September opens with the Gulf snook season back on and the beach fish still in the trough, which makes Sarasota one of the easier places on the coast to put a keeper in the cooler this week. Add schooling redfish in the bays and the first Spanish mackerel of the fall, and there is something for every style of angler.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, snook are the headline. They are still cruising the beaches from Lido Key down through Siesta and Casey Key in the early light, and the Big Pass and New Pass jetties are loaded on the outgoing tide. Redfish are ganging up around the pass mouths and on the bars in Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay. Spotted seatrout are best at dawn on the deep grass. Spanish mackerel and a few kings are showing on the nearshore reefs in 30 to 50 feet, and mangrove snapper are still on every piece of structure.
Where to Find Them
Walk the beach at sunrise and sight-fish the snook in the first trough — Lido, Siesta, and Turtle Beach are all holding fish. The Big Pass jetty and the sandbar inside New Pass hold both snook and reds on the falling tide. The grass flats off Stephens Point and the Ringling Causeway are the trout water. Nearshore, the artificial reefs off Lido and the M-Reefs off Venice are where the mackerel are.
Tides & Conditions
Gulf temps are in the upper 80s, and the beach snook bite fades quickly once the sun gets high. Outgoing tides are best at the passes, and the strong early-morning outgoing this week lines up nicely with first light. The Gulf has been flat-calm most mornings with storms building over the mainland by early afternoon. September is peak tropical season — keep an eye on the forecast.
Tackle & Tactics
Beach snook take a small white fly or a 3-inch paddle-tail worked slowly along the trough; keep the presentation subtle, because these fish see a lot of pressure. In the passes, a live pinfish or scaled sardine on a 2/0 circle hook and 30-pound leader is standard. For Spanish mackerel, a silver spoon or a Gotcha plug on a short wire trace cast into the feeding fish will get bit. Reds want a gold spoon or a cut bait on the bars.
Local Intel This Week
Launch at the Centennial Park ramp on 10th Street in downtown Sarasota, the Ken Thompson Park ramp on City Island, or the Nokomis Beach ramp for the south end. Fish are concentrating on the beaches and pass jetties early, and on the bay bars later on the flood. Snook season is open with a slot and a one-fish bag, and a snook permit is required — check current FWC regulations before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When sight-fishing beach snook, cast well ahead of the fish and let the lure sit until the fish is a few feet away, then move it. Landing a bait on top of a cruising snook in a foot of clear water sends it to the next county.
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