Siesta Key’s aquamarine waters are teeming with life. No matter the time of year, anglers are almost sure to make a catch. Here are some of the best places to cast your line for the ultimate Siesta Key fishing for aspiring anglers.
Robert’s Bay
Located just .8 miles from South Sarasota, this attractive fishing spot offers oyster bars, docks, and mangrove shorelines that are perfect places to cast a line. Common catches include sea trout, redfish, snook, and jacks. Both live and artificial lures are likely to make a catch, with the best hours of the day being between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Topwater plugs are good early and late on a high tide. Jigs and shrimp used as bait produce trout and ladyfish on deeper grass flats. With the right bait, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll make a great catch!
Point of Rocks
For the best Siesta Key fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, you should head to the Point of Rocks. Just about every species of fish can be caught here at some point or another. The rock ledges here mainly attract bait and game fish. Unfortunately, parking in the neighborhood is prohibited, so anglers must walk a mile and a half using public access. The exercise is worth it, though!
Turtle Beach
Here, anglers can fish the surf or backwater lagoon. Surf fishing is best when the seas are calm, and the opposite is true of the lagoon, where the best fishing occurs when the surf is churned up. There is a boat ramp and other amenities in the area, such as picnic tables, grills, and a portable restroom. You can even make a day of fishing and boating on the Gulf with the family and combine it with a picnic.
Big Pass
South Lido Park gives access to Big Sarasota Pass, where anglers will find a lovely grass flat that allows one to wade for trout. A Mercury hole, which is a deep dredge hole in a very shallow flat, lies to the North, so be wary of strong ties and don’t wade out near the point!
Phillippi Creek
During cooler months, Phillippi Creek is one of the best fishing spots around. Snook and jacks can be found at the mouth and up in the creek itself. You can use shallow diving plugs to catch fish without them getting hung up. Keep your eyes peeled for snapper sheepshead, which congregates on the channel edges.
Venice Pier
Not only is this a great Siesta Key fishing pier, but if you’re there at the right time of day, you might witness a gorgeous sunrise or sunset. Nearby amenities and Siesta Key activities are a plus. There is a bait shop on the pier and excellent seafood restaurants all around, in case fishing works up an appetite.
Plan Your Next Stay
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Bait and Rental Shops
Before heading out to one of these incredible fishing locations, you need the right equipment! Fortunately, there is an abundance of bait and rental shops around.
Bayfront Marina rents fishing equipment for $10 per day. CB’s Saltwater Outfitters rents fishing equipment if you also rent a boat. The Siesta Key Marina also rents fishing equipment for $15. There’s Hart’s Landing, under the Ringling Causeway Bridge, which rents out poles with a free side of fishing knowledge, and you can also try New Pass Bait Shop.
For bait, live shrimp is highly recommended. You can get this from any rental store for about $4 per dozen. A downside to using live shrimp is that you need the equipment to keep them alive long enough to use them. While renting your equipment, you can catch with staff to see what other options are available.
Fishing Licenses
Anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 attempting to take saltwater organisms in Florida must have a fishing license, even if you are casting a line. Costs are $17 for three days, $30 for 7, or $47 for one year. You can purchase your license at Wal-Mart, sporting goods stores, bait, and tackle shops, or online.
