Something is biting in Sarasota every month of the year. The pattern rotates: sheepshead and sight-fished redfish own the winter, snook harvest opens March 1, tarpon run the beaches May through early July, mangrove snapper spawn in high summer, and September 1 opens both snook and gag grouper at once. This calendar walks all twelve months — what’s feeding, where, and which 2026 season dates control what you can keep.
Quick reference: peak months by species
| Species | Peak months | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Snook | Mar–Apr, Jun–Aug (release), Sep–Nov | Passes, beaches, mangroves, dock lights |
| Redfish | Sep–Nov schools; Dec–Feb sight fishing | Flats, bars, mangrove shorelines |
| Spotted seatrout | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Deep grass flats, 3–8 ft |
| Sheepshead | Feb–Mar | Jetties, bridges, reefs |
| Tarpon | May–early Jul | Beaches, passes, Boca Grande |
| Spanish mackerel | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | Beaches, passes, nearshore reefs |
| King mackerel | Apr, late Oct | Nearshore reefs, 30–90 ft |
| Pompano | Mar–May, Oct–Dec | Passes, surf troughs |
| Tripletail | Nov–Apr | Stone crab trap buoys, markers |
| Cobia | Apr–Jun | Reefs, markers, ray schools |
| Mangrove snapper | Jun–Sep | Nearshore reefs, ledges, docks |
| Gag grouper | September (open season) | Reefs and ledges, 60–120 ft |
What are the 2026 season dates I need to know?
| Fishery | 2026 rule (Sarasota Bay Region / Gulf) |
|---|---|
| Snook harvest | Open Mar 1–Apr 30 and Sep 1–Nov 30; closed otherwise; $10 permit required |
| Redfish | Open year-round; 1/person, 2/vessel, 18–27” slot |
| Seatrout | Open year-round; 15–19” slot, 3/person (new rules effective Apr 1, 2026) |
| Gag grouper (federal) | Sep 1 – Oct 1, 2026 |
| Tarpon | Catch-and-release only, statewide, all year; fish over 40” stay in the water |
| Stone crab traps (drives tripletail) | Buoys in the water Oct 15 – May 1 |
Verify current rules before you fish — FWC adjusts seasons mid-year. Start at the FWC snook page and the FWC seatrout rule announcement, and keep our licenses guide bookmarked.
What’s biting in Sarasota in January?
Winter patterns, and they’re better than visitors expect. Big redfish schools work the negative low tides on Palma Sola Bay, Long Bar, and the Bulkhead — the clearest, lowest water of the year and the best sight fishing window on the calendar. Trout hold on deeper grass in 4–8 ft. Sheepshead stack up on bridge fenders and dock pilings as the water cools. Snook are closed and wintering in creeks and canals — Phillippi Creek, Whitaker Bayou — where a slow-worked jerkbait on a warm afternoon gets released fish. Nearshore, tripletail float beside stone crab trap buoys in 10–30 ft on calm days.
What’s biting in Sarasota in February?
Sheepshead. This is the peak of the spawning aggregation and the biggest fish of the year — 4–8 lb fish on the Venice jetties, pass rocks, and nearshore reefs. Fiddler crabs, small hooks, tight to the pilings. Redfish sight fishing stays strong on the low winter tides, and trout begin staging toward their spring flats. The Waterman fly-only redfish tournament runs Feb 20–21 on this coast. Snook remain closed and creek-bound until the water climbs.
What’s biting in Sarasota in March?
The switch flips. Snook harvest opens March 1 — fish slide out of the creeks onto mangrove shorelines as water passes 70°F, feeding hard pre-spawn. The Spanish mackerel spring run arrives along the beaches around 68°F, pompano start running the surf and passes, king mackerel show on the nearshore reefs, and the first cobia of the year arrive in the coastal gulf. Trout go prime on the 2–6 ft grass flats. March is arguably the most varied month of the year.
What’s biting in Sarasota in April?
Peak pelagic month. Spanish mackerel fill Big Pass, New Pass, and the Venice jetties; kings peak on the reefs; cobia ride rays down the beach; pompano peak in the passes. Tripletail are thick on the trap buoys before the season ends. Snook harvest stays open through April 30. Tournament season starts: the Suncoast Kingfish Classic runs April 9–11 and Old Salt’s King of the Beach follows April 30–May 2 — full list on our 2026 tournament calendar.
What’s biting in Sarasota in May?
