For anglers, changing weather conditions equal varied catch
For yet another week, we are experiencing a wide variety of wind and weather.
Days reaching high temps of 50 degrees are not uncommon, although days in the mid 80s also are occurring. And for anglers, finding consistency in weather and water temps may be a bit of a challenge because the only pattern the fish are on is no pattern.
Persistence and a quick change in tactics is key during these conditions. You can try carrying some live shrimp with you in the bait tank instead of shiners. Also, soft plastics combined with a jig head will soon prove prosperous for spotted seatrout and redfish.
Dock fishing and targeting other structures in water protected from the wind is going to become a reality soon enough. Flounder, sheepshead and mangrove snapper are likely adversaries you’ll encounter in these environments. Redfish also like to congregate under docks and around pilings. Live shrimp cast in these areas will be a sure test for whether the fish are present or not.
On less windy days, try patrolling the beaches for Spanish mackerel and the other migratory fish — bonito, bluefish, jacks and shark. Diving sea birds are the tip off that feeding fish are present. Cast silver spoons, jigs or Gotcha plugs into the mix to get a hook up. And if you move your lure too slowly, you’re sure to get cut off by a mack or a bluefish.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is finding success despite the cold temperatures following the northern fronts. Redfish are being caught with some consistency around oyster bars and sandy potholes. To catch these fish, Gross is using live shiners or artificials, such as Berkley Gulp shrimp on a jig head.
While fishing structures in Tampa Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico, Gross is finding mangrove snapper and flounder are targetable species. Both are being caught on live shiners or shrimp combined with a bottom rig. Expect to also encounter juvenile grouper and black sea bass.
Lastly, spotted seatrout are still a mainstay over the grass flats of Tampa Bay. By casting soft plastics combined with jig heads over sandy potholes, Gross is finding good action on these speckled fish. DOA Cal jigs or Berkley Gulp shrimp are top producers.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle says he’s catching Spanish mackerel and bluefish along the beaches of Anna Maria Island. Both species are taking live shiners free-lined behind the boat. Mixed in with these fish are jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish.
Moving into the Intracoastal Waterway, Lowman is working live shrimp and shiners around residential docks for flounder and mangrove snapper. Keeper-sizes of both are being caught. Sheepshead and small reds are turning up in these same areas.
Finally, Lowman is finding spotted seatrout while drifting the deep grass flats of Anna Maria Sound. Soft plastics combined with a jig head are producing slot and under-slot trout. By drifting and jigging through sandy potholes, Lowman is finding enough trout to produce limits for his clients.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says black drum are still the main target for anglers at the R&R. Soaking live shrimp under the pier is resulting in keeper-size black drum. Some anglers are even catching the limit of five fish. Most of the black drum hooked are falling within the slot limit of 14-24 inches.
Pier fishers targeting black drum with shrimp are being rewarded with flounder, mangrove snapper and sheepshead. All three species are being caught in keeper sizes — and some are as abundant as the black drum.
Finally, pier fishers using spoons or jigs are finding the occasional Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle, although the most aggressive species of the three, the bluefish, is dominating the bite. Blues in the 2-pound range are using their powerful jaws to clamp down on anything that impresses them as edible. Blue fish generally aren’t picky, so if you don’t want to use artificials, you can always use natural baits — free-lined live shrimp and shiners and even fresh-cut pieces of mullet.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing nearshore structure for mangrove snapper. By bottom fishing with fresh-cut pieces of white bait, Girle is reeling up snapper 15-17 inches. Limits of these tasty fish are attainable. While targeting snapper, Girle is catching numerous gag and red grouper although most are just under the minimum size limit for the species.
Cobia are making a showing around Girle’s boat while fishing Gulf of Mexico structures. These curious fish are meandering around the boat just waiting to be fed a live pinfish or shiner. Keeper-sizes up to 40 inches are being caught.
Moving inshore to the grass flats Girle is finding an abundance of spotted sea trout. Slot fish are mixed in, although most are right in the 14-inch range. While targeting trout Spanish mackerel and bluefish in the 5-pound range are striking baits.
Finally, Girle is catching his share of redfish. Most are in the 16-inch range, although slot-size fish are mixed in. Berkley Gulp shrimp on a jig head are producing bites as well as shrimp or shiners on a knocker rig.
Capt. Mark Howard of SumoTime fishing charters reports a variety of species being landed on recent charters. Shiners and pinfish have been his bait of choice, which is resulting in his clients hooking up redfish, snook, and spotted seatrout this past week. “We literally had the fish feeding at the back of the boat and were throwing baits at the predators as they cruised through the crystal clear water on the flats,” says Howard.
Redfish are on the flats feeding with the moving tide, and using a popping cork and making it gurgle will draw the fish to your bait offering, says Howard. His clients are shocked to see the giant swirls of the predators gulping down their bait. Using a piece of cut bait rigged with a split shot will draw strikes, he says.
Snook have been mixed in with the redfish, feeding on the same baits. On a recent trip, Howard had some big fish coming to the party. Using big baits and making long throws away from the boat has enticed the “wise ones” to chew.
Looking forward to next week, when the tides will be low in the morning with strong incoming tides in the afternoons, “The key to successful fishing will be to take advantage of the moving water and be at your spot when the tide starts flowing,” predicts Howard.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.