St. Petersburg Fishing Reports (November 2024)

Craig Lahr
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 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,...

See Full Report & Photos >

Craig Lahr Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 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.

Scroll for more Close

Darius Kirschner
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 2 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...

See Full Report & Photos >

Darius Kirschner Sarasota, Florida Reported: 2 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.

Scroll for more Close

Scott Tesinsky
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

October's off to a great start as our pelagic fish are starting to move south. The bait is plentiful inside the passes and around grass flats . We are consistently catching Cobia, bonita, kingfish and Spanish mackerel at the nearshore reefs using live Pilchards . Covering the entire water Column...

See Full Report & Photos >

Scott Tesinsky Sarasota, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

October's off to a great start as our pelagic fish are starting to move south. The bait is plentiful inside the passes and around grass flats . We are consistently catching Cobia, bonita, kingfish and Spanish mackerel at the nearshore reefs using live Pilchards . Covering the entire water Column is key , triple tail are starting to be targeted as the stone crab traps are put out. Typically we run full speed by the stone trap bouys looking for triple tail and then we sight cast to them . October and November are prime triple tail months . Also this is a great time to target blacktip sharks under the schools of mackeral using cut bait on wire leaders . Inside the bay sea trout, snook and redfish are feeding before winter . Using live Pilchards is key. I typically am out an hour before the charter catching hundreds of live Pilchards giving us a great chance for a non stop fishing adventure.

Scroll for more Close

Joe Burruezo
Holmes Beach, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Redfish and grouper bite is still going strong

See Full Report & Photos >

Joe Burruezo Holmes Beach, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Redfish and grouper bite is still going strong

Scroll for more Close

Dale Henderson with Rockstar Charter Fishing
Clearwater, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

We have been into a great variety of fish on recent trips. We have gotten into Mahi-mahi, Bonita, Sharks, grouper, snapper, often times on the same trip! Even near-shore has been fun with plenty of Spanish Mackerel and grunts for the kids!

See Full Report & Photos >

Dale Henderson with Rockstar Charter Fishing Clearwater, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

We have been into a great variety of fish on recent trips. We have gotten into Mahi-mahi, Bonita, Sharks, grouper, snapper, often times on the same trip! Even near-shore has been fun with plenty of Spanish Mackerel and grunts for the kids!

Scroll for more Close

James Gibson
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Summer is slowly coming to an end here in Sarasota, Florida and we are excited to be seeing signs of Fall. Our Trout Fishing has been fantastic in Sarasota Bay along our deeper grass flats with tons of action from other by catch, Jacks, Lady Fish, Mangrove Snapper and Triple...

See Full Report & Photos >

James Gibson Sarasota, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Summer is slowly coming to an end here in Sarasota, Florida and we are excited to be seeing signs of Fall. Our Trout Fishing has been fantastic in Sarasota Bay along our deeper grass flats with tons of action from other by catch, Jacks, Lady Fish, Mangrove Snapper and Triple Tail. We have also started to find schools of Redfish along our shallower grass flats and mangrove islands. The Snook fishing in Sarasota seems to always be good as our customers have enjoyed catching Snook in both our passes ( New Pass, Big Pass) and along our mangrove islands and oysters bars on the higher tides.

Scroll for more Close

Darius Kirschner
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Fall is coming and the fishing continues to get better! The water temps are cooling down and the fish are on the move. Snook, Redfish, SeaTrout, and Mangrove Snapper are everywhere right now and we are having great days of fishing for these guys. Big schools of spawning bull redfish...

See Full Report & Photos >

Darius Kirschner Sarasota, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Fall is coming and the fishing continues to get better! The water temps are cooling down and the fish are on the move. Snook, Redfish, SeaTrout, and Mangrove Snapper are everywhere right now and we are having great days of fishing for these guys. Big schools of spawning bull redfish are starting to show themselves on the flats here in Sarasota and one things for sure, they are hungry! Come join us to get on a trip of a lifetime with family or friends.

Scroll for more Close

Eric Topole
St. Petersburg, Florida
Reported: 2 years ago

Redfish bite is heating up with schools of fish roaming the flats as they move up the bay. Snook trout and pompano are also found plentiful on the flats. Mangrove snapper and grouper are biting well on the channel ledges and artificial reefs

See Full Report & Photos >

Eric Topole St. Petersburg, Florida Reported: 2 years ago

Redfish bite is heating up with schools of fish roaming the flats as they move up the bay. Snook trout and pompano are also found plentiful on the flats. Mangrove snapper and grouper are biting well on the channel ledges and artificial reefs

Scroll for more Close