When gags are around Sarasota
Charters list gags in other months as catch-and-release or bycatch, so timing here depends on which months you can keep one. The agencies set the open period, so it appears in the Regulations section below rather than on this page. The same fishery along the rest of the coast is in the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
Outside that period you still run into gags on the same hard bottom and reefs, usually while fishing for something else. Rig for a fast release before you leave the dock, and read the gag grouper guide for how the species behaves across its range.
- Catch-and-release months: Charters list gags as release fish.
- Bycatch months: Gags turn up on bottom gear aimed at other reef fish.
- Open period: See the Regulations section.
Where boats run from New Pass
Gag grouper fishing out of Sarasota starts at New Pass. The grounds below give bearings, distances and depths for the reefs, ledges and hard bottom that boats run to from that inlet, from 1.43 nm out to about 18 miles. Every bearing is magnetic. Use them to put yourself in the area, then drift and mark. They are a better starting point, not a guaranteed pin.
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters names The Gully, Cuda Hole and Swiss Cheese. The core gag depth band across these grounds is about 49-85 ft, and the nearshore reefs sit shallower, at 25-30 ft. Chart layers and published waypoints are not for navigation, so check every number against your own chart and sounder.
| Ground | Depth | Bearing (magnetic) | Distance | Reference point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-2 Fisher reef | 30 ft | 239° | 1.43 nm | New Pass |
| I-1 Silvertooth reef | 25 ft | 187° | 1.74 nm | New Pass |
| Point of Rocks | Off Siesta Key beach | Siesta Key | ||
| Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge | 49 ft | 246° | 9.54 miles | New Pass Gulf marker |
| The Gully | 259° | 10.29 miles | New Pass | |
| Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges | 25 ft (5-8 ft ledges) | 152° | 11 nm | |
| Old Barge | 80 ft | 249.6° | 17.69 miles | New Pass |
| Swiss Cheese | 70-85+ ft | About 250° | About 18 miles | New Pass |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Some distances are in nautical miles and some in miles, as the sources print them.
Nearshore reefs
I-2 Fisher reef sits in 30 ft, 1.43 nm from New Pass at 239°. I-1 Silvertooth reef sits in 25 ft, 1.74 nm out at 187°. Point of Rocks lies off Siesta Key beach. FishingBooker notes that gags tend to sit around reefs closer to shore, which is why these shallow spots belong on your list.
Ledges inside 12 miles
Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge is in 49 ft, 9.54 miles from the New Pass Gulf marker at 246°. The Gully lies 10.29 miles from New Pass at 259°. The Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges lie 11 nm out at 152°, in 25 ft of water with ledges of 5-8 ft. The two numbers measure different things: 25 ft is the water depth, and 5-8 ft is the height of the ledge.
Offshore hard bottom
Old Barge sits in 80 ft, 17.69 miles from New Pass at 249.6°. Swiss Cheese covers 70-85+ ft, about 18 miles out at about 250°. It is the drift-and-mark ground of the group, and the next section covers how it is fished.
Reading conditions at VENF1
Before the run, check wind, wave height and period at NDBC station VENF1 at Venice, the C-MAN station at 27.072 N 82.453 W. Compare the readings with the official NWS marine forecast. They describe Venice, not your reef, and the distance between the two is part of the call you make.
How gags are fished here
Gag fishing out of Sarasota is hard-bottom and ledge work, the same style used across Gulf reef fish grounds. Two approaches show up in the local sources.
Drifting live bait on hard bottom
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters describes Swiss Cheese as a drift-and-mark area. Hard bottom there shows little on a bottom recorder, so you drift live bait on the bottom and mark what you find. The area runs from about 70 ft to over 85 ft.
- Drift: Let the boat cross the hard bottom with live bait on the bottom.
- Mark: Save the spot where you get bites or see the bottom change.
- Repeat: Run back up the drift line and cover the bottom again.
Working nearshore reefs and structure
FishingBooker notes that gags tend to sit around reefs closer to shore and are usually found around some type of structure. Fisher and Silvertooth, at 30 ft and 25 ft, fit that description. Start on the structure itself and work outward from it.
Who fishes gags out of Sarasota
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters lists gag grouper. Capt. Tony Blizzard runs it, and it sails from Ken Thompson Pkwy Dock 3, per the site footer. The charter publishes its New Pass bearings and distances, and the Swiss Cheese drift method, on its local GPS locations page. Several of the numbers above come from that page, so you can read them at the source.
FAQ: gag grouper fishing out of Sarasota
How far do boats run from New Pass?
From 1.43 nm to Fisher reef, out to about 18 miles for Swiss Cheese. The Gully sits 10.29 miles out at 259° magnetic.
What depth holds gags here?
About 49-85 ft on the ledges and hard bottom. The nearshore reefs sit shallower, at 25-30 ft.
What is Swiss Cheese?
A hard-bottom drift-and-mark area in 70-85+ ft, about 18 miles from New Pass at about 250° magnetic. Anglers drift live bait on the bottom there.
Can you fish gags outside the open season?
Charters list gags in other months as catch-and-release or bycatch. Check the rules on the pages linked in the Regulations section before you fish.
Where can I check conditions before the run?
NDBC station VENF1 at Venice reports wind, wave height and period. Pair it with the official NWS marine forecast.
