Is it really January? The fish seem confused
Is winter going to settle in for Anna Maria Island? Mild temperatures and calm waters have made most of the winter season feel like fall never ended. My thermometer outside reads 78 degrees.
Clear blue skies accompanied by a warm easterly breeze are the ingredients for a perfect day on the water — and it’s January. During most years, fishing in January can be challenging at best. Frequent cold fronts, gale force winds from the northeast and rough seas make it difficult to muster up the motivation to even set foot in the boat — but not this January.
Not only is this apparent in the pleasant weather, but also in the patterns of the fish we target. I’m still seeing snook patrolling the flats. And finding snook in January is normally a challenge. And they are still feeding on whitebait. You would think they would be wintering near a warm marina or in the canals.
I’m seeing schooling redfish along sandy beaches like they’re staging up to move offshore. They should be hunkered down under the docks waiting for the sun to come out. Also, the sheepshead seem disoriented, as if they are waiting for a real cold front to trigger them to head toward their spawning areas.
Are these signs of a brutally cold February or are we going to narrowly escape the clutches of old man winter? Who can say? As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take the warmer temperatures any day.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing sheepshead and black drum being caught by fishers using live shrimp as bait. Successful fishers are casting these shrimp under the pier on a bottom rig. Use of the bottom rig aids in keeping the bait down deep where the drum and sheepshead are feeding. Flounder, another bottom dweller, are being caught, although not with regularity.
Pier fishers casting artificials such as buck tail jigs or Gotcha plugs are catching ladyfish. Typically, these fish are on the move, so there is only a small window of opportunity to hook one. Having a rod at your side, rigged and ready is key.
Finally, frozen squid cast off and fished on the bottom is resulting in catches of bonnethead sharks and stingrays at the pier. Casting out away from the pier is where to find these fish. The small sharks provide excellent action on light tackle, yet are manageable for most anglers. As for the rays, larger outfits are needed to land these fish.
Capt. Aaron Lowman of Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach is catching pompano along the shores of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Small jigs tipped with shrimp and live shrimp on a knocker rig are proving successful. Mixed in with the pompano are jack crevalle, ladyfish and bonnethead sharks, all providing excellent action on light tackle and filling the voids between pompano bites.
While fishing inshore structure, Lowman is finding mangrove snapper. By using live shrimp Lowman is reeling up 14-inch snapper on a knocker rig, with some fish exceeding 18-inches. To keep these fish in the mood to bite, Lowman uses a chum block. Hanging this block in the water allows it to thaw and release small ground up pieces of fish. The snapper are drawn to the chum slick, which makes them more apt to bite.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is working structure for a variety of species, and both inshore and nearshore reefs are proving prosperous. Mangrove snapper, sheepshead, Key West grunts and flounder are being found in these areas. Live shrimp offered on a bottom rig are attracting the bite.
Inshore structure, such as residential docks, are producing good action for black drum, sheepshead and redfish. Again, live shrimp is the go-to bait. Casting under and around docks and seawalls is resulting in keeper fish.
Finally, spotted seatrout are hooking up with Gross’ clients. Soft plastics jigged across sandy potholes are producing strikes. To target these trout, Gross is drifting until he locates a pothole with a concentration of fish. Once discovered, he sets the anchor to thoroughly fish the area.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing offshore with good results. Keeper-size mangrove snapper are being reeled up from depths of 35-45 feet. Offerings of live shrimp or fresh-cut shiners are attracting some feisty fish to the hook. Mangoes of 16-18 inches are being hooking up, well as grouper, flounder, Key West grunts and sheepshead.
Fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay also is providing action for Girle. Small jigs tipped with shrimp are resulting in bites on just about every cast. Bluefish, jack crevalle and ladyfish are dominating the bite, although pompano and spotted seatrout are in the mix. On some excursions, limits of pompano are attainable.
Finally, redfish are being found close to mangrove shorelines during the higher levels of the tide. Multiple offerings such as live shrimp, cut ladyfish, or Berkley Gulp Shrimp are getting attention. Slot and slightly under-slot fish are being caught.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.