Sarasota Fishing Charters
& Deep Sea Fishing

Compare 42 Sarasota fishing charters, with deep sea and inshore & bay trips. Contact the captain directly by phone or through their website. We don't take bookings or fees.

Contact details checked on each captain's own website

When are you going?

Typical conditions for the month, from NOAA records.

Charters in Sarasota

Call or visit a captain's website to ask about trips, dates and prices. If they're out on the water, leave a message.

42 charters in Sarasota

Fish you can catch out of Sarasota

Counted from what each captain lists on their own website. Open each for the season and limits.

Cobia27Redfish23Speckled Trout23King Mackerel22Snook22Tarpon20Shark17Mangrove Snapper16Pompano16Spanish Mackerel15

Deep sea fishing in Sarasota

21 of the 42 charters in Sarasota list offshore trips on their own websites.

Offshore fish you can keep in September

State or federal water

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Which side of that line you fish on can change the season and the limits.

Federally permitted boats

Aboard a charter with a federal Gulf reef fish permit, the federal season applies to red snapper, gag grouper and amberjack, even inside state waters. Ask whether the boat is federally permitted.

Harvest status is September's rule for Sarasota from FWC and NOAA Fisheries; state-waters distances are FWC's. Tap a fish for dates, sizes and limits.

Fishing in Sarasota, month by month

What 14 Sarasota charters say on their own websites about when each fish is around. Each number is how many different charters name that fish in that month; three is the fewest we print.

FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecCharters
Tarpon··336543····7
Redfish33·········34
Snook···33·······5
Red snapper·····3·3····3

Read down a column for a month, across a row for a season. A dot means fewer than three charters name it.

  • Tarpon — “June is a fantastic month for catching large fish in Siesta Key including Tarpon and many” calibratedtours.com
  • Redfish — “Redfish thrive during the winter months, often tailing on sunny afternoons in shallow flats.” reeladdictionsrq.com
  • Red snapper — “Amberjack fishing is May 1 - May 31, then August - September Red Snapper season is June 1 - July 21 Trips are getting booked fast, so act now!” charterboatshark.com

What a trip costs in Sarasota

The rates Sarasota charters publish on their own websites, by trip length. These are the price of the whole boat, and a range across many boats rather than any one boat's rate. Read on 2026-09-23. Confirm with the captain when you call.

  • Half day (3-5 hours)$525 – $800 21 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $650
  • Three-quarter day (6-7 hours)$700 – $1,000 13 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $800
  • Full day (8+ hours)$900 – $1,675 6 charters publish a rate · middle of the range $1,187

Prices move, and a quiet Tuesday is not a holiday weekend. Nothing here is a booking; we take no fee and hold no rates.

Where the boats leave from, and where they fish

Docks and fishing grounds named by Sarasota charters on their own websites. A place is listed when at least two of them name it.

Departure docks and marinas

  • Charlotte Harbor2 charters

    “Located between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor , Sarasota Bay along with its gulf coast beaches serve as a highway between these two large estuaries.”

Fishing grounds they name

  • Siesta Key25 charters

    “Whether its Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, or Venice BreakWater Charters is centrally located at New Pass Grill and Baitshop in Sarasota FL.”

  • Sarasota Bay18 charters

    “Secure your place on a Sarasota Bay fishing charter and prepare for an unforgettable adventure.”

  • Longboat Key14 charters

    “Whether its Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, or Venice BreakWater Charters is centrally located at New Pass Grill and Baitshop in Sarasota FL.”

  • Lido Key13 charters

    “Whether its Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, or Venice BreakWater Charters is centrally located at New Pass Grill and Baitshop in Sarasota FL.”

  • Big Pass5 charters

    “We’ll fish, then head to Big Pass to enjoy the sunset.”

  • Casey Key3 charters

    “If staying on one of the nearby islands get ready for a great adventure; Casey Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key, St.”

  • Bird Key3 charters

    “We offer fishing charters to sea-goers in Sarasota, Southgate, Bird Key, and Sarasota County, FL, welcoming anglers of all ages and experience levels.”

  • Tampa Bay3 charters

    “Located between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor , Sarasota Bay along with its gulf coast beaches serve as a highway between these two large estuaries.”

Planning a trip to Sarasota

Check tides for your dates, see what each month is usually like, and see the closest airports.

Tides on your fishing day

Choose a date to see high and low tide

NOAA tide predictions for Sarasota, Sarasota Bay.

