WOW! The water has warmed up and the fish are starting to turn on. Finally some slot redfish have started chewing - after catching plenty of puppy-reds for the last few months it's a nice change. Big trout are around hanging in deeper holes near grass flats, and a few black drum up to 24 inches have been pulled from structure in the bay. Spanish mackerel are popping up near moving water and all over the middle grounds in Sarasota Bay.
On a morning trip with Frank Meszaros wife Brittany, sons Frankie & Chris we managed to catch spanish mackerel, seatrout, and a nice redfish caught by 12 year old Chris. Chris managed to wrestle his red out from under a dock in Sarasota Bay using light tackle showing great skills as a young angler. Not surprising after hearing Chris talk about fishing with his family I can tell I was looking at a future tournament angler.
Dave Ibbott a long time angler on the Reelin & Chillin came with friends Mac & Pauline McCallum, Fred & Joyce Gartrell with a fish fry on their minds. They enjoyed catching trout to 23 inches, sheepshead, mackerel, and one nice redfish for the grill. Mac also enjoyed photographing dolphins and an osprey having a ladyfish for lunch.
Joy Christeson with sons Chris and Chase had a slow start with small reds enjoying our hand-picked shrimp, but sure made up for it on the second half of the trip. Starting with several seatrout in the slot entering the live well and ending with several hungry redfish some breaking off in the structure, some getting off at the boat, however two making it to the live well. Chris also nailed a nice 24 inch black drum from under structure. Fantastic way to end a great fishing trip and make memory's with Mom and sons.
Bait used was live hand-picked shrimp from Hart's Landing Bait located at 930 John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota Florida.