Dodging the wet weather is trending this week as we seek spots to fish around Anna Maria Island. There’s deep moisture — thanks to Hurricane Cristobal — churning northward in the Gulf of Mexico moving in from the south.
Pop-up thunderstorms are frequent and can be violent for a brief moment while on the water. With lightning in these storms, it’s best to keep an ear out for thunder and a watchful eye on the sky and the weather radar to prevent any clashes.
Those willing to wait out the storms are finding good numbers of tarpon along the beaches and in the passes of Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key. Casting live baits such as pinfish, threadfin herring and pass crabs is attracting a bite.
Many varieties of shark are present along the beaches, too, and most fishers are targeting them when they’re spotted. Casting large live baits — jack crevalle or mackerel — is working to hook up with the predators. Cut baits are ideal, too, especially for shark 4-6 feet.
Fishing inshore is providing good action on catch-and-release snook and catch-and-release trout. Both are responding to live shiners as bait.
Gag grouper season is now open, and hungry anglers are targeting them around shallow-water structure in Tampa Bay. Reefs, wrecks and bridges are prime spots to start the hunt for gags.
As for offshore fishing, weather has been a factor, although those willing to chance it are being rewarded with American red snapper, red grouper and gag grouper and mangrove and yellowtail snappers.
On my Southernaire charters, I’m enjoying some good action on catch-and-release snook and trout. For the snook, mangroves shorelines where oyster bars and lush grass exist is proving to be good. Strong tides are also a key factor. As for the trout, deeper grass flats in 6-10 feet of water are the ticket. Most catch-and-release trout catches are 18-22 inches, with some smaller ones in the mix. Mackerel and jack crevalle are in these areas, which provides a good mix of action. Blacktip sharks also are around, lurking for a meal. They can be caught on chunks of fresh-cut macks. The black tips are measuring 4-6 feet and they put up a good fight.
Capt. Warren Girle is mostly concentrating on tarpon fishing. So far, his best day yet is 10 fish hooked and five to the boat. He says patrolling the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key is producing the best action. Casting live pass crabs or live threadfin herring to schooling tarpon is resulting in the action. Most catches are 80-150 pounds.
In the back country, Girle is finding some action on catch-and-release spotted seatrout. Mixed in with the trout are bluefish, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish.
Girle says fishing shallow flats adjacent to mangroves shorelines is resulting in some catch-and-release snook and redfish action for his clients.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is enjoying the action on catch-and-release snook on the grass flats of southern Tampa Bay. Mangrove shorelines and lush grass flats combined with strong flowing tides are the recipe for success. Free-lined shiners work well as bait. Lowman says he’s also seeing a few catch-and-release reds mixed in while targeting the snook.
Deeper areas where clean water and grass exist are producing good numbers of catch-and-release spotted seatrout, according to Lowman. Some jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel are present in these areas, which adds variety to the bite.
Lowman also is working structure in Tampa Bay to draw a bite for his clients. Spanish mackerel, mangrove snapper and some gag grouper being caught in these areas.
Capt. David White is spending most of his days targeting tarpon along the beaches and in the passes. Casting live crabs and live threadfin herring is attracting the king of sportsfishing to take the hook. On days when he’s not targeting tarpon, White is working the inshore waters along mangroves and among sandy potholes for catch-and-release snook and redfish. Targeting gag grouper over shallow water structure also is resulting in action for White’s charter clients.
Capt. Jason Stock is working the tarpon run along the beaches and passes around Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key. Casting live baits to schooling silver kings is proving to be successful. Large bull sharks and hammerheads also are chasing the tarpon along the beaches and Stock is putting clients onto that bite as well.
Moving offshore on days with good weather, American red snapper are on Stock’s menu, as well as various other snappers, including mangrove and yellowtail. Amberjack and African pompano also are on the hook with Stock’s anglers. In Tampa Bay, Stock is finding gag grouper over shallow structure. Live pinfish or threadfin hearing are working well to reel in the fish for dinner.
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