Water temps, mangrove snapper bites heat up
If you can stand the heat and humidity, fishing around Anna Maria Island is favorable, especially for mangrove snapper.
To cool off you can always join the fish for a dip in the water.
Whether fishing around artificial reefs, wrecks, rock piles, bridges, rivers or jetties, you are bound to find some mangrove snapper.
I’m even finding snapper on the flats while targeting spotted seatrout. What’s good about these fish? One, they are some of the strongest fighting fish for their size. Two, they are adored on the dinner plate by most experienced fishers and culinary folks.
To target snapper, try using live shiners or live shrimp. You can use techniques such as bottom fishing or free-lining to attract a bite, depending on the circumstances. For an added advantage, try employing the use of a frozen chum block or just chumming with fresh-cut pieces of bait.
Most of the snapper we target are inshore and nearshore and range 10-20 inches, which make them an excellent target with medium-weight spinning tackle. This keeps it sporty and a little challenging, especially when catching fish 16-20 inches. Remember, when targeting snapper, the limit is five per person per day and the minimum size is 10 inches.
Capt. Warren Girle is targeting tarpon along the beaches of Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key. By casting live baits — pass crabs or threadfin herring — Girle is hooking up with tarpon in the 120-pound range. Most hookups are occurring during morning hours, although outgoing tides anytime of day are especially favorable.
When not tarpon fishing, Girle is fishing offshore for mangrove snapper. By anchoring over reefs and ledges, Girle is finding mangrove snapper up to 18 inches. Limits of these fish are being found in depths of 35-55 feet of water. Live shiners, whole or freshly cut, fished on the bottom and around the structure are getting the bite. While targeting snapper, Girle is catching keeper-size gag grouper, cobia up to 3 feet and an occasional barracuda.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says pier fishers using R&R select shrimp are catching limits of mangrove snapper. Fishers targeting snapper are drifting live shrimp under the pier on a weighted rig, they’re hooking up fish 12-14 inches. While targeting snapper, expect to encounter the occasional flounder and catch-and-release snook.
Other species on the hook at the R&R include Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, blue runners and jack crevalle. Fishers using artificials such as silver spoons or small jigs are taking all of these species. Early morning tides are proving to be the best bite for these migratory fish. The best bet is to cast around the edges of the bait schools to get hooked up.
Finally, pier fishers targeting shark are being accommodated. By using small chunks of Spanish mackerel or jack crevalle, pier anglers are catching small sharks, such as black tip and bonnethead sharks. Both species are in the 3-4 foot range.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach is targeting mangrove snapper around inshore and nearshore structure. Whether in Tampa Bay or in the Gulf of Mexico, Lowman is finding his clients limits of these tasty hard-fighting fish. To get these snapper in the mood, Lowman likes to hang a frozen chum block over the side of the boat. As this block leaches scent and small fish particles into the water, the curious snapper are sure to congregate while in search of the source. By free-lining or bottom fishing fresh-cut chunks of shiners, Lowman is finding 14-inch fish are the norm.
Tarpon are in Lowman’s sights for yet another week. By patrolling the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key, Lowman is managing to achieve a few hook ups, for his clients. Casting live crabs or threadfin herring in front of an approaching school of silver kings is triggering a bite. Fish up to150 pounds are being reported.
Finally, blacktip sharks are coming on in southern Tampa Bay. By chunk baiting with fresh-cut mackerel, Lowman is hooking into black tips 4-6 feet. To target these sharks, Lowman is anchoring and chumming on the tail end of the outgoing tides.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.