Jack Crevalle Schooling and Reds Slotting Up in Sarasota Bay

What's Biting

What's Next

With water temps already sitting at 78–79°F and light winds holding at 2–3 m/s (NOAA buoys 42036 and 42013), the near-term outlook for Tampa Bay and Sarasota favors continued strong inshore action over the coming days. No dramatic cold-front pattern is typical for mid-May in this region, so expect conditions to hold or tick slightly warmer as the week advances toward the weekend.

Jack Crevalle will remain the most reliable topwater target. Per Capt. Brandon Naeve at CB's Saltwater Outfitters, these fish school predictably around oyster bars, seawalls, and inlets throughout May — look for diving birds as the top locator. Early-morning poppers or fast-retrieved jigs are the go-to approach; once the sun climbs, shift to subsurface presentations worked along structure. Schooling behavior typically intensifies as water temps press past 80°F, so this bite should improve heading into the back half of May.

Redfish should continue to hold on shallow grass flats and around structure. Capt. Chuck Cress (CB's Saltwater Outfitters) has been consistently finding upper-slot fish in the 20–25-inch range — paddletail soft plastics worked slowly over grass or live bait under a popping cork are reliable choices. On the waning crescent moon, tidal pulls will be moderate; prioritize incoming tides that push baitfish onto the flats and concentrate reds near feeding edges.

Trout are widely reported as active statewide per Captain Rick Murphy's Florida Insider report. Grass flats adjacent to deeper channels should hold fish through morning hours before midday heat pushes them deeper. Jigs and live shrimp under a float remain the standard. As May deepens toward June, larger trout tend to retreat during peak heat — plan tides to fish flats in low-light windows.

Snook are staging near passes and around docks as temps approach their pre-spawn range. Slot-fish encounters should increase through the rest of May. Focus on current-washed passes and bridge pilings on outgoing tides, and check current state regs before keeping any fish, as spawn-period closures typically apply.

Context

Mid-May in Tampa Bay and Sarasota historically marks a seasonal inflection point when water temps cross the 78–80°F threshold that fully activates the region's inshore species mix, shifting the fishery from the variable spring pattern into the reliable late-spring peak. This year's buoy readings of 78–79°F are consistent with an on-schedule season — no anomalies in either direction.

Jack Crevalle activity in Sarasota Bay during April and May is a well-established seasonal marker for this region. Capt. Brandon Naeve's current reports from CB's Saltwater Outfitters confirm the fish are right on cue, schooling near the surface and chasing baitfish exactly as they typically do from mid-spring through early summer. This window closes somewhat once summer heat disperses the surface schools, so the next few weeks represent peak opportunity.

The inshore slam of trout, redfish, and snook on the same outing is a signature Tampa Bay and Sarasota achievement. CB's Saltwater Outfitters has documented it this spring, and it reflects the diversity of this fishery at its seasonal best. Historically, May is one of the few months when all three species are simultaneously accessible on the same shallow flats and passes before the summer spawn cycle begins to shift snook behavior and push trout deeper.

Snook typically stage near passes and coastal structure in May ahead of the June full-moon spawning runs. This timing is consistent with current reports of fish building around passes and docks. Florida snook regulations typically include a seasonal harvest closure during the spawn — confirm current rules with FWC before harvesting any fish, as window dates can vary by region.

Overall, the intel and conditions align closely with a normal mid-May Tampa Bay and Sarasota pattern. No sources flagged anything unusually early or late this season.