Sarasota, FL Fishing: Why It’s the Sunshine State’s Top Tourist Spot

Enjoy fishing in Sarasota, FL, one of the Sunshine State's top fishing tourist spots and fishing haven.

Sarasota, FL Fishing: Why It’s the Sunshine State’s Top Tourist Spot
Sarasota, FL Fishing: Why It’s the Sunshine State’s Top Tourist Spot
Team Guidesly

July 26, 2021, 7 min read

Updated on July 19, 2021

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Sarasota is a beautiful coastal city just south of the Tampa Bay area, right in the heart of the world-renowned Florida Gulf Coast. It draws millions of domestic and international visitors every year, given its idyllic setting. With over thirty-five miles of coastlines adorned with gleaming sugar-white sand beaches and surrounded with calming turquoise waters, it really isn’t surprising the city is known as one of Sunshine State’s top tourist attractions. This favorite summer getaway also features a total of six barrier islands that stretch along the city’s coastlines, protecting the mainland from the Gulf’s wind, waves, tides, and currents. And because it faces the Gulf of Mexico, sunsets here are definitely a sight to behold. 

While the name (with different variations like Sara Zota, Sarazota, and Sarasote) was already used way back as evidenced by maps made in the early 17th century, no one is certain where the name Sarasota came from. Some historians have said through time that the name came from a Spanish term that meant “a place of dancing”, but until now, nothing has really been proven and all were just speculations. The first European settlers came in 1856, most of which were into agriculture and developed the land for planting orange trees and raising cattle. When a group of Scottish families settled in the area in 1884, they built a golf course, thus paving the way for the development of the area as a recreational hub. By the early 1900s, tourism began to grow, thanks mostly to the railroads that were constructed to connect this coastal paradise to the rest of the state and country. The area was finally incorporated into a city in 1913, and from then on, Sarasota has seen several structural developments to further boost tourism.

Today, Sarasota is not just a popular tourist destination but a retirement location. Tourism is the main economic base of the city. Real estate, agriculture, shipping, and manufacturing, nonetheless, are also seen as key sectors that help the city’s economy. Aside from the beautiful beaches, all-year-round warm climate, and world-class amenities, Sarasota is also known for its burgeoning arts and culture scene with museums, galleries, performing arts complexes, and cultural events popping up everywhere in the city. And, oh, did we mention that Sarasota is home to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Ringling College of Art and Design? 

Sarasota Fishing

As a city that faces a bay and a gulf that is known to be abundant with so many fish species, it’s really not surprising Sarasota is also seen as a favorite destination not just for experienced anglers but for beginners as well. For first-timers, you won’t even have to go far as you can cast your line straight from the beautiful beaches along its namesake bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side. Surfcasters aren’t even required to use a heavy tackle and long casts but can still expect to catch some popular game fish, including trout, sheepshead, pompano, red drum, flounder, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, and snook among many others. If you plan on fishing off the beach, recommend using either live or frozen shrimp to better lure these fish into your trap. If you prefer artificial lures, you can go with silver spoons, plugs, and jigs as these are said to bring more success for anglers.

If you want to fish a bit farther from land, you can either try renting a boat or go out on a fishing charter and try drifting on top of grass beds along the bay where fish tend to stay. Same with surfcasting, the best baits to use in these areas are live baits, cut baits, and jigs. Expected nearshore quarries are pompano, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish, barracuda, tarpon, black seabass, snapper, grouper, amberjack, cobia, and some occasional sharks,

If you came to Sarasota to challenge your fishing skills, you can do so via a fishing charter and head out to the Gulf of Mexico. Here, you can test your limits against some of the most challenging fish you’ll ever find anywhere in the world such as tarpon, mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, billfish, marlin, and even some ferocious sharks.

Now, if you’re into competitive sportfishing, Sarasota is also a great place to show off your fishing prowess as several tournaments are held here every year. One of the most popular is the Sarasota Tarpon Tournament, which starts in May and lasts for five weeks. Other fishing tournaments include Sarasota Slam, Suncoast Saltwater Shootout, and Yellowfin Billfish Classic.

 

Sarasota’s Top Fishing Locations

Is it your first time planning a fishing trip in Sarasota? With so many fishing opportunities in the bountiful waters around the city, you’d probably be faced with a bit of conundrum—where will you start? To help you out with your fishing itinerary, here are some of the top Sarasota locations we highly recommend:

New Pass – there’s a bridge that connects Longboat and Lido Keys where you can cast your line and catch some quality gamefish such as redfish, bluefish, and snook to name a few.

Big Sarasota Pass – a waterway that connects the bay to the gulf and where there’s a lot of underwater structure is definitely where you should try fishing as it carries an abundance of species including snook, grouper, snapper, sheepshead, redfish, and a whole lot more.

Bird Key Park – dubbed as one of the most scenic areas in the city, this location also offers world-class inshore fishing with plenty of opportunities to land ladyfish, cobia, and redfish, among many others.

Pop Jantzen Reef – just a few meters north of the Ringling causeway is this man-made reef that supports a wide array of targets including flounder, bluefish, sheepshead, and snapper to name a few.

Gulf of Mexico – this huge body of water sits just beyond the barrier islands and offers outstanding deep sea fishing where you can catch tough fighters like wahoo, mahi-mahi, tuna, marlin, and sharks.       

 

Top Ten Fish Species in Sarasota, FL

The top ten fish species in Sarasota, FL are sheepshead, redfish, bluefish, tarpon, cobia, snook, marlin, tuna, sailfish, and grouper.

Seasonal Fishing in Sarasota

Sarasota is in the heart of the Sunshine State, so it doesn’t really matter when you’d like to come for some amazing fishing as you can pretty much go any time whenever you can. But, of course, you would still have to check the weather bulletin before your visit to ensure your fishing trip won’t be ruined by the occasional bad weather that passes through the state. And yes, the best time to go is always during spring and summer (from April to August) because, although most fish species are available here all year long, they’re way more actively biting when the waters are warm.

 

Top 5 Sarasota Vacation Must-do’s

Sarasota is more than just beautiful beaches and world-class amenities as there are tons of fun, thrilling, and/or relaxing activities to be done here. If you’re looking to make your stay here more memorable, here are some of the Sarasota attractions you shouldn’t miss:

 

1.Charter Fishing 

It’s one of Florida’s top fishing destinations and a favorite pastime among the locals so yes, if you want to fully experience the Sarasotan lifestyle, sportfishing should always be on your list of things to do on your next Sarasota adventure. 

 

2. Sightseeing 

There are picturesque beaches, botanical gardens, and state parks in and around the city and you can go exploring by land or by water, it doesn’t really matter how you would want to take in the beautiful sceneries.

 

3. Lounging 

If relaxation is what you’re after, Sarasota is the perfect place to unwind as you can do so while basking under the sun in one of the scenic beaches or by the pool in one of the world-class hotels.

 

4. Learning 

With so many historical and art museums/galleries as well as cultural events happening around the city, who would’ve thought a visit to this beautiful city can be this educational?

Fish in Sarasota and beyond.