Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 19, 2026
This Sarasota fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the week of November 12, built from the forecast and established late-fall patterns rather than a verified catch count. Florida forecasters expect the coolest weekend of the season so far behind a late-week cold front. Around Sarasota Bay, that first real chill usually shifts attention from Spanish mackerel toward sheepshead, spotted seatrout and pompano working the passes and deeper grass.
What’s Hitting
Sheepshead should become more common around docks, bridges and rock piles as water temperatures fall, and the larger convict fish usually build through December. Spotted seatrout are likely to settle onto deeper grass flats and potholes in Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay, feeding best as the sun warms the water. Pompano often move through the passes on cooler water, hugging sandbars and troughs. Redfish slide toward mangrove shorelines and oyster bars, while Spanish mackerel thin out once the water drops but can still show near the passes during warmer afternoons.
Where to Find Them
Big Pass and New Pass are the main funnels, with pompano along the sandy edges and sheepshead around the rocks. The Ringling Causeway and Siesta Drive bridges offer pilings for sheepshead and black drum. In the bay, the deeper grass edges near Stephens Point and the flats off Long Bar hold trout. To the south, Venice Inlet’s jetties concentrate fish whenever current moves, and Roberts Bay’s docks provide shelter on windy days.
Tides & Conditions
The November 9 new moon keeps currents relatively strong into the weekend before they ease toward the November 17 first-quarter moon. A northwest wind behind the front can push water off the eastern shorelines and leave shallow flats very low on morning tides. Expect clear, cold water Saturday morning, then gradual warming. Another system may bring wind and showers early next week, so check forecasts before crossing open water.
Tackle & Tactics
For sheepshead, use a small strong hook, a short fluorocarbon leader and fiddler crabs, shrimp or barnacles. Trout respond to soft-plastic paddle tails and shrimp imitations on light jig heads worked slowly near the bottom. For pompano, bounce small yellow or pink jigs along the sandy bottom of the passes, and keep a small spoon handy for passing mackerel. After the coldest morning, slow down and focus on the warmest part of the day.
Local Intel This Week
Ken Thompson Park on City Island has a public ramp near New Pass and the bridge. The Ringling Causeway and its parks give bank anglers access to bridge pilings. The Venice Jetties, at the end of Tarpon Center Drive, are one of the most popular land-based spots in the county. Siesta Key’s Turtle Beach offers surf access for pompano. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish. Watch for shallow bars in Sarasota Bay on low tides after the front.
This Week’s Tip
Fish the Venice Jetties on the incoming tide this weekend, once the water clears behind the front. Drop fiddler crabs straight down along the rocks and keep the line tight, since sheepshead pick baits delicately.
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