The temps and the fishing are heating up.
Among the sketchy patches of red tide and Lyngbya in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island, anglers are finding a good bite. In fact, the fishing is quite good.
Offshore fishing remains at center stage, with numerous reports of gag grouper being caught.
American red snapper are taking the hook with daily limits coming to the docks.
Other snappers — mangroves and yellowtail — are accommodating, quickly eating baits as they reach the bottom.
Red grouper are being found while bottom fishing, as well as some true black grouper.
Moving inshore, catch-and-release snook fishing is dominating the flats bite. Casting baits around mangroves and oyster bars works great. Also, sight casting to fish along the Gulf beaches is providing some enjoyable sport fishing.
Catching fish for dinner is occurring while working the deeper grass flats in Tampa Bay. Spotted seatrout are the most apparent, although mangrove snapper are beginning to make a showing on the flats.
Redfish are being caught in the same areas as the catch-and-release snook on the flats. You can expect to find reds while fishing structures, such as piers and docks, and baiting a live shrimp at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria is a good place to start.
Lastly, fishing structure such as wrecks and reefs in Tampa Bay is resulting in success on Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper.
On my own charters, I am enjoying the catch-and-release action on snook in Tampa Bay. Using live shiners as bait is resulting in many snook of 20-26 inches. Larger slot-size fish are taking the bait and giving a fight to my anglers. Spotted seatrout are rounding out the bite, with most catches in the slot of 15-19 inches. Limits of these fish are attainable.
I’m also seeing mangrove snapper showing up on the flats, which is encouraging. When these fish get on the flats it’s rewarding to add them to the cooler. And when the snapper get on the flats, you know what time it is — time to start using hatch bait.
Lastly, I’m picking up redfish along the mangrove shorelines but the bite is sporadic. They mainly are being caught while we’re targeting snook.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding plenty of action in the Gulf of Mexico. He’s catching limits of American red snapper, as well as plenty of mangrove snapper and grouper on his offshore trips. The highlight of the week for Stock was catching black grouper, with one whopper weighing in at 85 pounds.
Now that’s a lot of fish dinners.
On days when the winds are too strong to head offshore, Stock is patrolling the beaches for tarpon and the catches are running 120-180 pounds. While targeting the silver kings, Stock says there are plenty of bull sharks following the schools.
Capt. David White reports working inshore with good results. Mangrove snapper are being caught with some frequency around wrecks, reefs and in the passes. These fish are measuring 10-16 inches — perfect for a fish fry.
While fishing around mangrove shorelines, White is putting his anglers on some good action on catch-and-release snook. Casting live shiners in these areas is resulting in numerous hookups with the linesiders, as well as some slot-size redfish.
In deeper water, away from shore, White is finding spotted seatrout, ladyfish and jack crevalle cooperative.
Finally, tarpon hunting along the beaches of Anna Maria Island is producing action for White’s clients. Catches 80-150 pounds are the norm.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding plenty of action while fishing the deeper flats of Sarasota Bay. Free-lining live shiners or shiners under a popping cork is resulting in spotted seatrout, ladyfish, mackerel and juvenile blacktip sharks. The sharks, 3 feet or less, are worthy adversaries on light tackle and quite fun to catch, Girle says.
On shallower flats, near oyster bars and mangroves, Girle is putting clients on numerous redfish and catch-and-release snook.
Moving from the backcountry, Girle is in pursuit of tarpon along the beaches of Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island, where casting live crabs or threadfin herring is resulting in a bite and an occasional trophy photo.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says fishing at Anna Maria Island’s northern-most pier is pretty darn good. Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are catching a variety of species. Black drum and redfish are being caught frequently, as well as some hefty mangrove snapper. Catch-and-release snook are being tricked into taking a live shrimp on the hook, with some catches reaching 30 inches or bigger. Pier fishers using small jigs or silver spoons also are finding action. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish jack crevalle are some of the species showing interest in these lures.
Lastly, using cut bait — mullet or mackerel — is coaxing an occasional shark to have a taste.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.