Typical conditions by month

  • Warmest water: May to September
  • Fewest rainy days: November and April
  • Coolest water: January, around 62°F
  • Warmest air: August, highs near 92°F

Closest airports

With airline service

  • SRQSarasota/Bradenton International 4 miles away
  • PIESt. Pete-Clearwater International 40 miles away

Local public airports

  • VNCVenice Municipal 20 miles away
  • 48XManatee 21 miles away
  • X36Buchan 26 miles away

Straight-line miles from the centre of Sarasota.

See the month-by-month averages
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sunset5:58 PM6:22 PM7:39 PM7:55 PM8:12 PM8:26 PM8:27 PM8:08 PM7:35 PM7:02 PM5:39 PM5:38 PM
Water62°66°72°76°83°86°89°88°86°79°72°67°
Air (high)72°75°78°82°88°90°91°92°90°86°80°75°
Rainy days43434911128433

Water temperature: NOAA Port Manatee station (22 miles away), 2021-2025 averages. Air temperature and rainy days: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, SARASOTA BRADENTON AP. A rainy day has 0.1 inch of rain or more. Tides: NOAA predictions for Sarasota, Sarasota Bay. Sunrise and sunset: Calculated for Sarasota, 15th of each month. Airports: FAA airport registry for public-use airports and their locations, FAA CY2024 passenger boardings for which have airline service, town centre from the Census 2024 gazetteer, Sarasota city.

What you can keep out of Sarasota in September

Harvest rules for the fish these charters name, under the seasons FWC and NOAA Fisheries list for 2026. Being open is not the same as being in season to catch.

You can keep one

Harvest closed this month

Catch and release only

Seasons change, sometimes mid-season. Each fish links to its own page with the dates, sizes and limits, and the agency they came from. Confirm with your captain before keeping anything.

Questions about fishing charters in Sarasota

What happens if it is too windy to go offshore?

Often the trip just moves inshore rather than being called off — 15 of the 42 boats here run both, so a blown-out morning can become a back-country or bay trip. Ask what the captain does with weather, and what the cancellation terms are.

Back-country or offshore — which trip should I book in Sarasota?

They are different days on different water. 6 charters here list offshore only, 5 list inshore only, and 15 list both. Offshore means a longer run and bigger fish; inshore means calmer water, shorter runs and sight-fishing. The month-by-month table above shows which fish the fleet says are around when you are coming.

How long is a trip out of Sarasota?

Four and six hours are the lengths Sarasota captains list most often, with longer days at eight. The clock starts at the dock rather than at the fishing grounds, so the run out and back comes out of your time on the fish.

Do I need to bring rods and tackle to Sarasota?

No. Rods, reels, bait and tackle come with the boat on every Sarasota charter that says so on its own site — fly anglers are the exception, and usually bring their own. As Sarasota Reef Charters LLC puts it: “We offer value-focused pricing with full transparency—gear, bait, licensing, and fuel are included.”

Do Sarasota charters clean your catch?

Most do, at the dock when you come in, and a good few say so plainly on their own sites. As Reel addiction inshore sportfishing puts it: “At the end of the fishing trip, we clean and bag your catch, if you decide to keep it.” Whether it costs anything is up to the boat, so ask when you book.

What should I bring on a Sarasota charter?

Sun protection and your own food and drink. Food, drinks, snacks and sunglasses come up most often on Sarasota charter sites.

Are there family-friendly fishing charters in Sarasota?

22 charters in Sarasota mention kids or families on their websites. Ask the captain about children's life jackets, trip length and whether there's a restroom on board.

How do I book a charter in Sarasota?

Call the captain or use their website. CharterFishingBoat doesn't take bookings or payments, and there's no fee to use the directory.

What should I ask the captain?

Ask what the trip includes, how long it lasts, how many people can come, what you're likely to catch that time of year, and the cancellation policy if the weather turns.

Where do state waters end off Sarasota?

Florida state waters in the Gulf run from shore to 9 miles out; beyond that is federal water. Federal seasons and limits apply beyond it, and for some fish they also apply to federally permitted charter boats inside state waters.

When is the water warmest near Sarasota?

May through September, when the nearest NOAA station averages 83–89°F. It's coolest in January, around 62°F.

What airports are closest to Sarasota?

The closest airports with airline service are Sarasota/Bradenton International (SRQ), 4 miles away and St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE), 40 miles away. Local public airports nearby: Venice Municipal (VNC), 20 miles away, Manatee (48X), 21 miles away and Buchan (X36), 26 miles away. Distances are straight-line miles from the centre of town.

How many fishing charters are in Sarasota?

This page lists 42 fishing charters in Sarasota, Florida, each with a phone number and website checked on the captain's own site.

Charters near Sarasota

Longboat Key7Bradenton15Bradenton Beach9Palmetto10Holmes Beach13Ellenton3

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