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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Longboat Key

27.39°N · 82.65°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
76
Good
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
78°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
31% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 76 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.7kn Flood. Wind 9kn E G16. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 77.5°.

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 openCommon Snook Retention openRed Drum 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
5-15 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Flat
Mid

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Walker Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
83
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 83 · Gray Snapper 83 · Spotted Seatrout 83
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Hart Family Reef (#2)
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
81
Top: Red DrumPEAK SEASON
Red Drum 81 · Sheepshead 81 · Spanish Mackerel 81
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m
Near Shore Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
84
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 84 · Gray Snapper 84 · Spanish Mackerel 84
0006121824
11 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L 1:32 PM · -0.0 m
Palma Sola Causeway
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
85
Top: Spotted SeatroutPEAK SEASON
Spotted Seatrout 85 · Red Drum 85 · Common Snook 85
0006121824
11 kt E
H 4:07 AM · 0.8 m
L 1:32 PM · -0.0 m

About Longboat Key

Longboat Key is a sand-bottom flat in the Sarasota Bay region of Florida's Gulf state waters, with depths running from 5 to 15 feet and moderate exposure. Common Snook peak from May through July, Gray Snapper from June through August, and Red Drum in September and October, while Sheepshead round out the inshore lineup. Spanish Mackerel move through in two windows, March through May and September through November, when casting small spoons, jigs, and plugs across the open sand draws strikes. Snook anglers rely on live bait fishing with live pilchards, live pinfish, or live shrimp, and switch to paddletail swimbaits or topwater plugs when casting artificials. Over the shallower sand, sight casting gold spoons or soft plastic jerkbaits to cruising Red Drum is the dominant approach, and bottom fishing with live shrimp or cut sardines produces Gray Snapper in summer.

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

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