If turkey leftovers are gone — time to put fish on the table
Now that the leftover turkey has finally run out, it’s time to start hunting down some fish for dinner.
With cold fronts and falling water temps, it’s time to start looking around back bays and in the Manatee River to find a bite.
Fishing around residential docks is resulting in sheepshead, black drum and redfish. I’m finding all three species are readily taking live shrimp. Most docks fished are holding at least a couple fish while some docks are holding large numbers of fish. While working these docks, you can expect to encounter flounder and snook.
Using soft plastics, such as DOA Cal jigs combined with a jig head, is producing good numbers of trout throughout Anna Maria Sound. Try drifting and jigging to get results.
Large numbers of small trout 12-14 inches are being caught with batches of keeper-size fish in the mix. While targeting trout, expect to catch mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle and bluefish.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle is catching a wide variety of wintertime species despite strong winds and rain. Fishing around docks and artificial reefs is resulting in sheepshead and flounder. Both species are feeding on live shrimp fished on a knocker rig.
Redfish and black drum are reacting to live shrimp, especially around docks with deep water. Keeper-sizes of both species are being caught.
On calmer days, fishing the flats for trout is proving prosperous. Soft plastics on a jig head are catching trout 12-18 inches mixed in with bigger fish. Jigging through sandy potholes on the grass flats are resulting in concentrations of fish.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says live shrimp fished with a bottom rig are producing rod-bending action for pier fishes. Casting weighted shrimp around the pilings of the pier is resulting in sheepshead black drum and flounder. Keeper-sizes of all three species can be expected.
Pier fishers using artificials — jigs or silver spoons — are doing a lot of casting, but not much catching. Migratory species, including mackerel and bluefish, are in the area but not many are being caught. Persistent anglers are producing a bite.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing shallow nearshore structure with great results for mangrove snapper. Mangoes up to 24 inches are being caught on live shiners combined with a bottom rig. Along with mangrove snapper, gag grouper are also in the mix, although most are undersized.
Moving onto the flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is finding redfish 16-18 inches congregating in deeper potholes throughout the flats. In areas sheltered from the wind, such as adjacent to mangrove islands are a great place to find some feisty redfish. Live shiners or shrimp are producing a bite.
Finally, fishing deeper grass flats is resulting in spotted seatrout up to 24 inches. Expect to encounter mackerel and plenty of bluefish on the same flats as the trout. Live shiners free-lined or fished under a popping cork are being eaten.
Fish tales? Send your high-resolution photos and fishing reports to Capt. Stasny at fish@islander.org.