No April fools — Anna Maria Island fishers are preparing for some of the best fishing our local waters have to offer.
As cold fronts diminish along with the windy days we experienced in March, we can expect to see a consistent weather pattern, warmer water and great fishing.
Fishing the flats for the catch-and-release trio — snook, redfish and trout — should bust wide open in the weeks to come. I’m already seeing decent amounts of all three species.
And, as the water warms and the bait fish gather in the shallows, we should see more fish on the flats.
Fishing slightly deeper in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico also will prove to be good, especially for Spanish mackerel bite. And, along with the macks, ladyfish and jack crevalle are going to be swarming schools of bait fish, making them easy to target.
Moving offshore, kingfish are patrolling the wrecks, reefs and hard-bottom areas and blackfin tuna, cobia and permit can be found around offshore wrecks.
Lastly, bottom fishing for snapper and grouper is good and should only improve.
On my Southernaire charters, I’m planning trips based on what the weather offers.
On calm days with no wind and calm seas, I’m venturing out in the Gulf to target kingfish and Spanish mackerel. Both are cooperating for my clients, as bait offerings of live shiners are quickly eaten by these high-speed fish.
Other days, I’m working the flats of Tampa Bay for catch-and-release snook and trout. Their bites are quite good on the swift tides provided the water temps are above 70 degrees. There’s also a mix of Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle in Tampa Bay, also providing good action.
On cool, windy days, using shrimp as bait yields black drum, pompano, catch-and-release redfish and sheepshead for my anglers — although most sheepies are on the smaller side.
Capt. Jason Stock says spring fishing offshore has been stellar.
Targeting blackfin tuna around offshore wrecks provides a consistent bite. While catching tuna this past week, Stock hooked into and landed a 60-pound cobia. He’s also seeing some grouper and they’re feeling frisky, swimming up from the depths to eat baits on the surface.
Also, around offshore wrecks are plenty of kingfish to provide drag-screaming action. While using live crabs as bait, Stock is finding the permit accommodating, especially on calmer days, when they can be spotted sunning themselves just under the surface of the water. Lastly, Stock is spotting some sailfish while offshore — an encouraging sight. He’s hoping to hook into them on every trip.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is working nearshore over hard-bottom areas in the Gulf on the calm, less windy days and finding catch-and-release gag grouper, kingfish, bonito and sharks.
Moving inshore, catch-and-release snook fishing is shaping up and catch-and-release redfish and spotted seatrout are showing up on the warmer days.
Lastly, for the clients who wish to take fish home for dinner, sheepshead are still available.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says pier fishers targeting sheepshead are having decent luck, although most catches need to be measured to make sure they reach the 12-inch minimum-size limit for harvest.
The clock is ticking on the sheepshead bite, so if catching sheepies is your thing, you want to plan to go within the next couple of weeks.
Other catches at the pier include some catch-and-release redfish and snook and quite a few black drum are taking the bait.
Capt. David White is enjoying his days offshore fishing, when the seas are calm. Kingfish, as they ravage free-lined shiners as bait, are keeping clients busy.
Fishing over hard-bottom and ledges is providing good action on big mangrove snapper and red grouper for the coolers.
As for the inshore bite, the catch-and-release species — snook, and redfish — are taking the hook. When using shrimp for bait, White’s clients are taking home black drum and pompano.
Capt. Warren Girle also is targeting catch-and-release redfish in Sarasota Bay. When using shiners as bait, Girle is finding reds on shallow grass flats, taking refuge in sandy potholes. The bite is best during the higher stages of the tide, according to Girle.
On lower tides, when those reds are inaccessible, Girle is casting baits around residential docks for catch-and-release redfish action.
Catch-and-release spotted seatrout are being caught while in Sarasota Bay. Drifting over deep grass and casting free-lined shiners works best. Casting shrimp-tipped jigs in the same areas as the trout results in pompano catches.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.