ReelCaster
Back to map
BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Bird Key Point

27.33°N · 82.56°W

Species

tap to switch species

14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Sun
Nov 1
Sun
Nov 1
Mon
Nov 2
Tue
Nov 3
Wed
Nov 4
Thu
Nov 5
Fri
Nov 6
Sat
Nov 7
Sun
Nov 8
Mon
Nov 9
Tue
Nov 10
Wed
Nov 11
Thu
Nov 12

24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

Tap or drag to read any hour

Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
73
Fair
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
11 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
84°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
37% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 73 Fair. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.7kn Flood. Wind 11kn E G17. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 84.0°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Sheepshead
Retention open
Daily limit
8 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Legal: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Illegal: multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait; snatching.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum 12 in total length. Vessel limit 50 per trip during March and April. State regulations extend into federal waters. Special regulations apply in Biscayne National Park (not relevant here).
Other species here
Spanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openGray Snapper Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~2 more weeks in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
260-660 ft
Mixed
STRUCTURE
Drop Off
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Bird Key Park
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
81
Top: Common SnookOFF SEASON
Common Snook 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81 · Red Drum 81
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Powers (#7) Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
80
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 80 · Spanish Mackerel 80 · Gray Snapper 80
0006121824
12 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
South Lido Park
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
80
Top: Common SnookOFF SEASON
Common Snook 80 · Red Drum 80 · Spotted Seatrout 80
0006121824
12 kt E
H 2:41 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Nora Patterson Bay Island Park
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
80
Top: Common SnookOFF SEASON
Common Snook 80 · Spotted Seatrout 80 · Red Drum 80
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Bird Key Point

Bird Key Point is an exposed drop-off on the outer edge of the Sarasota Bay region, where mixed bottom falls away along the Gulf-facing side of Bird Key. Common Snook peak here from May through July, Gray Snapper from June through August, and Red Drum in September and October, while Spanish Mackerel run in two windows, March through May and again September through November, and Sheepshead round out the bottom-oriented lineup. The mixed bottom along the drop-off holds Gray Snapper for bottom fishing with live shrimp, live pilchards, cut sardines, or squid, and chumming with live pilchards or frozen chum blocks pulls them up off the structure. Snook anglers work the edge with live pilchards, live pinfish, or live threadfin herring, and switch to paddletail swimbaits or bucktail jigs when the fish key on artificials. On the outer, exposed water, Spanish Mackerel respond to small spoons cast or trolled across the face of the drop.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Bird Key Point scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Bird Key Point is one of the spots we track around Sarasota. More spots in Sarasota · All of Florida.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.