🐟 What fish can you catch in Sarasota?

Most commonly caught species around Sarasota , FL : Largemouth bass - 13,914 reported catches Common snook - 7,663 reported catches Spotted seatrout - 4,414 reported catches Mangrove snapper - 4,212 reported catches Red drum - 3,366 reported catches .

📢 What are the latest Sarasota fishing reports?

The latest Sarasota , FL fishing reports are: @reeceerb reported a nice Largemouth bass at Lake Sarasota . @jcharez reported a nice Gafftopsail sea catfish at Manatee County Coast . @jcharez reported a nice Ladyfish at Manatee County Coast . @jcharez reported a nice Black drum at Manatee County Coast . @jcharez reported a nice Mangrove snapper at Anna Maria Sound . .

Fishing in Sarasota, FL

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in Sarasota, Florida?

Anglers in Sarasota , FL recommend these top fishing spots: Tampa Bay , Manatee County Coast , Sarasota Bay , Sarasota County Coast , Manatee River .

Q: 📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Sarasota?

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Sarasota , FL . We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro , you will get the following capabilities: Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions. Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches. Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates. .

Q: What's the biggest Common snook caught in Sarasota?

The biggest Common snook (by length) reported in Sarasota , FL was a 12 ft / 11 lbs caught by Fishbrain user @arthurharber at Terra Ceia Bay on September 8, 2015 .

Florida, United States

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Top fish species in Sarasota

Latest Sarasota fishing reports

Largemouth bass

Lake Sarasota

24 in · 6 lb 8 oz

Gafftopsail sea catfish

Manatee County Coast

14 in · 1 lb 5 oz

Ladyfish

Manatee County Coast

8 in · 3 oz

Black drum

Manatee County Coast

12 in · 1 lb

Mangrove snapper

Anna Maria Sound

9 in · 6 oz

Bonnethead shark

length · weight

Hardhead sea catfish

Sarasota County Coast

length · weight

Gafftopsail sea catfish

Sarasota County Coast

length · weight

Bishops Bayou

length · weight

Bonnethead shark

Tampa Bay

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Sarasota

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Florida can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of May 13th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Memorable

1 > 16

Max size

16"

Measurement

Total Length

Special gear

Aggregate

Keep intact

No minimum length. Only 1 bass may be 16-inches or longer in total length. Black Bass or any part thereof may not be used as bait.

Regulations are the same for both Florida Bass and Largemouth Bass throughout Florida, so there is no need for anglers to distinguish between the two species for regulations purposes.

Catch a largemouth bass 8-pounds or heavier, check out our TrophyCatch for some amazing prizes.

An angler participating in the TrophyCatch Program may temporarily possess in live condition one largemouth bass, 8 pounds or greater, over the legal length limit and bag limit in order to obtain photographic or video documentation of the fish. All largemouth bass retained for this purpose must be released alive into the waterbody in which it was caught immediately after documentation.

An angler may possess one largemouth bass 16.5 pounds or greater, per day over the legal length or bag limit when submitting for the certification of a potential state record provided they contact the Commission at this link MYFWC-Potential state record largemouth bass. Largemouth bass maintained in live condition may only be possessed on the waterbody or adjacent shore from which the fish was caught and may only be released alive in the same waterbody, unless otherwise directed by Commission staff.

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

27°20′19″N 82°32′35.2″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about Sarasota fishing

Anglers in Sarasota, FL recommend these top fishing spots: Tampa Bay, Manatee County Coast, Sarasota Bay, Sarasota County Coast, and Manatee River.

Most commonly caught species around Sarasota, FL:

Largemouth bass - 13,914 reported catches
Common snook - 7,663 reported catches
Spotted seatrout - 4,414 reported catches
Mangrove snapper - 4,212 reported catches
Red drum - 3,366 reported catches

The latest Sarasota, FL fishing reports are:

@reeceerb reported a nice Largemouth bass at Lake Sarasota.
@jcharez reported a nice Gafftopsail sea catfish at Manatee County Coast.
@jcharez reported a nice Ladyfish at Manatee County Coast.
@jcharez reported a nice Black drum at Manatee County Coast.
@jcharez reported a nice Mangrove snapper at Anna Maria Sound.

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Sarasota, FL. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities:

Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions.
Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches.
Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates.

The biggest Largemouth bass (by length) reported in Sarasota, FL was a 13 ft / 3.1 lbs caught by Fishbrain user @Fish_Augen at Sarasota on February 27, 2016.