Anna Maria Island-area fishing as hot as temperatures
Despite temperatures rising quickly to the 90s in by mid-morning, plenty of anglers are on the water in search of a bite. Early morning or evening fishing is a popular idea, since these times tend to be slightly cooler than “high noon.”
Fishing the flats for catch-and-release snook is a good bet, especially right before and after sunrise. The beaches are good, although wait until the sun gets up a little so you can see into the water. Sight-casting to beach snook is somewhat addicting to avid snook fishers. Generally, if you’re in the right spot, seeing 50 or more snook in a morning is not uncommon. Notice I said seeing, not catching. Free-lined live shiners are the bait of choice for the finicky linesiders.
Reef and wreck fishing around the inshore and nearshore structure is proving to be worth the time to do, where flounder are making their presence known. On recent trips for Southernaire Fishing Charters, we’re catching flounder up to 22 inches, with many in the 18-inch range.
Also, tarpon fishing is worth a look-see, although skill and luck are major players now. The schools of fish are thinning, which means more work for the angler.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing tarpon during his early morning charters. On average, his anglers are hooking up with two or three fish per morning on live crabs.
While fishing offshore, Girle’s clients are enjoying an abundance of mangrove snapper and red grouper. Also in the mix are gag grouper and hogfish. All except for the hogs are being taken on live shiners. For the hogfish, Girle says live shrimp is productive.
Moving inshore, Girle is stalking redfish on the shallow flats of Sarasota Bay. Casting live shiners or chunks of dead ladyfish is resulting in fish up to 30 inches.
Capt. Aaron Lowman says he’s catching tarpon, although the numbers of fish present are beginning to dwindle. Live crabs or live threadfin herring are working as bait on fish ranging from Fort Desoto south to Longboat Key.
In the backcountry, snook fishing is red hot according to Lowman. Fishing the passes, beaches or mangroves while using live shiners as bait is proving highly effective.
Bottom fishing for Lowman is quite accommodating to his clients. Mangrove snapper, gag grouper, cobia and flounder are being found around inshore and nearshore structure. Also in these areas: goliath grouper, sharks and barracuda.
Capt. Jason Stock is in pursuit of tarpon. Fishing the passes early in the day and then migrating to the beaches to find fish is routine for Stock. Two of three hook ups a trip is average for Stock.
Shark fishing is next on Stock’s agenda. By using large baits, such as whole barracuda, Stock is hooking into large sharks — hammerheads and bull sharks. Fighting these large sharks is not for your average angler. Battles may last up to an hour but the thrill of big game makes it worthwhile.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing Spanish mackerel being caught around the large schools of hatch bait congregating around the pier. Small white jigs or silver spoons are attracting the mackerel to bite. Early morning just after sunrise is proving to be the best time to cast for these high-speed predators.
Pier fishers using shrimp as bait are catching a variety of species, including mangrove snapper, flounder and an occasional black drum. Casting under the pier and around the pilings is working best when targeting these species.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.