Long Bar Point and the north-shore grass flats

Long Bar Point juts into Sarasota Bay from the Manatee County mainland, and the water district's Sarasota Bay plan names the large seagrass meadows on both sides of the bay around it, and along the north shore between New College and Cortez, among the bay's notable habitat. This is the bay's main drift water for trout and redfish. Sarasota Bay proper has the clearest water in the system, thanks to the tide moving through Longboat, New and Big Sarasota passes. Bowlees Creek, one of the bay's urban creeks, comes in along this shore.

How to fish it

Drift the deeper grass edges and sand holes with the wind and tide, using a float rig with live shrimp or a soft-plastic jig, and mark where the fish bite so you can drift that line again. Trout are on the shallow grass in spring and fall and slide to deeper water in the hottest and coldest weather. Spanish mackerel work the grass edges on their runs, so watch for birds. In winter, try the Bowlees Creek mouth for snook. A push pole, trolling motor or kayak lets you fish the shallowest grass without tearing it up.