Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 5, 2026
This Sarasota fishing report is a seasonal outlook for Sarasota Bay, the passes and the beaches. Cooling water brings pompano into the passes, concentrates redfish and snook on the flats and keeps Spanish mackerel working the beaches. Wind and tide at the passes decide the best windows.
What’s Hitting
Redfish and snook are on the grass flats and mangrove edges, feeding on pilchards and shrimp. Pompano are moving through Big Sarasota Pass and New Pass on the tide, and Spanish mackerel and bluefish are off the beaches. Speckled trout hold on Sarasota Bay’s grass flats, and sheepshead are starting on the docks and bridge pilings. Snook are also visible around dock lights at night in Sarasota Bay, and the Intracoastal docks near Venice hold sheepshead as water cools.
Where to Find Them
Fish Big Sarasota Pass and New Pass on moving water for pompano and snook. Work the grass flats of Sarasota Bay near Longboat Key and Siesta Key for redfish and trout. The Ringling Causeway and Siesta Drive bridge pilings hold sheepshead, and the beach near Lido Key holds mackerel. South of the city, Venice Inlet and the South Jetty are productive for snook, pompano and Spanish mackerel, and the flats behind Siesta Key hold redfish in the potholes.
Tides & Conditions
The waning moon eases tidal movement, but the passes still funnel bait on the outgoing tide. Fish the passes on a moving tide, and work the flats on the incoming. Wind influences water clarity on the flats, and a north wind can empty shallow edges, so shift to deeper adjoining channels. Tides in this area are modest compared with the Northeast, which means wind and sun angle often matter more than the tide table when sight-fishing the flats.
Tackle & Tactics
Small jigs tipped with shrimp for pompano in the passes, live pilchards for snook, and a soft plastic for trout and redfish. For sheepshead, fiddler crabs on a small hook. Use 20 pound fluorocarbon for snook and redfish, and lighter for pompano. Match lure size to the bait that is present. Small pilchards call for a lighter jighead, while larger threadfins are better matched with a bigger paddle-tail.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes the Ken Thompson Park launch, Centennial Park and the Siesta Beach area. Fish concentrate in the passes on moving tide and along flats edges. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish, especially snook, redfish and trout. The Venice Fishing Pier and the Venice Inlet jetty park provide shore access with strong snook and pompano potential during moving tide.
This Week’s Tip
Time the pass on moving water. Pompano feed when the current is running, and they ease off at slack tide. Carry both light and medium outfits. Pompano in the passes want a light jig, but snook near the jetties demand heavier line and a stout drag.
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