Fishing Sarasota Florida

If you were just wishin' you could go fishin',
have I've got some places to show you!

Fishing Sarasota Florida: There’s nothing like a sunny, blue skied day to be out on the water while inhaling the fresh, clean, warm salty air, fishing offshore on the Gulf of Mexico, or on the Intracoastal Waterway or off one of our famous fishing piers or sandy shores.

I’ll show you some great places in and around Sarasota County, plus Anna Maria Island, to drop a line.

I hear there are fish just waiting for you to catch them!

In and around Sarasota, Florida you have almost limitless variations available; any number of locations on the Gulf, numerous bays, a multitude of places on the Intracoastal, a number of pier locations, not to mention the beach shore in numerous spots.

Fishing Sarasota Florida

You can also do a fishing charter.

Sarasota Florida is blessed with many wonderful places to do some fishin’!

I will point out not just the best places for fishing Sarasota Florida, but also some unique spots for catching fish that also have a beautiful view and scenery as well. And there's also Fishing Tournament news here, too, toward the bottom of this page.

I may even toss in a fish story or two...or, on second thought, maybe I won’t. I’ll leave that up to you.

What might you catch here?

Depends on whether you’re fishing the Gulf of Mexico offshore, deep sea, or the Intracoastal waterway.

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Fishing Sarasota Florida

In general, depending on seasonal shifts, you’ll find:

There have also been reports of the catching of: Hammerhead Sharks, Bonnet Head Sharks and Nurse Sharks!

Fishing Sarasota Florida: My own adventures fishing Sarasota Florida waters are with my buddy Howard on his 16’ fishing boat on the Intracoastal. And though I'm not the fisherman my friend Howard is, we have a great time.

We like to go fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway near the Albee Road Bridge (Nokomis) or Blackburn Road Flying Bridge (Osprey - single lane, rotating/swing bridge that leads to Casey Key.) and at Blackburn Point Park.

We have had fun times anchored off either side of the Flying Bridge catching Jack Crevalle, Lady Fish, Mangrove Snapper and Sheep head.

Jacks are a fun, powerfully aggressive fish to catch and put up a good fight in the ICW. You always know when Jacks are in the vicinity because they start a fish stampede at the water’s surface as other fish race away from them so they don’t become “fish food,” themselves, for the Jacks.

If you’re going to be fishing Sarasota Florida, a fishing license is required in all but one spot: the Venice Fishing Pier. Find out about fishing licenses: Click here (opens a new window) to learn more: Florida Fish and Wildlife Department.

You may get a Florida Fishing License almost anywhere here, including the sports department at Walmart.

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Fishing Sarasota Florida - where to go? Here's my:

Sarasota Florida Fishing Report and
Guide To Great Fishing Along The Sun Coast

Anna Maria Island Florida

Anna Maria Island Fishing adventures come with picturesque old time Florida settings. You'll feel like you're in a Norman Rockwell painting in a couple locations I have here for you. Several pier fishing opportunities await you from south to northeast Anna Maria. Located where the far north of Sarasota Bay meets the far south of Tampa Bay, you never know what you might be able to reel in, but the fishing here is good. Click here and learn more about Anna Maria Island Fishing.

Sarasota County Fishing Locations
from land and shore

Fishing Sarasota Florida? But you don't have a boat? That's not a problem because there are more land and shore locations to fish from in Sarasota County than I can name for you. But I will name and point out more than a few good fishing holes for your Sarasota County Florida Fishing adventures. Just click here for my list of Sarasota County Florida Fishing locations. From the Intracoastal Waterway to Sarasota Bay to fishing the Gulf of Mexico, I've got you covered!

Sarasota Florida Fishing Charters

Ever dream of catching the big one and not letting him "get away?" You can make your fishing dreams come true on any of a number of Sarasota Florida fishing charters. These charter captains know where the big ones are and how to land them and will help turn your Fishing Sarasota Florida adventure into a memory. From gag grouper to mako shark to tarpon, barracuda and more, the Gulf of Mexico off of Sarasota Florida is a deep sea fisherman's paradise. Read and learn more about fishing charters in Sarasota Florida.

