November in Sarasota marks the beginning of the fall mackerel season and the peak of the post-spawn redfish schooling pattern. Spanish mackerel arrive in enormous schools just outside the passes, putting on spectacular surface-feeding shows that are accessible to almost any angler. Redfish have completed their October spawn and are schooled in the largest aggregations of the year on the bay flats.
Inshore Fishing — November
Spanish Mackerel — Nearshore Blitz
November Spanish mackerel schools are a spectacle. Schools of 500–5,000+ fish crash through baitfish just outside the Sarasota passes and along the nearshore waters, creating massive visible surface disturbances visible from the beach. Any angler with a boat and a 1/2 oz Clarkspoon or a small 1 oz metal jig can participate — run to the surface action, cast into it, and the strikes are immediate. Mackerel average 1.5–3 pounds in November with occasional fish to 4 pounds. They’re exceptional table fare — one of the most underrated eating fish in the Gulf.
Redfish — Schooling Pattern
Post-spawn redfish have formed into the large mixed schools that define the fall pattern. Pods of 20–100 fish roam the Sarasota Bay grass flats, the Roberts Bay shallows, and the outside edge of the barrier islands. When you find a school, it’s possible to catch 10–15 fish consecutively before the pod moves. Gold spoons and topwater lures in bone white produce the most consistent November schooling redfish action.
Seatrout — Returning to Peak Fishing
As water temperatures drop into the ideal 68–72°F range, spotted seatrout return to peak activity throughout Sarasota Bay. The Gulfport flats, Bird Key flat edges, and the grass adjacent to the ICW all produce excellent November trout. MirrOlure MirrOdines and Gulp! Shrimp on 1/4 oz jig heads produce fish throughout the day — no longer just the dawn-and-dusk windows of summer.
Looking Ahead to December
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Fall Seatrout Building
November in Sarasota is when speckled trout fishing comes alive after the summer doldrums. Water temperatures have dropped into the mid-70s and trout are feeding aggressively ahead of winter. The grass flats off Stephens Point, Bird Key, and the back side of Lido are loaded with fish. Topwater plugs (Spook Jr, MirrOlure Top Dog) the first 90 minutes of light produce explosive strikes. After the topwater window, soft plastics on a 1/8 oz jighead — Z-Man PaddlerZ or D.O.A. Shrimp in natural colors. Trophy gator trout over 25 inches are getting caught daily during this window.
Redfish Staging Pre-Winter
Redfish are spread across the shallow flats and around oyster bars throughout the system. Tailing fish are showing on calm mornings at low tide — sight-casting with gold spoons, weedless soft plastics, or live shrimp on a popping cork. The Roberts Bay flats, the back of Lido, and the islands east of Siesta Key all hold solid numbers of slot fish. Over-slot bulls in the 28–35 inch range are staging in the passes — live pinfish or cut mullet on a fishfinder rig at the pass mouths.
Sheepshead Returning
Sheepshead fishing is starting to fire as water cools. The Ringling Bridge, Tony Saprito Pier, dock pilings throughout the bay system, and the rocks at the passes are all starting to hold fish. Fiddler crabs on a 1/0 jighead is the standard. Numbers will build through January and peak in February — November is the early window.
Snook Still Active, Pompano on Beach
Snook are still in fall-feeding mode on the grass flats, mangroves, and dock lights. Live whitebait pitched tight to structure on a high incoming tide produces slot fish. Numbers are starting to thin as the fish move to deeper winter spots. Pompano are running on the beaches from Lido Key south — sand fleas and FishBites on a pompano rig is the surf-fishing play. Spanish mackerel are still around in good numbers along the beach.
Local Hotspots, Conditions, Regs
Stephens Point grass for dawn trout. Bird Key flats for trout and reds. Roberts Bay back lakes for tailing reds on calm mornings. Ringling Bridge for early sheepshead. New Pass for over-slot reds. Lido Beach surf for pompano. Water temps 72–76°F. Florida saltwater license required. Trout slot 15–19 inches, 5-fish bag. Reds slot 18–27 inches, 1-fish bag. Snook stamp for harvest. Top ramps: Centennial Park (downtown), Ken Thompson Park, Turtle Beach. Tight lines.