When amberjack are off Sarasota
Amberjack show up on Kokomo Charters’ 8-hour offshore trips, and FishingBooker places them on the larger wrecks 20+ miles out. Fishing for greater amberjack out of Sarasota means a run to deep wrecks past New Pass. No month window turned up for Sarasota, and the source says "amberjack" without specifying greater. The passes, ramps and conditions sources are on the Sarasota port page. Every bearing and distance below is measured from the New Pass Gulf marker. For the wider coast, see the greater amberjack fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
- Local trip listing: Kokomo’s 8-hour offshore trips list amberjack.
- General pattern: larger wrecks 20+ miles out.
- Starting mark: the Old Barge in 80 ft.
How far boats run from New Pass
Boats start looking for large amberjack at the Old Barge, 17.69 miles at 249.6 degrees magnetic from the New Pass Gulf marker, in 80 ft. The broader pattern is larger deep wrecks 20+ miles out. The Old Barge is the nearer starting mark, and the 20+ mile wrecks are the next step offshore.
The Old Barge
Capt. Tony Blizzard starts looking for large amberjack at the Old Barge. He calculates his offshore bearings and distances from the New Pass Gulf marker and publishes them as Blizzard’s local GPS marks.
- Depth: 80 ft
- Bearing: 249.6 degrees magnetic
- Distance: 17.69 miles from the New Pass Gulf marker
These are published bearings from a local captain, not surveyed positions. Check them against your own chart. Chart layers and these marks are not for navigation.
Deeper wrecks past 20 miles
FishingBooker describes the general pattern as amberjack on larger wrecks 20+ miles out. These wrecks and the Old Barge are places to look for fish, and neither guarantees them.
Checking VENF1 before the run
Read NDBC station VENF1 readings at Venice (27.072 N 82.453 W) for wind, wave height and period before you clear New Pass. VENF1 is a coastal C-MAN station, so it does not report conditions at the Old Barge, 17.69 miles offshore. Read the numbers, then read the official marine forecast.
Grounds and structure off New Pass
The amberjack ground off New Pass starts in 70 to 85+ ft at the Old Barge and the Swiss Cheese, about 18 miles out. Shallower marks sit closer in. The I-1 Silvertooth reef, the I-2 Fisher reef and the Casey Key ledges are nearshore structure of the kind covered in our reef fish pages.
| Name | Depth | Bearing (magnetic) | Distance from New Pass | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Barge | 80 ft | 249.6 degrees magnetic | 17.69 miles | Amberjack ground. Blizzard starts looking for large amberjack here |
| Swiss Cheese | 70-85+ ft | About 250 degrees magnetic | 18 miles | Deep ground, same depth band |
| The Gully | Not listed | 259 degrees magnetic | 10.29 miles | Mid-range ground |
| Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge | 49 ft | 246 degrees magnetic | 9.54 miles | Ledge on the way out |
| Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges | 25 ft | 152 degrees magnetic | 11 nm | 5-8 ft ledges |
| I-1 Silvertooth reef | 25 ft | 187 degrees magnetic | 1.74 nm | Nearshore reef |
| I-2 Fisher reef | 30 ft | 239 degrees magnetic | 1.43 nm | Nearshore reef |
| Point of Rocks (Siesta Key) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Off Siesta Key beach |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The Old Barge and the Swiss Cheese sit on nearly the same line, 249.6 and about 250 degrees magnetic, 17.69 and 18 miles out. Point of Rocks sits off Siesta Key beach, and the I-reefs lie within 2 nm of New Pass.
How amberjack are fished here
Amberjack off Sarasota are caught bottom fishing on the offshore wrecks. Tackle and behavior are covered in the greater amberjack species guide.
Bottom fishing the wrecks
Bottom fishing on wrecks is the local method, worked over the roughly 80 ft ground listed above.
Read the sounder first
Watch the sounder on the approach to the Old Barge, not just the plotter. You may see the fish before you see the structure, and marks on the screen can tell you more than the waypoint alone.
Who fishes for them out of Sarasota
Four Sarasota charters list greater amberjack: Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters, Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures, Kokomo Charters and Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters.
Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters (FISH TALES)
Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters runs FISH TALES, a 2001 Luhrs 40 ft sportfisher. Captain Tyler is named on the operator’s FAQ.
Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures
Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures is Capt. Tim Noe, based on Siesta Key, running a 42 ft Freeman.
Kokomo Charters (Kai Fin)
Kokomo Charters runs Kai Fin, a 45 ft federally permitted six-pack with Captain Rob. Kokomo’s 8-hour offshore trips list amberjack.
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters (Capt. Tony Blizzard)
Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters is Capt. Tony Blizzard, whose site footer gives Ken Thompson Parkway, Dock 3. He is the source of the Old Barge mark.
FAQ about greater amberjack fishing out of Sarasota
How far out do you run for amberjack from Sarasota?
The Old Barge is 17.69 miles at 249.6 degrees magnetic from the New Pass Gulf marker, and Blizzard starts looking there for large amberjack. Larger wrecks 20+ miles out are the general pattern. Check against your own chart.
What depth holds amberjack off New Pass?
About 80 ft. The Old Barge sits in 80 ft and the Swiss Cheese runs 70-85+ ft. The ledges and reefs in 25 to 49 ft are nearshore structure.
What are the best months for amberjack off Sarasota?
No month window turned up for Sarasota. Local trip listings, such as Kokomo’s 8-hour trips, carry amberjack. The open season comes from FWC and federal rules, covered in the Regulations section above. Check them before fishing.
Which buoy should you check before running offshore?
NDBC VENF1 at Venice (27.072 N 82.453 W) gives wind, wave height and period. It is a coastal station, so it does not report conditions at the wrecks. Pair it with the official marine forecast.
Which Sarasota charters target greater amberjack?
Four operators list greater amberjack. Sarasota Offshore Fishing Charters runs FISH TALES, a 40 ft Luhrs. Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures runs a 42 ft Freeman with Capt. Tim Noe. Kokomo Charters runs Kai Fin, a 45 ft federally permitted six-pack. Capt. Tony Blizzard runs Sarasota Bay Fishing Charters.
Do the nearshore reefs hold amberjack?
The marks where local captains look for amberjack are the deep wrecks in about 80 ft, such as the Old Barge. I-1 Silvertooth and I-2 Fisher sit in 25 to 30 ft within 2 nm of New Pass. The local sources make no claim either way for those two reefs.
