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Shore spot · BeachFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

John Ringling Causeway Park

27.33°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
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
Common Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpotted Seatrout 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

SHORE PROFILE

FISHED FROM
Beach
ACCESS
On foot
No boat needed
GETTING THERE
Roadside parking along the causeway, with a few steps to the seawall and shoreline near the bridge. Night and moving tides are productive.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Live shrimp fished near bridge structure

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 John Ringling Causeway Park

John Ringling Causeway Park is a beach-access shoreline spot on the John Ringling Causeway in Sarasota, Florida, set within the Sarasota Bay region of the Gulf state waters. Sheepshead lead the winter action from December through March, with bottom fishing using live shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or oysters as the dominant approach. Common snook peak from May through July and respond to live bait fishing with live pilchards, live pinfish, live shrimp, or live threadfin herring. Red drum move through in September and October, when anglers sight cast with gold spoons, soft plastic jerkbaits, or cut bait, or bottom fish with cut mullet and blue crabs. Spotted seatrout peak in March, April, and October, and a popping cork rigged with live shrimp or soft plastic shrimp imitations covers the bay water off the beach.

CUSTOM ALERT
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John Ringling Causeway Park is one of the spots we track around Sarasota. More spots in Sarasota · All of Florida.

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