Sarasota fishing report 3/31/09

[captjim]

Despite the breezy conditions, fishing has been very good this week. When the weather allows, the flats along Longboat Key from New Pass to Buttonwood Harbor are giving up speckled trout to 20", pompano to 3 pounds, Spanish mackerel to 2 pounds, a few small bluefish and ladyfish on Cotee and Gulp baits on a 1/4 oz jig head. The flats along Bird Key continue to provide steady action on trout to 18", pompano to 3 pounds, Spanish to 3 pounds and plenty of ladyfish. The technique has been to anchor on a steep drop off on the uptide side and free line a live shrimp on a 1/0 long shank hook. The structure along the north side of Siesta Key is protected with the south winds we have been experiencing, and has been quite productive. We fished the Siesta Dr bridge today, and in 20 minutes caught a nice 15" flounder and 2 12" mangrove snapper on live shrimp. The rocks at the mouth of Big Pass have been full of 2-3 pound sheepshead, along with snapper and small grouper. Fish a live shrimp with just enough weight to hit the bottom.