Venice Fishing Pier / Venice, Florida

The Venice Fishing Pier is a short drive from Sarasota, but well worth it. This experience will give you not only a great fishing venue but one that puts you high over the Gulf of Mexico. Opened in October, 2004, at the Pier you don't need a fishing license; the only place I know of in the area where you can fish license-free. You may even rent a rod and reel at the Pier. And you can get your bait here too. You virtually don't have to bring anything with you. What can you catch from on high over the Gulf of Mexico at "The Pier?" Read more about the Venice Fishing Pier and find out.

Venice Jetty / Venice, Florida

Casting a line at the Venice Jetty puts you on a long piece of pavement jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico along with other sportsmen and women. From here you can fish to your heart's content and view the spectacular Gulf of Mexico at its most beautiful. Bonus: often times you might be almost eyeball-to-nose with bottle-nosed Dolphins which are swimming nearby. Others that are vying for your catch are are Pelicans, Egrets, Herons, Cormorants and Anhingas. The Venice Jetty is quite a mixture of wild nature and a great, scenic place to do some fishing. Find out more about fishing on the Venice Jetty.

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Other helpful information for
Fishing Sarasota Florida:

Click here for Sarasota Tides

Click here for the Florida Marine Forecast

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Fishing Sarasota Florida - Fishing Tournament News

April 13, 2024:  Warriors on the Water and Catch Sarasota, presents the SRQ Inshore Grand Slam. Captains meeting on April 11th 6pm at Hooters Sarasota. Check In Station open on April 13th 2024 from 3 p.m. -6 p.m. in Sarasota at Harts Landing. This tournament is catch and release only. Outboard Entry Fee $250 – Kayak Entry Fee $100, .Fly Division- main entry fee – $300.  All proceeds benefit Warriors on the Water 501(c)(3) and help  serve their mission of facilitating and funding a positive outlet for veterans within nature and one of a kind charter fishing experiences.

May 18, 2024: Check out the Bridge to Bridge Bay Slam 2024, a Non-Motorized Vessel Fishing Tournament Event which will be held at Phillippi Estates Park on SATURDAY May 18th 2024. The tournament boundaries will be South of the Coon Key Bridges and the Ringling Causeway to Blackburn Pointe Bridge. This tournament is catch and release using a tournament measuring device and token. Overall length of three species, Reds, Spotted Seatrout and Snook wins!
PRE-TOURNAMENT MEETING: Phillippi Estates Park Pavilion located at 5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231 on FRIDAY MAY 17TH, 2024 from 6 PM to 7 PM. EVENT: Lines-in at 7 AM. Score cards submitted by 1 PM to Tournament officials. The tournament boundaries will be South of the Coon Key Bridges and the Ringling Causeway to Blackburn Pointe Bridge. WEIGH-IN AND AWARDS: Phillippi Estate Park Pavilion located at 5500 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231 on SATURDAY MAY 18TH, 2024 from 2 PM to 6 PM. DIVISION: • Small Fry Division: Any angler who has not reached their 10th birthday. {Accompanied by an adult} • Junior Division: Any angler who Is between the ages of 10 and have not yet reached their 18th birthday. {Accompanied by an adult} • Open Division: Any angler 18 years or older. Entry fee: $45. Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Tr. Sarasota, FL.

May 4 - June 9, 2024: It's time to drop your hook, line and sinker for the 94th Sarasota Tarpon Tournament! Entry fee is $150 and proceeds benefit a local charitable organization. The Kick-Off Event this year will be held at Joyland, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota on Wednesday night, May 3, at 6:30 PM, dinner is included with your Entry Fee, and a cash bar will be available. Registration and Check-In begins at 6 PM.  Happy angling and may you catch your share!

November 27, 2021: TBA for 2023  It's the Fall Family Fishing Tournament at the Venice Fishing Pier for ages 5 - 17. Registration is from  7 a.m. - 8 a.m. at Papa's Bait Shop on the pier. Check in on arrival. Fishing starts at 8 a.m. Awards: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sign up at Papa's Bait Shop on the pier or via email and include child's name and age: venicefishingpier1600@gmail.com. All children must be accompanied by an adult to enter. Bring an unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots or a $5 donation for the Veteran's Fund. Venice Fishing Pier, Venice, FL.

Fishing Sarasota Florida - Tournament News

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