Gulf Fishing Forecast: Tides, Red Tide, and Hot Spots Along Florida's Coast

For those venturing out into the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida coast today, December 20th, here’s what you can expect: ### Tidal Report and Weather In Sarasota, the sun rose at 7:15 AM and will set at 5:40 PM, giving you about 10 hours and 25 minutes of daylight. The tidal coefficient is average at 63, with high tide expected at 5:16 PM and low tide at 10:19 AM and 8:33 PM[2]. ### Red Tide Conditions Before you head out, be aware that Red Tide (*K. brevis*) is present in some areas. In Southwest Florida, background to medium concentrations have been observed in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. Higher concentrations are noted in Lee and Collier counties. However, along the East Coast and in Northwest Florida, Red Tide has not been observed or is at very low concentrations[1]. ### Fish Activity Despite the Red Tide, fishing can still be productive in certain spots. Fish kills have been reported in some areas, but this doesn’t necessarily mean fishing is off-limits everywhere. For example, in Sarasota and surrounding areas, you might find redfish, trout, and snook active in the waters. ### Best Lures and Bait For inshore fishing, shrimp is a versatile bait that works well for redfish, trout, and snook. Pinfish are ideal for larger species, while mud minnows are effective in shallow, murky waters. Threadfin herring are highly effective for snook, especially during their season[3]. ### Hot Spots - **Sarasota Bay**: Known for its diverse fish population, Sarasota Bay is a good spot to try your luck with shrimp or pinfish for redfish and trout. - **Charlotte Harbor**: This area has seen some medium concentrations of Red Tide, but it can still yield good catches of snook and redfish using mud minnows or threadfin herring. ### Yesterday’s Catch While specific catch reports from yesterday are not available, generally, this time of year can be challenging due to cold fronts. However, anglers have reported catching a variety of species including redfish, trout, and snook in the Gulf Coast waters. Be sure to check local fishing reports and adhere to any regulations or advisories due to Red Tide conditions. Good luck on the water This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.