Fishing remains hot for redfish, snook, snapper, seatrout
Fishing around Anna Maria Island remains consistent, especially for redfish.
Schooling reds are being reported from Miguel Bay to the north, all the way to the southern reaches of Sarasota Bay. Live shiners are a great way to get connected, although generally these schooling fish will hit a variety of artificials, too. Topwater plugs, soft plastics and gold spoons are great choices to throw to schooling reds.
I’m seeing increasing numbers of snook showing up on the flats surrounding Anna Maria Island as the days grow shorter. They’re gradually working their way to the backcountry. Not only am I seeing them, I’m catching them, too. These fish are hungry, and live shiners are producing strikes.
Finally, mangrove snapper are abundant throughout Tampa Bay and around nearshore structure in the Gulf of Mexico. As the shiners get bigger, you may need to start using fresh-cut pieces. The bait needs to be small enough for the snapper to eat. If you can still find hatch bait, that works even better.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is targeting schooling redfish on the flats of lower Tampa Bay. Once Gross locates a school, he is anchoring and chumming to achieve a bite. By chumming, Gross is able to keep the reds interested long enough for his clients to cast baits into the school. If the reds don’t respond to the chummers, Gross has other rods rigged with gold spoons. By casting the spoons ahead of the fish, Gross is triggering strikes for his clients.
Spotted seatrout are being caught on deeper grass flats. By using free-lined live shiners, Gross says he’s hooking trout up to and exceeding 20 inches. Sandy potholes and deeper edges are where Gross likes to hunt these backwater fish.
Finally, Gross is still catching limits of mangrove snapper. By fishing nearshore structure, as well as docks and small rock formations, Gross is catching limits of snapper 12-14 inches.
Johnny Mattay at Island Discount Tackle is finding rallies of snook while fishing with Jerry Mayer. Since both just graduated high school, they’re finding plenty of extra time to hunt fish. Mattay suggests anchoring and chumming the snook with live shiners to get them in the mood, which is producing slot-size fish for the buddies.
While fishing inshore structure, such as rocks and docks, Mattay and Mayer are finding respectable numbers of mangrove snapper. Again, by chumming, they’re getting the fish to bite, providing limits for both anglers.
Finally, Mattay and Mayer can’t resist targeting all the redfish in our local waters. By quietly approaching these schooling fish, casting live shiners into the mass, they’re seeing slot and over-slot redfish on the hook.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says spotted seatrout are a welcome arrival at the north end. Pier fishers using live baits are catching gator trout throughout the shallow water at the foot of the pier. Spotted seatrout are not a common species at the pier, so it’s a special treat for those who fish there regularly. Fish up to 25 inches are being caught. Most likely, these big breeder trout are migrating from the beaches, where they spend their summer, to the backcountry, where they will find warmer waters for the winter. This being said, these fish are on the move, so you may want to seize the moment.
Mangrove snapper are still a good bet for pier fishers using live shrimp as bait. Fish 12 inches are the norm and limits are attainable.
Finally, slot-size snook are being caught during late evenings and over night. For bait, most are using shiners or pinfish, although various other baits can produce a bite.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing offshore with similar results. He’s finding mangrove snapper abundant on structure, and his clients are returning to the dock with limits of snapper just about every trip to the reefs. Fish 15 inches in length are average.
Other species being caught on the offshore structures include gag grouper, cobia and flounder — all on live shiners or pinfish.
In the backcountry, Girle is finding schooling redfish to be a popular target. He’s working a variety of schools in various of locations. Some schools of reds are containing slot fish, while others contain all over-slot fish. Live shiners are Girle’s bait of choice.
By putting his clients to work jigging over deeper flats, his charters are hooking up with spotted sea trout, blue fish, mackerel and the occasional pompano.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.