What's Biting FLSarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
Sheepshead in Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor
Fiddler crabs, shrimp and barnacles fished tight to pilings, bridges, jetties and reefs. Winter spawning aggregations are the best time.
Next seven days
| Day | Bite | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 6 | Strong tide swing 2.5 ft |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Heat, fish early or late. Strong tide swing 2.3 ft |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Rain likely 85%. Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 6 | Heat, fish early or late. Storms possible, fish early and watch the sky |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 6 | Heat, fish early or late |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 7 | Light wind. Heat, fish early or late |
| Thu, Nov 5 | 6 | Heat, fish early or late |
Seasonal pattern
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Editorial baseline for Florida. Green months are prime, yellow fair, red slow. Preferred water temperature 50–75°F.
Regulations that apply here
Applies to: Gulf and Atlantic State Waters
| Species / zone | Season | Size | Bag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheepshead Statewide | open now Open year-round | 12" total length | 8 per person Vessel Limit: 50 per trip during March and April | Legal Gear: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig Illegal Gear: Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook in conjunction with live or dead natural bait; Snatching prohibited State regulations extend into federal waters. Vessel limit of 50 per trip applies during March and April. Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park. |
- Oysters have closed seasons, bag limits, size limits and can only be legally harvested in specific shellfish harvesting areas that are classified as "approved" or "conditionally approved" and in the "open" status. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture manages these shellfish harvesting areas.
- Barnacles do not have size limits or specified bag limits, which means that you can harvest up to 100 pounds per person per day with a recreational saltwater fishing license and you can use them to chum sheepshead. You can also simply scrape them off bridge piles and allow them to sink and attract sheepshead. Do not scrape barnacles from private docks or other private structures without permission of the property owner.
Source: FWC, extracted 2026-10-29.