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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Coconut Bayou

27.30°N · 82.56°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
73
Fair
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
12 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
84°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
26% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 73 Fair. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.7kn Flood. Wind 12kn E G17. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 83.8°.

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
Common Snook Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel 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
3-12 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

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

About Coconut Bayou

Coconut Bayou is a protected inner bay off Sarasota Bay, where a sand bottom holds 5 to 10 feet of water sheltered from open Gulf exposure. Common Snook peak here from May through July, Gray Snapper from June through August, and Red Drum in September and October, with Sheepshead rounding out the inshore mix. Spanish Mackerel push through in two runs, March through May and again September through November. Snook anglers work live pilchards, live pinfish, and live shrimp across the sand, switching to paddletail swimbaits and topwater plugs when fish are active in the shallower edges. Red Drum respond to sight casting with gold spoons and soft plastic jerkbaits, while Gray Snapper come to bottom fishing with live shrimp and cut sardines.

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Coconut Bayou is one of the spots we track around Sarasota. More spots in Sarasota · All of Florida.

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