Through the year
Winter (December to February)
Cold fronts set the schedule. The Coast Pilot's table shows seas over 9 feet 3.1 to 5.0 percent of the time in these months, and sea fog is most common from December to early March, ahead of fronts in south to southwest winds. Between fronts, the 78- to 110-foot reefs and wrecks (MD-1, the D-series and the charted wrecks) are within reach. FWC says red grouper prefer water of about 66 to 77°F. Gag spawn from January to May (FWC), peaking in February and March (GCOOS), on shelf-edge sites deeper than about 130 feet; the documented ones, such as Steamboat Lumps, are more than 100 nautical miles from Sarasota. Kingfish winter in South Florida.
Spring (March to May)
The seas settle: the Coast Pilot's table shows seas over 9 feet 2.3 percent of the time in March, 0.8 in April and 0.1 in May. Kingfish move north out of South Florida in spring, and FWC's Tampa Bay guide counts them as nearshore and offshore fish. Red grouper spawn in April and May. Cobia hang around buoys, pilings and wrecks and spawn in spring and early summer, though FWC describes them mainly as inshore and nearshore fish. Blackfin tuna are most common off Florida in fall, winter and spring but usually live past the edge of the continental shelf (Florida Museum), so they're a long shot on Sarasota's runs.
Summer (June to August)
The calmest months, with seas over 9 feet under 1 percent of the time, which favors the long runs. Thunderstorms are the hazard. The Coast Pilot says they're most likely from June through September, in the late afternoon and evening and often at night at sea, on about 10 to 20 days a month in summer. North of Tampa Bay, where the long runs go, offshore storms are most frequent in the evening and early morning and can spring up fast with gusty wind, hail, waterspouts or squall lines. Red snapper (June to October), gray snapper (June to August) and vermilion snapper (April to September) all spawn in summer (FWC). Hurricane season runs June through November, and the Coast Pilot names June, August, September and October as the main months for this coast.
Fall (September to November)
Kingfish head back toward their South Florida wintering water. Gulf seasons for gag, greater amberjack and private-boat red snapper are set each year, and in 2026 all three included early-fall days, so check FWC and NOAA before keeping any. September and October are still hurricane months, and fronts return in fall: seas over 9 feet run 2.0 percent of the time in September, 2.3 in October and 3.0 in November.
How to fish it
Bottom fishing reefs and wrecks
Run to an FWC or NOAA position, then find the structure on the sounder before you stop. FWC warns that reef material can move, break down or get buried and that some positions are historical or unverified, and the Coast Pilot warns that storms can move wrecks from their charted positions. Fish live or cut bait near the bottom on heavy tackle, which is how FWC describes grouper fishing, and use that tackle to pull grouper up off the structure. Federal rules require non-stainless circle hooks with natural bait and a dehooking device. Expect snags on old steel: FWC records shrimp nets tangled on the MD-1 hopper barge.
Amberjack in the middle of the water
FWC says anglers typically use 50- to 100-pound tackle. Almost any lively baitfish works, including blue runners, pinfish, pigfish, grunts, cigar minnows and sand perch. Amberjack swim around above the reef, so use just enough lead to hold the bait in the middle of the water column. When they're fired up they'll also hit topwater plugs, jigs, spoons and diving lures. Set the drag to suit the angler and the gear before you drop.
Snapper
FWC notes snapper take soft-plastic jigs, bucktails and spoons. Natural bait goes on non-stainless circle hooks in federal waters.
Kingfish and cobia
For kingfish, FWC lists pogies, herring, Spanish sardines, ballyhoo and mullet as live baits, plus flashy lures fished under the surface or big fish-shaped plugs, on 20-pound tackle or heavier with a wire or mono leader. For cobia, FWC suggests live crabs or small fish kept near the surface, with just enough weight to get the bait down when the fish are deeper.
Trolling on the long runs
FWC suggests trolling ballyhoo on number 7 or 8 wire with a 7/0 or 8/0 hook along weedlines for dolphin; when one fish from a school is hooked, the rest often stay close, and chumming cut bait can hold them. Troll baits and lures on flatlines for wahoo (FWC). Blackfin are caught trolling and drift fishing (Florida Museum). All three are open-water fish, so expect them on the longest runs rather than on the near reefs.
Releasing fish from depth
Florida Sea Grant says barotrauma typically happens in 50 feet or deeper, which covers every stop out here. Federal rules define a descending device as a weighted hook, lip clamp or box with at least a 16-ounce weight and 60 feet of line, and a venting tool as a sharpened, hollow tool of at least 16 gauge; a knife or an ice pick doesn't count. Return 'Em Right offers free online training and low-cost gear for eligible Gulf anglers.