REPORT:
February 3, 2002
Sarasota Fla. Fishing Report
By Capt. Bob Smith
Coastal fishing is picking up! We found large schools of Spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beach and in the passes Friday. The fish were on the small side but plentiful. Trolling weighted small spoons along the bottom worked best. If casting, use small heavy jigs, like Diamond jigs that will run deep. We also caught some bluefish and cobia on live shrimp. We had less than an hour to fish this area on Friday, but it looks promising for the weekend.
Snapper action had slowed down Friday at the Cuda Hole area, but the sheepshead were picking up. I did get good reports from boats fishing in the 50 to 70 foot depths for snapper and grouper. Further offshore, the "D" reefs have been holding plenty of nice size Amberjacks. If you are planing to fish these deep water reefs, take a chum block along and you may be able to coax a blackfin or two up to the boat.
On the Bay, things are also picking up. Buttonwood Harbor has been producing plenty of nice size trout and some redfish. Areas south of Little Sarasota Bay have also been good. Things are looking good for the whole bay to turn on this weekend.
Large schools of baitfish are also showing up from the beach out to M8. Make sure you have some fresh Gold hook bait rigs on board.
Enjoy and Protect
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