With a safer-at-home order in place for the state, charter fishing around Anna Maria Island was dealt a blow.
And boating got a little tougher for the guides and others who can’t or don’t keep their boats in the water or at a dock.
The closure of county boat ramps, some fishing piers and most parks has made accessibility to the water challenging, except for those whose boats are docked in their backyard.
Most fishing charter activity has ceased, except for a few captains whose diehard clients are pushing to wet a line.
It seems fishing is taking a backseat to staying home and trying to slow the spread of COVID-19.
And the timing couldn’t be much worse.
After all, April is one of the best months for fishing our local waters. It’s the time when, thanks to limited rainfall, our waters are clear and emerald green.
The calm waters add to the recipe for a perfect day on the water. And, with the fish basically eating anything you put in front of them, it is nothing short of frustrating to be home rather than on the water.
But there are some important things to think about while we stay safe at home.
Now is the time to adhere to what we are being told to do to minimize the impact of this pandemic. For those who plan to venture on the water in Manatee County, my best advice is to visit the county website, mymanatee.org, to read up on the regulations that need to be observed. You also may want to visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for advice.
FWC advised The Islander in an April 4 email that fishing and boating are allowed recreational activities under the governor’s order while remaining consistent with social distance guidelines.
The FWC has advised boaters to maintain a 50-foot standoff from others.
It recommended checking with local, county and statewide emergency orders before boating to abide by local laws and orders.
And we need to abide by the county curfew, too.
Remember, show some respect for law enforcement and marine rescue personnel as they already have enough to do during the pandemic.
As far as the bite is concerned, reports are as follows:
Fishing inshore for catch-and-release snook and trout is about as good as it gets. Freelining live shiners is providing the best action for the snook. For the trout, try drifting over deep grass flats and casting soft plastics combined with a 1/4-ounce jig head. I find soft plastics with a curly tail are working best.
Fishing the inshore reefs also is quite good. Kingfish have infested the waters in depths of 30 to 40 feet and are being coaxed to bite by large live shiners on a long shank hook or a stinger rig.
While fishing the inshore reefs, you also may encounter cobia, big jacks and plenty of sharks. Leaving the inshore stuff behind and venturing out to depths of 80 feet or more, anglers are reporting good action on blackfin tuna — always a good fish for the cooler.
In the mix with the tuna are amberjack and kingfish and, on the bottom at these depths, grouper and snapper are accommodating the coolers.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.