Inshore, offshore fishing heats up with rising temps
It may not be summer, but it sure is hot.
And the fishing is fired up around Anna Maria Island — holding strong in both the backcountry and offshore.
Flats fishing for catch-and-release snook is pretty darn good as long as the tide is moving. The same can be said for the hunt for spotted seatrout. Live shiners cast into sandy potholes in areas with deep grass areas are a surefire way to get onto these fish. Redfish are being caught, although not with the same frequency as the snook and trout.
Offshore fishing for migratory fish — amberjack, kingfish and cobia — is heating up, although you may have to travel some distance to get to the bite. In the 8- to 10-mile range is a good place to start looking. Blackfin tuna are being found around wrecks in the 15-20 mile range.
On my own fishing excursions with Southernaire charters, I’m staying in the backcountry to target catch-and-release snook — the season ended for snook May 1 — as well as spotted seatrout and redfish. I’m seeing an occasional flounder, as well as numerous bluefish, jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish.
For bait, live shiners are my go-to since pretty much everything we target this time of year will eat them.
I’m also using crabs for bait when I come across a finicky redfish that won’t take a shiner. Redfish up to 34 inches are coming to the boat.
Lastly, although it’s a little early, I’m starting to see rogue tarpon milling among the deeper grass flats of both Tampa and Sarasota bays. Most sightings are singles or doubles, which could be targetable to those ever-patient tarpon anglers in the flats boats who are willing to sit all morning at anchor just to get a shot at jumping a silver king.
Capt. Warren Girle is working the flats of Sarasota Bay. Spotted seatrout are the most prominent species being caught by his clients on the deep grass flats with sandy potholes and good tidal flow. These are prime areas to target dinner trout. Girle’s choice of bait is live shiners either free-lined or fished under a popping cork.
Also on the flats, Girle is seeing numerous snook. Rallies of catch-and-release snook are occurring during morning incoming tides on shallow flats where oyster bars or mangrove shorelines are present. Live, free-lined shiners are producing the bite. Most catches are running 20-24 inches, with larger fish in the mix.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is putting his anglers to work on the deep grass flats in southern Tampa Bay. A variety of species, including Spanish mackerel, bluefish and spotted seatrout, are being caught in these areas. Live, free-lined shiners are the bait of choice. Slot-size trout and keeper mackerel are going in the cooler, while the bluefish are quickly released to swim another day.
On the shallower flats, Lowman is finding an abundance of catch-and-release snook. Free-lined live shiners cast into sandy potholes are quickly being devoured by hungry schooley-sized snook. The 24-inch linesiders are both aggressive and eager to eat a shiner with a hook through its nose.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is catching redfish throughout the day-charter range. Redfish hotspots include areas where oyster bars are present or some other means of structure exist in the shallows, whether it be a dock, seawall or mangrove shoreline. To get a bite, Gross is casting live free-lined shiners in areas where he can see the fish or where they are likely. Slot-fish in the 18- to 27-inch range are being caught.
Catch-and-release snook fishing is going well for Gross, which is not a surprise. Gross is a seasoned snook angler of more than 30 years. Many under-slot fish are being caught by clients using shiners as bait. Slot-size snook are gently released until next season — starting Sept. 1.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing redfish being caught. Most catches are occurring on live shrimp, although pinfish or shiners are working, too. All reds being caught are over the maximum size of 27 inches. Fish up to 34 inches are not uncommon.
Catch-and-release snook also are hooking up with anglers at Anna Maria’s northern-most pier. The bite has really turned on now that snook season is closed. Most catches are occurring at night or in the early morning just prior to sunrise.
Capt. Jason Stock is in pursuit of big game in the nearshore and offshore waters west of Anna Maria Island. Cobia are making a showing around wrecks and reefs. Amberjack are making their presence known. Live baits such as shiners, pinfish or cigar minnows are attracting the bite to Stock’s boat. Kingfish also are coming to these baits.
Permit, Stock’s specialty, are being found on calm days when the Gulf is slick. Live crabs sight-cast to these fish are resulting in multiple hookups, with fish up to 30 pounds being caught and released.
Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters is spending his days with a fly rod in hand. By use of the well-known Clouser minnow patterns, White is teasing some of the schooley snook as well as some big trout and redfish to take the bait. Jack crevalle are another popular species to catch on fly. For one, they bite readily and two, they put up a fantastic fight when hooked.
Moving offshore, White is live-bait fishing for kingfish, blackfin tuna and catch-and-release gag grouper.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.