Bradenton Beach Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Craig Lahr
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Since the weather keeps fluctuating, most of the fish have been scattered, but are of good quality. We have been encountering Redfish, Trout and snook on the flats, but the tide and area has been crucial. Cut bat and small pinfish are working well. Artificials have been working great, bait...

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Craig Lahr St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Since the weather keeps fluctuating, most of the fish have been scattered, but are of good quality. We have been encountering
Redfish, Trout and snook on the flats, but the tide and area has been crucial.
Cut bat and small pinfish are working well. Artificials have been working great, bait such as mirror lures in the skin series such as pinfish or finger mullet have been catching all 3 inshore species. Also soft plastics like exude dart, mirror lure prevoker and gulp on 16th ounce Jighead have produced some big redfish, Trout, and Snook while we are fishing with bait has helped to locate the schools. Also be prepared for cobia or triple tail as they will show up when you least expect it. This happened to us on Tuesday with couple nice cobia.

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James Gibson
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

It is officially fall in Sarasota, Florida and we are enjoying the cooler temperatures. We have experienced our first cold front of the year and our water temperatures got as low as 64 degrees in some places. By the end of October our water temperatures have climbed back up to...

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James Gibson Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

It is officially fall in Sarasota, Florida and we are enjoying the cooler temperatures. We have experienced our first cold front of the year and our water temperatures got as low as 64 degrees in some places. By the end of October our water temperatures have climbed back up to a comfortable 70 - 78 degrees and the fish are loving it! During the cold front our customers enjoyed targeting Snook in creeks while they were finding the warmer water. Before and after the cold front we targeted schools of Redfish on our shallow grass flats, while water temperatures were low we had good luck targeting Redfish along structure and dock lines. Once our water temperatures warmed up the Trout, Mackerel and Bluefish fishing in Sarasota Bay really took off! Winter is just around the corner and we are enjoying our fall fishing while it lasts!

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Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been productive. We are catching cobia and mackerel on the inshore reefs. Trout, redfish and snook are still feeding in the bay. Sharks and tuna are adding some more fun to the party as well!!

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Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been productive. We are catching cobia and mackerel on the inshore reefs. Trout, redfish and snook are still feeding in the bay. Sharks and tuna are adding some more fun to the party as well!!

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Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Hey David the fishing has been productive. We are catching cobia and mackerel on the inshore reefs. Trout, redfish and snook are still feeding in the bay. Sharks and tuna are adding some more fun to the party as well!!

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Matt Fueyo with Reel Tight Fishing Charters Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Hey David the fishing has been productive. We are catching cobia and mackerel on the inshore reefs. Trout, redfish and snook are still feeding in the bay. Sharks and tuna are adding some more fun to the party as well!!

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Mike Morse
Tampa, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Offshore, Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish are running pretty strong, as are grouper and lane snapper. Inshore, the snook is pretty good and the redfish are starting to move into shallower water

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Mike Morse Tampa, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Offshore, Spanish Mackerel and Kingfish are running pretty strong, as are grouper and lane snapper. Inshore, the snook is pretty good and the redfish are starting to move into shallower water

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Hank Valencia
Seminole, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The weather temps dipped and found lots of bug mackerel and sharks off the beach. There’s Tripletail by the crab bouys but mostly shorts. Hoping the Kings will show up soon and hope to get one tomorrow. The reefs are holding Gags and Cobia.

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Hank Valencia Seminole, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The weather temps dipped and found lots of bug mackerel and sharks off the beach. There’s Tripletail by the crab bouys but mostly shorts. Hoping the Kings will show up soon and hope to get one tomorrow. The reefs are holding Gags and Cobia.

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Craig Lahr
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The water has cooled down with the recent fronts. Bait has been plentiful, with scaled sardines, threadfin, shad, ladyfish and blue runners. This has started the nearshore to explode with Spanish Mackerel, and their big brother, the King Mackerel. For the Kingfish there is no bait to big like mackerel,...

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Craig Lahr St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The water has cooled down with the recent fronts. Bait has been plentiful, with scaled sardines, threadfin, shad, ladyfish and blue runners. This has started the nearshore to explode with Spanish Mackerel, and their big brother, the King Mackerel.
For the Kingfish there is no bait to big like mackerel, lady fish, or mullet to catch that big smoker
The back water bite has been getting better. Redfish are getting to be in good numbers with the cooler water. For the artificial enthusiast, topwater bite will help you locate these bruisers, as well as Speckled Trout. These fish will often be together with the mullet schools. With the extreme lowtides, you can find the Reds tailing on scattered turtle grass or around pot holes. For these conditions, live shrimp, cutbait and soft plastics will be your ideal baits.
With higher tides, concentrate on points, oysterbars and spoil islands. Make sure there are mullet in these areas, because the Redfish and Speckled Trout will be there also. The best bait to use now is whitebait, silver dollar size pinfish and cutbait. Your leader should be 2-3 ft. of 20 to 30lb florocarbon, with a 3-4 o/t light style circle hook. As for the fly enthusiast, all species can be caught.

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Darius Kirschner
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing in the Sarasota area has been great. Whether you are fishing off the beach or in the bay there has been a consistent bite with multiple different species. Off the beaches right now, you can expect to catch a limit of Spanish mackerel along with cobia and King...

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Darius Kirschner Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing in the Sarasota area has been great. Whether you are fishing off the beach or in the bay there has been a consistent bite with multiple different species. Off the beaches right now, you can expect to catch a limit of Spanish mackerel along with cobia and King mackerel. The little Tony a.k.a. Bonita is soon to arrive to the party. All of these fish make great table fare and are a blast to catch. On the inshore side of things, the snook and red fish fishing has been on fire. With with plenty of bait around the fish have been very active. The pompano and sheepshead should be biting in the next few weeks as the water temperatures drop.

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