Inconsistent weather a constant factor for local fishers
Inconsistent weather is resulting in a sporadic bite in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island.
Within four days of fishing I have seen the wind blow in four directions. Adaptability, knowledge of the local waters and persistence are all playing a huge part in being successful on the water.
On my recent fishing trips with Southernaire Fishing Charters, I’m having to fish different areas on a daily basis. Not being able to get on a steady pattern can be challenging and frustrating, but I’m still managing to put fish in the cooler for my clients.
Most days are windy, so I’m fishing inshore and close to shorelines or mangrove islands to find shelter and calm water. By doing this, I’m finding respectable numbers of snook and spotted seatrout. Most of the snook I’m catching are 20-26 inches — the norm for most anglers in the area. Slot snook are being caught on occasion, which is a reward for anglers. As for spotted seatrout, many slot and over-slot fish are being caught. I’m seeing trout up to 26 inches, with most in the 18-inch range.
Finally, fishing nearshore structure when winds are blowing out of the east is providing great action, as well as ample amounts of great tasting fish for dinner. Mangrove snapper up to 20 inches are taking lively shiners combined with a 1/2-ounce knocker rig. In the areas I’m catching snapper, I’m seeing some flounder and a few stray Spanish mackerel.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing offshore when the winds and seas are calm. By anchoring in depths of 30-40 feet of water over structure or hard bottom, Girle is catching mangrove snapper and gag grouper. Both species are taking live shiners combined with a knocker rig. Keeper-size mangrove snapper are ranging 15-20 inches. As for the gag grouper, fish up to 15 pounds are being caught and released.
While targeting snapper and grouper, Girle is catching the occasional kingfish and cobia. Both are being caught on free-lined live shiners.
Moving inshore, Girle is catching snook, redfish and trout throughout the flats of Sarasota Bay. Live, free-lined shiners are producing a bite on most days. On days when the bite is slower, Girle is fishing with fresh-cut chunks of ladyfish. This method is resulting in slot and over-slot redfish and snook.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is fishing the inshore water surrounding Anna Maria Island. Spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are providing rod-bending action on deeper grass flats. Free-lined shiners are Lowman’s bait of choice. Larger trout are being found on shallow flats where sandy potholes are present. For the fish, Lowman is employing the use of a popping cork along with a live shiner as bait.
Snook are being caught when fishing with Lowman. Live, free-lined shiners cast along mangrove edges and shallow grass flats are producing rallies of fish for Lowman. Schooley-size and slot-size fish are the norm.
Finally, mangrove snapper remain consistent for Lowman. Fishing nearshore structure with live shiners on a knocker rig is producing a bite. Mangoes 14-18 inches are being reeled up with regularity.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says Spanish mackerel are beginning to take a showing. Although the bite is in its early stages, anglers casting small jigs or spoons are managing to catch a few fish each morning. Malfese feels that as the bait schools increase around the pier, so will the mackerel bite.
Pier fishers using shrimp as bait are catching sheepshead, although the bite is about over. Keeper-size sheepies are being reeled up, but the numbers of fish are not comparable to the weeks past. Pier fishers targeting sheepies are reeling up flounder and black drum.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is fishing inshore. Free-lining live shiners over shallow grass flats is producing rallies on snook. Many catch-and-release snook are being caught with slot-size fish mixed in every so often.
Spotted seatrout are being found over flats with water depths of 5-8 feet. Casting free-lined shiners or shiners under a cork is producing a bite. Most trout being caught are in the slot of 15-20 inches, although trout up to 25 inches are not uncommon.
Finally, while targeting trout, Gross is finding decent numbers of flounder. Free-lined shiners that manage to swim towards the bottom of sandy potholes are being devoured by flounder in the 10-20 inch range. Average flounder catches are four-six fish per trip.
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