Weekend fishing itinerary near Sarasota

Two days, 4 stops on 4 public waters, all within 75 minutes of Sarasota. Each stop below has its drive time, its access point and the fish recorded there.

Day 1

Morning: Sarasota Bay

Start the day on Sarasota Bay, launching from the ramp below.

Sarasota Bay is a 4-minute drive from downtown Sarasota. Launch at Sarasota Centennial Park, the public ramp on Sarasota Bay closest to downtown (≈ 1.3 mi). Public access on Sarasota Bay: 11 boat ramps and 9 piers. Surveyed depths reach 22 ft. Recorded here: Sheepshead, Crevalle Jack, Common Snook, and Black Sea Bass.

14 min · 1.9 mi

EstuarySaltwater

Sarasota Bay

Manatee

Sarasota Centennial Park16

max 22 ft · surveyed

Water page

From Sarasota Centennial Park to Phillippi Estate Park: 11 min by road (6.4 mi).

Evening: Phillippi Estate Park

End the day at Phillippi Estate Park — no boat needed.

Little Sarasota Bay is a 8-minute drive from downtown Sarasota. Phillippi Estate Park: pier on Little Sarasota Bay, ≈ 4.5 mi from downtown. Public access on Little Sarasota Bay: 10 boat ramps and 3 piers. Surveyed depths reach 15 ft. Recorded here: Common Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and Tarpon.

28 min · 4.9 mi

EstuarySaltwater

Little Sarasota Bay

Sarasota

Phillippi Estate Park11

max 15 ft · surveyed

Water page

Day 2

Morning: Lake Thonotosassa

Start the day on Lake Thonotosassa, launching from the ramp below.

Lake Thonotosassa is a 71-minute drive from downtown Sarasota. Launch at Baker Creek Public Boat Ramp (Closed at Night), the public ramp on Lake Thonotosassa closest to downtown (≈ 51.7 mi). Public access on Lake Thonotosassa: 1 boat ramp. Recorded here: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and Redear.

371 min · 59.8 mi

Lake

Lake Thonotosassa

Hillsborough

Baker Creek Public Boat Ramp (Closed at Night)20

Water page

From Baker Creek Public Boat Ramp (Closed at Night) to Weedon Island: 45 min by road (31.6 mi).

Evening: Weedon Island

End the day at Weedon Island — no boat needed.

Old Tampa Bay is a 60-minute drive from downtown Sarasota. Weedon Island: pier on Old Tampa Bay, ≈ 35.4 mi from downtown. Public access on Old Tampa Bay: 20 boat ramps and 10 piers. Surveyed depths reach 93 ft. Recorded here: Common Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and Tarpon.

460 min · 45.8 mi

EstuarySaltwater

Old Tampa Bay

Pinellas

Weedon Island17

max 93 ft · surveyed

Water page

When the fish bite here

By our bite calendar, November is a slow month around Sarasota for the fish recorded at these stops — the bars on each card show when each one picks up.