Sailfish season out of Sarasota
Sailfish fishing out of Sarasota starts in late spring, when billfish season begins in the Gulf of Mexico. FishingBooker’s Sarasota offshore breakdown lists June through August.
When it starts
Late spring opens billfish season off Sarasota, and the listed window runs June through August:
- Start: late spring
- Listed window: June through August
Biology and general behavior are covered in the sailfish species guide.
The run west: The Elbow and the West Drop
Sailfish boats out of Sarasota run about 50 miles west to The Elbow and the West Drop on 12-hour trips, per FishingBooker. Kokomo Charters also lists sailfish on its 12-hour long-range trips. The Gulf of Mexico sailfish guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide) covers the regional picture; this page stays with the port.
Run distance
The numbers:
- Distance out: about 50 miles
- Round trip: about 100 miles
- Trip length: 12 hours, as listed by FishingBooker and Kokomo
Plan fuel, daylight and return conditions around the round trip, since the trip home is what you have to budget for.
Reading conditions
The nearest NDBC station is C-MAN VENF1 at Venice, 27.072 N 82.453 W. It is a coastal station, so it reports conditions at the coast and says little about the water 50 miles west.
Read wind, wave height and period as numbers, and check the official NWS marine forecast before the run. Current readings for the port are on the Sarasota conditions page.
Grounds and structure off Sarasota
Every mark below is measured from the New Pass Gulf marker unless the table says otherwise. These are named structures near the port and along the route out, ordered by distance.
| Spot | Depth (ft) | Bearing (° magnetic) | Distance | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-2 Fisher reef | 30 | 239 | 1.43 nm | New Pass |
| I-1 Silvertooth reef | 25 | 187 | 1.74 nm | New Pass |
| Cuda Hole / Table Rock ledge | 49 | 246 | 9.54 miles | New Pass Gulf marker |
| The Gully | not listed | 259 | 10.29 miles | New Pass |
| Casey Key Beach / Grassy Key ledges | 25 (5-8 ft ledges) | 152 | 11 nm | not listed |
| Old Barge | 80 | 249.6 | 17.69 miles | New Pass |
| Swiss Cheese | 70-85+ | about 250 | 18 miles | New Pass |
| Point of Rocks (Siesta Key) | not listed | not listed | not listed | Off Siesta Key beach |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
These bearings are reference points. Chart layers, including Chart Contours, are not for navigation, so verify every mark on your own chartplotter.
Nearshore reefs
I-1 Silvertooth and I-2 Fisher sit inside 2 nm of New Pass in 25 to 30 ft. Point of Rocks lies off Siesta Key beach.
Ledges and hard bottom
Cuda Hole, The Gully, Old Barge and Swiss Cheese line the westward route between about 9.5 and 18 miles. Casey Key and Grassy Key lie south at 152 degrees, with 5 to 8 ft ledges.
How sailfish are fished here and who fishes them
Sailfish here are trolled, with spreads and outriggers putting several lines in the water. This is the working method for sailfish fishing out of Sarasota.
Trolling spreads
Spreads and outriggers cover more water and run multiple lines at once. FishingBooker describes this method for fast pelagics on these long runs.
Tournament
The Sarasota Slam tournament has a billfish division.
Charters
Two local charters list sailfish:
- Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures: Capt. Tim Noe, based on Siesta Key, 42 ft Freeman.
- Kokomo Charters: the Kai Fin, a 45 ft federally permitted six-pack, with Captain Rob. Kokomo lists sailfish on 12-hour long-range trips.
More operators are covered in our billfish fishing guides.
FAQ: sailfish fishing out of Sarasota
How far offshore are sailfish from Sarasota?
About 50 miles west to The Elbow and the West Drop on 12-hour trips, per FishingBooker. That is about 100 miles round trip.
When is sailfish season in Sarasota?
Late spring starts billfish season, and FishingBooker lists June through August.
Which buoy do I check?
NDBC C-MAN VENF1 at Venice, 27.072 N 82.453 W. It is a coastal station, so it does not report conditions 50 miles out. Check the NWS marine forecast too, and see the Sarasota port page.
Who runs sailfish charters out of Sarasota?
Gulfcoast Offshore Ventures (Capt. Tim Noe, Siesta Key, 42 ft Freeman) and Kokomo Charters (Kai Fin, 45 ft, Captain Rob).
Is there a billfish tournament?
Yes. The Sarasota Slam has a billfish division.
