April 2026 — Sarasota: Cobia Peak, Snook Pre-Spawn Active, Offshore King Mackerel. April is a spring month with water in the 68-76°F range — cobia peak window; permit on flats (South FL Gulf); snook moving. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — April 2026
Primary targets this month: Cobia, Snook, Tarpon, Redfish.
Cobia
Peak cobia migration. Sight-fishing along the beach, around New Pass, Big Pass, the nearshore reefs (Crayton Way Reef, Sarasota Reef), and stone crab buoys in 30-60 feet, and following stingrays in clear water. Need calm seas (1-2 ft) and sun overhead. 4-6″ bucktails (chartreuse, white, pink), large soft plastic eels, or live eels and pinfish. Cobia often follow first refusals — make a second cast.
Snook
Snook in the New Pass jetties, Big Pass, the docks of Siesta Key, the bridges of Stickney Point and Ringling, and the mangrove shorelines of Whitaker Bayou. Live pilchards, scaled sardines, finger mullet. Artificial: white DOA Bait Buster, MirrOdine, walking topwaters at first and last light. Always verify current FWC snook season — slot is 28-33″ with seasonal closures.
Tarpon
Tarpon around the beaches off Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Siesta Key from May through July; New Pass and Big Pass during strong tide changes. Fish still moving and feeding well. Live crabs and threadfin produce best; backcountry juvenile fishery in some areas.
Redfish
Redfish in the grass flats of Sarasota Bay (Stephens Point, Bird Key area), Roberts Bay, the Big Pass flats, and the south shore of Lemon Bay. Cut bait, gold spoons, and soft plastics on light jigheads.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 68-76°F. Cobia peak window; permit on flats (south fl gulf); snook moving. Sarasota’s two main passes (New Pass and Big Pass) move enormous water; strongest bite windows are the last hour of incoming and first two hours of outgoing.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Cobia readiness. Keep a heavy spinning rod (8000-class, 40-50 lb braid, 60-80 lb fluoro) ready with a bucktail or live eel — cobia don’t announce themselves.
- Sight-fishing weather. Plan trips around calm seas and sun overhead. Polarized lenses essential.
- Bait migration. Spanish, kings, and predators follow bait pods — watch for diving birds and surface activity.
April Outlook
Peak spring migrations — cobia (Gulf/SE), striped bass (mid-Atlantic), spawning movements everywhere.
Regulations Reminder
Snook: 28-33″ slot (Atlantic and Gulf), one per day; seasonal closures vary by zone — verify FWC. Redfish: 18-27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify FWC zone-specific rules). Cobia: 36″ fork length, one per harvester (FL state waters — verify current rules). Tarpon: Catch-and-release only — tarpon over 40″ must remain in water. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: CB’s Saltwater Outfitters (Siesta Key, 941-349-4400); Economy Tackle (Sarasota); Dolphin Outfitters (Bird Key).
Public Boat Ramps: Centennial Park (Sarasota, fast access to Big Pass), Ken Thompson Park (City Island), Turtle Beach (Siesta), Higel Park (Roberts Bay).
Charter Fishing: $500-$800 inshore; $700-$1,100 beach tarpon; $1,000-$1,800 offshore.
More Sarasota Resources
Sarasota Fishing Guide · Sarasota Seasonal Calendar · All Sarasota reports →
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