder is typically 15-20 inches in length, though they have the capability to grow as large as 26 pounds and live up to 20 years. The females make up the largest and oldest specimens having a maximum observed age of 17 years, while male Flounder have a maximum observed age of 15 years.

Interesting Facts about Summer Flounder

• Summer Flounder are nicknamed “chameleons of the sea” since they are capable of changing their coloring to blend in with the texture and color of the bottom where they live.
• Most of the Summer Flounder spawn in the peak months of October and November when water temperatures change and plankton is at its most abundant period. Combining these elements improves the chance of survival for the larval Summer Flounder.
• Larval and juvenile Summer Flounder are preyed upon by species like spiny dogfish, monkfish, cod, hakes, sea raven, longhorn sculpin, and fourspot flounder until they grow large enough to fend for themselves. Adult Summer Flounders are preyed by large sharks, rays, and monkfish.
• Female Flounder have between 460,000 to more than 4 million eggs, hatching in waters of the continental shelf.
• A permit is required for the sale and purchase of the summer flounder

Summer Flounder Fishing Techniques 

Summer Flounder can be fished all year round, but they're easier to catch between September and November. Summer Flounder have a great response to live fish such as minnow, mullet and croakers. Sea worms and clams are also effective baits that Summer Flounder love. It is recommended that you use a circle hook, because it is easier for Flounders to bite. 

An effective angling technique would be hooking smaller baitfish through the eye and larger baitfish through the lips. Using a casting rod which is 7 ft long is the standard method of anglers for catching Flounder. It is advised that you use a line that's sturdy enough to handle larger fish that might take the bait. You may need a sinker to make sure the hook is within reach of the Flounder down below

Summer Flounder Habitat & Distribution 

Summer Flounder are mainly found in the East Coast of the United States and Canada. They are very abundant in the waters stretching from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Summer Flounder also thrive best from Nova Scotia to the eastern part of Florida.

This fish is usually located offshore and inshore, especially in estuaries. They are demersal; thus, Summer Flounder are usually captured using bottom otter trawls or by gillnets and pound nets.