Offshore Fishing Adventure - Sarasota, Florida
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Offshore fishing adventure targeting six premium fish speciesSmall group experience with maximum four guests aboardProfessional guided trip through Sarasota's productive offshore waters
Get ready to experience some of the Gulf's best fishing just miles off the Sarasota coast. This isn't your typical nearshore charter – we're heading to the deep blue where the big fish live and the action stays hot all day long. With Suncoast Fishing Adventures, you'll target prime offshore structure and ledges where grouper, snapper, and pelagics congregate in serious numbers. Our 4-angler limit means you get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to fight that fish of a lifetime. Whether you're a seasoned saltwater angler or new to offshore fishing, this trip delivers the kind of rod-bending action that keeps folks coming back season after season.
Your day starts early with a smooth ride out to productive offshore grounds, typically 15-30 miles from the Sarasota coastline. We fish structure-rich areas including artificial reefs, natural ledges, and hard bottom that holds incredible numbers of bottom fish. The Gulf waters here offer excellent visibility and relatively calm conditions, making it perfect for both experienced anglers and newcomers to offshore fishing. You'll spend most of your time bottom fishing with heavy tackle, working depths from 60 to 120 feet depending on conditions and fish activity. The boat stays positioned over prime spots using GPS and fish finder technology, so you're always fishing where the action is hottest. Expect multiple species throughout the day as we move between different types of structure and adjust our approach based on what's biting best.
We focus primarily on bottom fishing with heavy conventional tackle designed to pull big grouper and snapper up from deep structure. You'll be using 6-8 ounce sinkers to get your bait down quickly in the current, paired with circle hooks and heavy fluorocarbon leaders to handle the rough mouths and sharp gill plates of our target species. Live bait works best out here – we typically use pinfish, grunts, and sardines that we catch fresh or pick up from local bait shops. When the pelagics are running, we'll switch tactics and put out some trolling spread with diving plugs and ballyhoo to target kings, mahi, and blackfin tuna. The key to success is staying flexible and reading what the fish want on any given day. Current, wind direction, and water temperature all play a role in determining which spots produce and what techniques work best.
Gulf Grouper remain the bread and butter of our offshore trips, with red grouper being the most abundant species we encounter. These chunky bottom dwellers typically range from 18-25 inches, though we regularly see fish pushing 30 inches and beyond. They're aggressive feeders that hit live bait hard and provide an excellent fight on the way up from 80+ feet of water. Red grouper season runs year-round with varying regulations, making them a reliable target no matter when you fish.
Yellowtail Amberjack show up in good numbers around our deeper structure, especially during the cooler months from November through March. These fish are absolute bulldogs that will test your tackle and endurance – a 40-pound yellowtail will make multiple long runs and use every bit of structure to try breaking you off. They're incredibly aggressive and will often hit baits before they reach the bottom, providing some of the most exciting fishing of the day.
Red Snapper fishing has been phenomenal in recent years, with healthy populations and generous bag limits during open seasons. These beautiful fish are incredibly popular with anglers because they're both excellent fighters and outstanding table fare. Reds typically hold tight to structure and require precise boat positioning to avoid getting cut off in the rocks. They're curious fish that respond well to fresh cut bait and live offerings.
Blackfin Tuna provide fast-paced action when schools move through our fishing areas, typically during warmer months from April through October. These smaller tunas are lightning-fast and acrobatic, often jumping multiple times during the fight. They school heavily around bait concentrations and provide excellent light tackle fishing opportunities when conditions align. Blackfins are prized for their sashimi-grade meat and make excellent candidates for the dinner table.
This offshore adventure represents some of the best value fishing you'll find along Florida's Gulf Coast. The combination of diverse species, productive fishing grounds, and small group size creates an experience that consistently delivers memorable catches and stories you'll share for years. Our local knowledge of Sarasota's offshore waters means you're fishing the most productive spots at the right times, maximizing your chances of boxing a limit of quality fish. Whether you're looking to put some premium fillets in the cooler or just want to experience the thrill of deep water fishing, this trip checks all the boxes. Don't wait – prime dates fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons when the fishing is at its absolute best.
Our Contender 28 is built for serious offshore fishing in Sarasota's Gulf waters. This top-tier fishing machine serves as OCEARCH's official shark tagging vessel, so you know it's proven in demanding conditions. The boat handles up to 6 anglers comfortably with plenty of room to fight fish and move around the deck. You'll appreciate the wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches when targeting King Mackerel and Mahi Mahi, while the GPS navigation system keeps us on the productive fishing grounds where Red Grouper, Black Grouper, and Gag Grouper hold. The fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating structure and baitfish, putting you right on top of Blackfin Tuna and other pelagic species. Built tough for Florida's offshore conditions, this Contender cuts through the Gulf chop smoothly and gets you to the fishing grounds quickly. The onboard facilities include a toilet for all-day comfort during those productive fishing sessions when the bite is hot and you don't want to head back to the dock.
Mycteroperca JordaniGulf Grouper are impressive fish that can reach 70 inches and over 100 pounds, though most we catch are smaller. These grey-brown beauties are ambush predators with massive mouths that vacuum up anything from lobsters to small sharks. You'll find them around rocky reefs and structure in 16-98 feet of water, sometimes deeper in summer. They're most active at dawn and dusk when they hunt. What makes them special is their incredible strength - once hooked, they'll try to drag you straight into the rocks. The meat is top-notch eating, some of the best grouper you'll taste. Here's my tip: use heavy tackle and keep steady pressure - don't let them get their head down or you'll lose them in the structure every time.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are some of the most sought-after fish we target, and for good reason - they're beautiful, fight hard, and taste amazing. Most run 1-2 feet long and under 10 pounds, but we occasionally see monsters over 20. They live around structure in 30-200 feet of water, hugging bottom near reefs, wrecks, and ledges. Summer through early fall is prime time when they're most active and feeding heavy. These fish have attitude - they'll slam your bait and make strong runs toward cover. The white, flaky meat is restaurant-quality with a mild, sweet flavor that's hard to beat. My go-to setup is fresh squid or live pinfish on a heavy bottom rig. Key tip: once hooked, get their head up fast and keep them coming - they'll wrap you up in structure if you give them slack.
Seriola LalandiYellowtails are pure muscle with bright yellow fins and silver sides that'll test your arms. Most run 15-25 pounds, but we see 40-pounders that'll make you work. They cruise near bottom around reefs and wrecks but come up to feed, especially in warmer months when they're most active here. These fish are fast swimmers and tough fighters - they'll make long runs and try to cut you off in structure. The meat is excellent, prized for sushi and grilling. They're not picky eaters, but live bait works best to get their attention. Pro tip: when you hook one, don't horse it - let them run and tire themselves out. Use heavy tackle and keep steady pressure, but if you reel too hard they'll fight harder and likely break you off.
Thunnus AtlanticusBlackfin tuna are the smallest of the tuna family but don't let that fool you - they're scrappy fighters with serious speed. Most weigh 10-20 pounds with dark backs, silver sides, and those distinctive black fins. They school up in open water near the continental shelf, usually in depths over 100 feet where the water stays warm. Fall through spring is when they're thick around here, following bait schools. These fish are built for speed and will peel line off your reel in a hurry. The dark red meat is fantastic for sashimi or searing. They travel in schools, so when you find one, there's usually more. Here's the secret: scale down your tackle - use 30-pound fluoro leader and smaller hooks because they've got sharp eyes and spook easily.
Sarasota, FL