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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Coon Key

27.32°N · 82.57°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
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
Spotted Seatrout Retention openGray Snapper Retention openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel 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
0-20 ft
Mud
STRUCTURE
Bay
Inner Protected

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
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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
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11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Coon Key

Coon Key is a protected inner-bay spot in the Sarasota Bay region of Florida's Gulf state waters, where mud bottom runs from the shallows out to about 20 feet. Common Snook peak here from May through July, Gray Snapper from June through August, and Red Drum in September and October, with Sheepshead also among the resident targets. Spanish Mackerel move through in two windows, March through May and again September through November. Snook anglers work the sheltered water with live pilchards, live pinfish, and live shrimp, and cast paddletail swimbaits and soft plastic jerkbaits along the shallower edges. Over the mud bottom, Gray Snapper and Red Drum respond to bottom fishing with live shrimp and cut bait, while Red Drum on the flats draw sight casting with gold spoons.

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

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