Freshwater invades bay waters, but doesn’t dampen fishing
Despite our waters being a dark tannic color resembling Coca-Cola as a result of the millions of gallons of freshwater draining from Lake Manatee, fishing remains productive.
Snook fishing is proving prosperous if you know where to look. Hundreds, if not thousands of juvenile snook have been pushed out of the Manatee River with the overflow of fresh water.
Redfish are following suit, although I wouldn’t say in the thousands. I’m also finding decent numbers of mangrove snapper and flounder around residential docks and canals, as well as on nearshore structure.
Finally, spotted seatrout are present, although they seem to be slightly apprehensive about taking bait. Mixed in with the trout are hungry jack crevalle and ladyfish, which helps fill the void between trout bites. The water may not be that beautiful shade of translucent green that we are accustomed to, but if you overcome the color transition, it’s worth getting out and doing some fishing.
Capt. Warren Girle is working on the nearshore structure for mangrove snapper. Live shiners fished on a knocker rig and sent to the bottom are resulting in mangrove snapper up to 16 inches. Chumming with dead shiners is helping to get the snapper bite going. Mixed in with the snapper are juvenile grouper and Key West grunts.
Moving inshore, Girle is catching trout on the flats of Sarasota Bay. Live shiners free-lined or under a cork are producing the bite over deep grass. On shallower grass flats, this method is attracting trout and an occasional redfish.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is running his clients inshore for redfish and snook. Both species are being caught by fishing mangrove edges where good tidal flow exists and high tides seem to be best for targeting either species. Live shiners cast up under the bushes are resulting in strikes. Slot-size redfish are being taken, while most snook catches are falling short of the 28-inch minimum size.
Dock fishing around residential canals and seawalls also is producing action for Lowman. Mangrove snapper and flounder are the usual suspects, with an occasional redfish or snook in the mix, and Jack crevalle also are present.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says despite some windy days and poor water quality, pier fishers are managing to find a bite. Anglers using the R&R live shrimp are catching mangrove snapper, flounder, black drum and some over-slot redfish. All of these species are being taken with a bottom rig that helps keep the bait secure under the pier. Snook are hooking up under the pier on live baits — shrimp, shiners and pinfish.
Pier fishers using artificials, such as jigs or silver spoons, are doing a lot of casting and retrieving but not catching like normal. Typically, large bait schools are present around the pier, but with the amount of freshwater present, the bait has moved to the beach. That being said, predators — Spanish mackerel and jacks — have likely moved as well, in tow with their food source.
Capt. Rick Gross is working the flats for snook and redfish. Both species seem to be cooperating on days when the winds and tides are right. Live shiners, free-lined or fished under a cork are producing a bite. To locate fish, Gross is pulling up to mangrove edges, oyster bars or edges of sandbars, where the flats drop into deeper water.
Mangrove snapper are being taken on shiners cast under docks or around nearshore structure, resulting in limits of these tasty fish for clients aboard Fishy Business. Average size is 12-14 inches with an occasional larger fish in the mix. Flounder and juvenile grouper also are present.
Capt. David White of Great White Charters is fishing the flats this week. On deeper grass areas, White is finding a mixed bag of spotted seatrout, ladyfish and jack crevalle, with all three species taking free-lined live shiners. This bite provides great action and, as a bonus, White’s clients get to put some trout in the cooler for dinner.
Snook and redfish are being found in the shallow grass flats and around docks, where casting live shiners under a cork or free-lined is producing a bite. Keeper snook are a little hard to come by, according to White, but when it comes to the reds, slot fish are being taken.
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