Sarasota Bay is an estuary off the west coast of Florida. With the north side of the bay starting in Manatee County to the south Sarasota County, the bay lies between barrier islands called keys that separate the body of water from the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida mainland. Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key. With all the personality Sarasota Bay has to offer fishing is great year round. There are shallow harbours like Buttonwood where many snook, redfish, and trout can be found, from the hottest days to the codest mornings.
Then Sarasota Bay has Longbar, a very large shallow water shoal located in north Sarasota Bay. Depending on the day or time of year you can catch snook, redfish, trout, spanish mackrel, bluefish, sharks, and may more species of fish just off Longbar and the areas surrounding. The Bay also has miles of grass flats ranging from 1 foot tp 8 foot of water. Which will produce terrific action with trout, spanish mackerel, bluefish, and pompano.
Most of the fishing we do in Sarasota from early spring to late fall the bait of choice is live bait shiners(white bait). During the winter months most of the fishing is with shrimp. Sarasota Bay delivers a terrific mixed bag. From fishing deep water docks for sheepshead on a cold day in January to shallow water potholes for redfish or trout. Sarasota Bay is a beautiful place to spend a day on the water any time of year.