The Sarasota tarpon run is peaking, with strings of fish moving along the beaches from Lido down to Venice. Sight-casters are intercepting them with pass crabs and threadfins on the calm mornings, while boats working the deeper edges off the beaches are hooking up on live bait soaks. The first few hours of daylight have been the most productive.
Snook are stacked along the beaches and around Big Pass and New Pass, providing fast catch-and-release action — the Gulf snook season remains closed through the end of August. Whitebait, small jigs, and topwater plugs at first light all draw strikes from fish holding in the trough.
Inside the bay, redfish are working the mangrove shorelines and oyster bars on the flood tides, and spotted seatrout are holding on the deeper grass with the better fish coming early before the heat sets in. Mangrove snapper have moved onto the docks and nearshore structure in numbers.
Nearshore reefs are giving up Spanish mackerel, the occasional kingfish, and respectable mangrove and lane snapper on the bottom. The water has been clean, which has helped the sight-fishing along the beaches.
Early starts are essential with the summer heat and afternoon storms in the forecast. The beach tarpon migration should continue through June — calm mornings are the ones to target for shots at rolling fish in the trough.
Spots & Access This Week
The beach tarpon run is the headline, with strings of fish moving along Lido, Siesta, and Longboat in the early calm. Ken Thompson Park ramp on City Island is the closest launch to New Pass and Big Sarasota Pass and the north-end beaches, while the Turtle Beach ramp on the south end of Siesta Key shortens the run to Midnight Pass and the southern beaches. Centennial Park ramp downtown serves anglers working upper Sarasota Bay and the ICW.
Snook are stacked in Big Sarasota Pass and New Pass and along the bridge fenders, with trout and reds holding on the deeper grass flats of the bay on the moving water.
Spots & Access This Week
Use the Ken Thompson Park ramp on City Island for the quickest run to Big Pass and the Lido beachfront, or launch from Turtle Beach to reach New Pass and the south Siesta beaches. Shore anglers can work the City Pier and the area jetties for snook and snapper. The tarpon are along the beaches in the morning calm and the snook are stacked in the passes on the tide changes. Check current FWC regulations before keeping any fish — Gulf snook remain release-only in summer.
Reading the Morning
The flattest, glassiest water comes before the sea breeze fills in, so plan to be on the beach at first light when rolling and daisy-chaining tarpon are easiest to spot. Lead the fish with a live crab or soft plastic and let the boat drift rather than chasing with the trolling motor. Once the wind ruffles the surface, move to the bridges and pass edges and free-line whitebait on the moving tide for snook and snapper.
This Week’s Tip
Beach tarpon are a sight game — idle the shoreline at first light watching for rolling or daisy-chaining fish, then lead them with a live crab or a soft plastic and let the boat drift. Calm, glassy mornings before the sea breeze are everything; once it chops up, shift to the passes and bridges. Free-line whitebait on the pass tides for snook, and remember Gulf snook season is closed through August, so it’s release-only. Confirm current FWC regulations before you head out.