Skirt around red tide for red-hot fishing action
Traces of red tide are being reported from Charlotte Harbor to Pinellas County but fishing around Anna Maria Island has remained consistent.
I’m fishing nearshore structure in hopes of avoiding what is being reported as patches of light to moderate levels of the red tide. So far, I’ve been lucky not to encounter any. On the reefs and ledges, I’m finding an ample amount of mangrove snapper, as well as plenty of juvenile grouper. There’s some flounder mixed in with the bite, too. By using a knocker rig and circle hook, I’m sending live shiners or pinfish directly to the bottom in hopes of a bite.
Free-lining baits around structure is producing some rod-bending action for my anglers. Big Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and kingfish are responding to free-lined shiners on a 2/0 Eagle Claw long shank hook. For the macks and jacks, I’m tying the long shank hook directly to a generous stretch of 20-pound fluorocarbon. When the kings arrive, I’m upping the fluoro size to 40-pound test and adding a 6-inch piece of some Malin wire between the fluoro and the hook.
When targeting the macks and kings, I’m seeing black tip sharks cruising by the boat to investigate what the commotion is. Black tips in the 40-60 pound range are eagerly eating chunks of mackerel from a circle hook and wire rig. As they swim by, I’m casting baits directly at them to get a bite.
Finally, fishing the back country is a little risky due to the patches of red tide, although fishing areas where there is no red tide is proving worthwhile. I’m finding rallies of spotted seatrout on deeper grass flats, especially in Anna Maria Sound. Most trout are 12-16 inches, but the sheer numbers of fish make up for the lack of size. Plus, the limit is only four fish, which is highly attainable.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing a variety of species being reeled up to the deck. Fishers using live shrimp as bait are catching black drum, flounder and mangrove snapper. By rigging with a small split shot and a No. 2 hook, pier fishers are able to let their baits slowly settle to the sandy bottom where the fish are lurking. This technique is resulting in the occasional redfish and sheepshead.
Snook sightings at the R&R remain consistent, although the bite is a little slow. Persistent snook anglers are plucking a few linesiders off the shadow line at night, although most have been catch-and-release — either under or over the slot.
Capt. Warren Girle is working nearshore and offshore structure with good results on both pelagic and bottom species. Live shiners or pinfish are producing a bite.
Free-lined shiners behind the boat are attracting Spanish mackerel, blue runners and kingfish. For the macks, Girle is using a long shank hook connected to a stretch of 30-pound fluorocarbon. For the kings, a small piece of wire between the fluorocarbon and the hook is added.
While bottom fishing nearshore structure, Girle is finding mangrove snapper to accommodate his clients. By chumming with dead shiners, Girle is triggering the snapper to school up near the boat, where he instructs his clients to drop weighted live shiners on a hook to the bottom. By doing this, snapper in the 14-18 inch range are hooking up. Chumming for snapper also is attracting grouper, Key West grunts and flounder to the boat.
Capt. Aaron Lowman of Keyes Marina in Holmes Beach is targeting snook and trout throughout Anna Maria Sound and into the Manatee River. By anchoring and casting free-lined shiners along mangrove edges, Lowman is finding acceptable numbers of snook on the feed. By moving to deeper flats, Lowman’s putting clients on spotted seatrout on live free-lined shiners. Most trout are ranging from 12-16 inches with bigger fish mixed in.
In Tampa Bay, Lowman is working in the shipping channel and among artificial reefs and wrecks, where they’re trolling up some respectable-sized gags. Stout gear and a little patience are required when fishing this method, but the result can be a grouper dinner — which is always a good reward.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is working the grass flats for snook, redfish and trout. The snook and reds are being found in areas adjacent to small mangrove islands combined with an oyster bar or two. Free-lining live shiners or using a popping cork to keep the bait out of the grass is resulting in keeper-sizes of both species.
As for the trout, deeper grass flats peppered with sandy potholes are holding concentrations of fish. Rallies of schooley trout are occurring for Gross’ anglers when casting live shiners into potholes. Catch sizes are falling between 14-18 inches with a few over-slot fish here and there.
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