Cold fronts affect fish, fishers change tactics
Inshore fishing around Anna Maria Island remains good, although, due to recent cold fronts, the fish are beginning wintertime patterns.
Remember, when fishing in colder weather, the fish may seem lethargic or sluggish, and may appear reluctant to take a bait. A little added patience is good when wintertime fishing. Another option is to fish later in the day. Sometimes waiting for the sun to warm the water a couple of degrees can result in a bite.
When targeting reds and trout in cold water, you want to fish the bottom with either jigs or live shrimp. When using jigs, putting your bait in the strike zone and a slow retrieve will increase your chance of hookups. The same applies for live shrimp. Use a small split shot to get your bait towards the bottom.
Pompano are making an appearance in Sarasota Bay and on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. Most are a by-catch while using live shrimp for bait, although targetable numbers are being reported. Pompano jigs tipped with shrimp are a great way to attempt to catch these drag-screaming golden nuggets, but nothing beats a fresh sand flea when you’re fishing on the beach. With that in mind, it’s time to pull out the sand flea rake. A morning on the beach raking for sand fleas is a good start for the day ahead.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing Sarasota Bay targeting pompano on the deeper grass flats and around the passes. Using a 1/4-ounce pompano jig tipped with fresh-cut shrimp, Girle’s charters reeled up 4-pound whopper. And that’s a big pompano.
While pompano fishing, Girle’s clients are exposed to a variety of by-catch. Spotted seatrout, ladyfish, bluefish and mackerel are the usual suspects, although don’t be surprised to hook some pinfish and grunts as well.
Moving offshore, Girle is working near-shore structure with both live shiners and live shrimp to get the bite. Catch-and-release gag grouper action is still hot. And to round out the day, mangrove snapper up to 17 inches are being caught as well as Key West grunts and jolt head porgies.
Derek Olson at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing a variety of species being caught by fishers using live shrimp for bait. By using a sinker to get their shrimp to the bottom, pier fishers are having good luck with black drum. Keeper-size fish up to 22-inches are being landed daily.
Sheepshead are being caught sporadically, although Olson feels that greater numbers should be appearing any day. “There’s usually a lot of sheepies around the pier by now,” says Olson. “Maybe that last cold front will bring them in.”
Flounder are still being landed regularly at the pier. Both live shrimp and live shiners are getting the bite. Make sure to keep the bait down toward the bottom where the flounder are feeding, if you want to bring home dinner.
Capt. Mark Johnston of Get Reel charters is dock fishing for redfish in North Sarasota Bay and Anna Maria Sound. By using live shrimp fished on the bottom under and around docks, Johnston’s charters are catching keeper-size redfish.
Flounder are on the menu for Johnston’s charters. Again, Johnston is using live shrimp fished on the bottom around docks and small structure in the bay. Another tactic Johnston likes to use for flounder is Berkeley Gulp shrimp on a 1/4-ounce jig head. With some instruction on how to properly fish a jig, his clients are hooking up flounder in the 16-inch range.
Jonny Keyes at Island Discount Tackle is hearing about pompano on the beaches of both Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. In fact, Keyes ventured to the beach Christmas day to try out his new St. Croix rod and caught a keeper on his first cast. Pompano jigs, live shrimp or a combination of both are working along the beaches to get the bite.
Also on the beaches, Keyes is hearing of good numbers of whiting and ladyfish being caught. Again, pompano jigs or live shrimp are catching fish. “If you’re targeting whiting,” says Keyes, “try tipping your pompano jig with a small piece of shrimp and then drag it slowly on the bottom.”
Moving onto the grass flats, Keyes is hearing about good numbers of redfish in Anna Maria Sound. Flats fishers using a popping cork baited with either a live shiner or live shrimp are going home with dinner.
Jeff Medley at the south bait shop on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Fishing Piers was reeling in a bonito while giving his fishing report.
Needless to say, bonito are dominating the bite around the Skyway piers. Fishers there are using Gotcha plugs to hook up these high-speed drag-screaming fish. Make sure you have plenty of line on your spool if you decide to tango with bonito. On light tackle, an 8-pound fish can peel off 100 yards of line in one run.
Spanish mackerel are still being caught on the pier, although most have been in the 10-12 inch range. Again, Gotcha plugs are producing a good bite, although live greenbacks on a long shank hook will get the job done, too.
Sheepshead are making a fair showing, pleasing anglers with catches up to 3 pounds. When asked what the sheepshead were biting, Medley replied, “They’re actually hitting small pieces of shrimp. Usually we use sand fleas and fiddlers,” he added.
If you’re looking to catch mangrove snapper, the Skyway may be where you want to fish. Keeper-size fish, averaging 15 inches, are being reeled up daily. Live shrimp or cut greenbacks are the ticket. Remember, try to fish lesser tides to present your bait effectively. The less weight you have to use, the better. Last but not least, Medley is seeing good numbers of both silver trout and spotted seatrout being caught around the lights at night. Live shrimp drifted in the current are getting the bite.
Happy new year, and good fishing to you.
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