Sarasota Fishing Report
September 20, 2026

Fall-like conditions settled into Sarasota this week, and the change made for some really comfortable days on the water. A steady northeast wind kept the mornings feeling a little cooler, with air temperatures ranging from the mid-70s into the low 90s. Water temperatures are still warm around 86–87°F, so the fish are still holding onto a late-summer pattern even though the weather is starting to feel more like fall. Inshore fishing around Sarasota stayed consistent, with redfish and snook making up most of the action. We found fish around areas with good moving water and plenty of bait nearby, and the northeast wind helped keep conditions manageable through the day. The redfish bite has been steady, and we’ve also had plenty of snook mixed in throughout the week. Mangrove snapper have been another reliable part of the bite and gave us a good option when the redfish or snook slowed down. They’ve been holding around areas with structure, current, and bait, and they’ve helped keep rods bent throughout the week. White bait is still our main bait of choice, but cut bait has also been especially effective and was often the trick when the live bait bite slowed. Fishing off the beach has also been comfortable thanks to the steady northeast wind, which gave us the flexibility to work both inshore and nearshore water depending on the day. With bait still around and redfish, snook, and mangrove snapper all active, Sarasota fishing has remained consistent. As we move farther into September and the weather continues to shift, we should keep seeing good opportunities both inshore and along the beach.