Warm waters means hot fishing
Springtime fishing around Anna Maria Island is living up to its reputation, when warmer waters and light breezes are providing some of the best fishing our region has to offer. Whether fishing with live shrimp or shiners as bait, there are fish to be caught. Artificials such as soft plastics and topwater plugs are producing sizzling action.
The tail end of the sheepshead bite is occurring, so if you haven’t had your fill, you can still get out and catch a few. On the reefs, I’m catching fish exceeding 7 pounds by using live shrimp on a knocker rig. Don’t be surprised to encounter mangrove snapper and Key West grunts, too. The local piers and residential docks are holding schooling sheepshead in great numbers.
Snook are moving onto the flats with a presence. The days of catching more than 30 fish on a four-hour excursion on the flats are back. Live shiners, free-lined or fished under a cork are top producers for these hungry linesiders. Keeper fish are available, although a majority of the fish I’m pulling over the gunwhale are 22-26 inches. If you lip the snook when you land it, prepare to have a worn-out spot on your thumb.
I’m still finding pompano along sandy beaches, especially around the passes. Small pink jigs tipped with a piece of fresh-cut shrimp are my go-to bait when targeting pomps. These jigs will attract a number of other species, including whiting, sheepshead, black drum, mackerel, jacks and ladyfish. Not a bad mix for using one lure.
Spotted seatrout are coming are in abundance with the water temp rising. Free-lined shiners cast out in areas where deep grass meet a channel or potholes are producing limits of specks. Most are in the slot, although over-slot fish are becoming more common as the season stretches on.
Finally, redfish are being spotted throughout our region. All sizes are being caught on live shiners or artificials — gold spoons or Berkley Gulp! Shrimp. Look for schooling fish along mangrove shorelines during high tides.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is taking full advantage of what springtime fishing in our local waters has to offer. Fishing the flats of southern Tampa Bay is providing a wide variety of species to target, including snook, redfish and spotted seatrout.
By using live shiners as bait, Gross is catching spotted seatrout in abundance. Deep grass flats adjacent to a channel or the edges of sandy potholes are holding good numbers of these yellow-mouthed fish. Whether free-lining baits or using a popping cork, respectable-sized trout are being taken, with the release of numerous over-slot fish.
Snook are being caught aboard the Fishy Business. To target these linesiders, Gross is using topwater plugs — Rapala Skitterwalk and the MirrOlure Top Dog 84MR. If you’ve ever caught snook on a topwater lure, you know there is no more exciting way. Slot-size fish, as well as many under-slot fish, are being caught during high tides over shallower flats.
Finally, redfish are being taken by using live shiners as bait. Free-lining shiners into sandy potholes throughout shallow flats us producing the bite.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding Sarasota Bay coming to life with the return of warm waters. Bay waters in the 70s are a sure sign that the usual suspects, such as spotted sea trout, redfish and snook are back on the prowl. Pompano, bluefish and mackerel are flourishing in the warmer water, which adds to a nice mixed bag on a morning or afternoon fishing trip.
On the flats, Girle is finding over-slot redfish in abundance. Sandy potholes adjacent to mangrove islands are where these large reds are taking up residence. Live shiners, free-lined or fished under a cork in these areas, are triggering a bite. Reds up to and exceeding 32 inches are typical in this batch of fish.
Snook are patrolling shallow grass flats and inhaling shiners along the way. Girle is free-lining his bait across shallow flats to entice these hungry springtime snook. Sizes vary and over-slot fish are mixed in, too, with some up to 40 inches.
Finally, spotted seatrout, pompano, blues and macks are being found around deeper grass flats. For the trout, live shiners are top producers. For the pomps, blues and macks, small jigs tipped with shrimp will get the job done.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach is taking clients to springtime snook in the waters of Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay. The sheer abundance of fish is resulting in multiple hook ups at once. Free-lined live shiners are not lasting long. Large numbers of 20-24 inch snook are providing nonstop action during morning and afternoon fishing excursions. Slot-size fish are mixed in, too, which is always a nice reward on the dinner table.
Spotted seatrout are being found along deeper grass flats throughout the Intracoastal Waterway. Live shiners under a cork are producing limits of these speckled fish. Mixed in with the trout are ladyfish, mackerel and jack crevalle.
Finally, Lowman is catching schooling redfish during high tides. Schools of 50 fish or more are moving over shallow flats around mangrove islands and sandbars. Slot and under-slot fish are the makeup of these schools, which provides solid action as well as a few fish to put in the cooler.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is watching pier fishers cash in on the abundance of sheepshead that have taken up residence under the pier. Limits of convict fish are being taken daily and, if you don’t know what the limit is, it’s 15 fish per person per day. That’s a serious fish fry in anyone’s book. Average size of the sheepies is 12-15 inches, with fish up to 20 inches mixed in.
Spanish mackerel are making a showing at the pier. Pier fishers using speck rigs or silver spoon are catching the little Spaniards up to 20 inches in length. While targeting these toothy fish, expect to hook into jack crevalle and ladyfish.
Finally, anglers who know how to target them are catching pompano. Small jigs tipped with shrimp are producing fish up to 15 inches. While targeting pomps, you can expect the macks, jacks and ladyfish to get in on the action.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.