Tarpon. The migration arrives in force — beaches off Siesta, Casey Key, and Longboat, and the famous Boca Grande Pass fishery to the south. Snook harvest closes May 1 and the spawn begins in the passes; stone crab traps come out May 2 and tripletail scatter to markers. Boca Grande’s tournament slate runs all month, the Suncoast Tarpon Roundup opens its 10-week season, and the Sarasota Slam kicks off May 29.
What’s biting in Sarasota in June?
Peak tarpon, start to finish — threadfin and crab patterns on the beach at first light, pass fish on the hill tides. Snook stack in Big Sarasota Pass, New Pass, and Longboat Pass and walk the beaches in a foot of water; it’s all catch-and-release, so fight them fast and keep them wet. Mangrove snapper begin gathering on nearshore structure. Redfish slide under the mangrove canopy on big summer high tides.
What’s biting in Sarasota in July?
The tarpon run winds down through the month as spawned-out fish scatter, but the mangrove snapper spawn peaks between the July and August full moons — the hottest bottom bite of the summer in 30–50 ft. Beach and pass snook continue (release only), trout bite at dawn on the deep grass, and the dock-light fishery carries the nights. Full current conditions in our July 2026 fishing report.
What’s biting in Sarasota in August?
Heat rules the schedule: fish dawn, dusk, and dark. Mangrove snapper stay strong on the reefs and ledges. Spanish mackerel mix with pompano and blues on the deep grass flats. The first fall kings show nearshore late in the month. Redfish begin ganging into bigger groups ahead of fall. It’s the last month of the snook closure — October fish are being grown right now.
What’s biting in Sarasota in September?
Opening day, twice. Snook harvest reopens September 1 in the Sarasota Bay Region (28–33” slot, one fish, permit required), and the 2026 Gulf gag grouper season runs the month of September in federal waters. Bait floods the bay, trout turn back on, and redfish begin schooling at the passes and bars. Bottom anglers: circle hooks and a rigged descending device are required for reef fish.
What’s biting in Sarasota in October?
If you get one month here, take October. Over-slot redfish school 50–200 strong at the Bulkhead, Long Bar, and Beer Can Island. October is arguably the best keeper-slot snook month of the year — mangrove edges, bridge shadow lines, topwater at dawn. The Spanish mackerel fall run peaks on the beaches, kings run late in the month, pompano reload in the passes, and stone crab buoys go back in October 15, restarting the tripletail fishery.
What’s biting in Sarasota in November?
Fall patterns hold: snook open through November 30, redfish schools still working the bars, trout thick on the deep grass with ladyfish and macks, pompano and tripletail strengthening as the water cools. Kings continue until the first hard fronts push them south. Old Salt’s fall King of the Beach runs out of Madeira Beach. A superb, uncrowded month.
What’s biting in Sarasota in December?
Snook closes December 1 and the fish move toward winter holes. Sheepshead gather on bay structure, redfish pod up for the winter sight-fishery, trout slide to deeper grass and canals, and tripletail ride the trap lines in 10–30 ft. Mild-winter bonus: Spanish mackerel linger on the deep flats. Watch the tide tables — winter negative lows set up the best wade-and-pole days of the year.
What months should I avoid fishing Sarasota?
None, but manage expectations twice a year: mid-summer (late July–August) means dawn-and-dusk fishing around heat and afternoon storms, and any month can be interrupted by red tide — check the FWC red tide status map and our red tide guide before a trip. Cold fronts December–February can shut the bite down for 2–3 days at a time; the days between fronts fish well.
FAQ
What is the best month to fish in Sarasota? October. Redfish schools, the year’s best keeper snook window, Spanish mackerel and pompano fall runs, and the tripletail fishery restarting October 15 — all in one month.
When is snook season in Sarasota in 2026? Harvest is open March 1–April 30 and September 1–November 30 in the Sarasota Bay Region. A $10 snook stamp plus a saltwater license is required to keep one; catch-and-release is open all year. Buy both at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
When do tarpon show up in Sarasota? The migration arrives in force in May, peaks through June, and winds down in July. Tarpon are catch-and-release only statewide.
What can kids catch year-round? Spotted seatrout on a popping cork over deep grass — the most reliable beginner fishery on the bay every month of the year. See our first charter guide for planning a family trip.
Do season dates change? Yes — FWC manages snook, redfish, and seatrout by region and adjusts rules mid-year. Verify at myfwc.com before you keep anything.
Related
Plan the trip itself with our first charter beginner’s guide and the 2026 tournament calendar. Deep-dive the marquee species at snook, redfish, and tarpon, check conditions in the July 2026 report, and scout water by town at Venice and Boca Grande.
