May 2026 Sarasota Fishing Report | What's Biting Offshore This Week

May 2026 Sarasota Fishing Report — Kings, Sharks & Grouper Are Fired Up

May 8, 2026 | Captain Damian Picciano | Siesta Key Sport Fishing Charters

May is one of my favorite months to be offshore out of Siesta Key — and this week did not disappoint. The water is warming up nicely, bait is thick, and the fish are acting like they haven't eaten all winter. Here's exactly what's going on out there right now.

Water Conditions

Water temps are sitting right around 78-80 degrees offshore, which is about perfect for this time of year. Visibility has been excellent — clear blue water starting around 8-10 miles out. We've had light winds most mornings this week, which made for comfortable rides out and some serious fishing once we got to the grounds. If you've been waiting for a good weather window to get out, this is it.

King Mackerel — Nearshore and Going Off

The Kingfish bite has been absolutely on fire this week nearshore. We've been finding them stacked up between 8 and 20 miles out, running bait schools hard on the surface. These are not small fish — we've been landing Kings in the 20-35 pound class consistently, with a couple pushing 40 pounds this week.

We've been catching them on live threadfin herring and scaled sardines on a slow troll right through the bait schools. When you see the birds working and the water boiling, get in there — the Kings won't be far behind. If you love fast surface strikes and screaming drag, King Mackerel in May off Siesta Key is exactly what you need to experience.

Sharks — Everywhere Right Now

I'll be straight with you — the sharks have been showing up on almost every trip this week, and they've been fired up. We've encountered Blacktip, Bull, and Nurse Sharks nearshore, but the real show-stopper has been the Goliath Grouper situation out on the deeper ledges.

Speaking of Goliath Grouper — these giants have been sitting on structure in 60-80 feet of water, and they are not shy. We've had Goliaths pushing 300-400 pounds come up and investigate the bait. These fish are strictly catch and release in Florida, but getting one of these prehistoric creatures to the surface is a bucket list moment for any angler. If you want to feel your arms after a fishing trip, a Goliath on heavy tackle will do it every time.

Red Grouper — Bottom Fishing Has Been Excellent

The Red Grouper bite on the nearshore ledges has been really consistent this week. We've been finding them in 50-70 feet of water on live and cut bait, bottom fishing on hard structure and live bottom. The fish have been good legal size and in solid numbers — we've been limiting out on most trips that have targeted them specifically.

This is prime time for Red Grouper off Sarasota. The water temp is in their sweet spot, bait is plentiful, and they're feeding aggressively. If a cooler full of some of the best-eating fish in the Gulf sounds good to you, book the 3/4 day trip and we'll make it happen.

What to Book Right Now

Here's my honest recommendation for the next few weeks:

If you want King Mackerel action — the Half Day morning trip is perfect. We can get to the Kings in under 30 minutes and be on fish within the first hour. Fast, fun, and the cooler fills up quick.

If you want bottom fishing for Red Grouper plus a shot at Goliath Grouper encounters — book the 3/4 Day trip. Six hours gives us time to work the structure properly, put multiple bait presentations down, and really dial in the bite.

Either way, May is one of the best months of the year to be offshore out of Siesta Key. The weather is good, the fish are active, and the Gulf is beautiful right now.

Ready to Book?

Dates are filling up fast for May and June. Call or text me directly and let's get you out on the water.

📞 Call or Text: 941-376-FISH 🌐 siestakeysportfishingcharters.com

— Captain Damian Picciano Siesta Key Sport Fishing Charters | Sarasota, FL

Tight lines and calm seas — see you out there.