ReelCaster
Back to map
Shore spot · BeachFlorida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay RegionSheepshead · Open

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park

27.30°N · 82.55°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
29% 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 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 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
Small park at the Siesta Key end of the Siesta Drive bridge, with a short walk to the shoreline. Fish the moving tide.
HOW IT'S FISHED
Casting live shrimp toward the bridge and channel edge

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
0006121824
12 kt E
H 2:41 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
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
Alan Fisher Reef
Florida Gulf State Waters: Sarasota Bay Region
81
Top: Spanish MackerelPEAK SEASON
Spanish Mackerel 81 · Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81
0006121824
11 kt E
H 2:34 AM · 0.7 m
L — · 0.0 m

About Nora Patterson Bay Island Park

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park is a small shoreline park on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida, fronting the waters of the Sarasota Bay region. Sheepshead lead the winter fishing from December through March, Spotted Seatrout peak in March, April, and October, and Common Snook take over from May through July. Red Drum peak in September and October. Bottom fishing with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas targets Sheepshead along the shoreline, while snook anglers rely on live bait fishing with live pilchards, live pinfish, or live shrimp. Seatrout respond to a popping cork rigged with live shrimp, and Red Drum take cut mullet or blue crabs fished on the bottom.

CUSTOM ALERT
Notify me when Nora Patterson Bay Island Park scores 75+
Email free · SMS available with Reelcaster Pro
Got questions?

Nora Patterson Bay Island Park is one of the spots we track around Sarasota. More spots in Sarasota · All of Florida.

Looking for the full interactive map? Open Explore.