As water temperatures climb into the mid- to upper-80s, fishing inshore around Anna Maria Island can be challenging.
Finding success on the water in the June heat takes expertise, common sense, clean water and luck.
You want to time fishing trips around the tides. Swift moving tides provide the best action, especially when targeting snook and spotted seatrout.
You’ll notice a difference in the bite when working the stronger tides as opposed to fishing during slow or even slack tides.
Another factor for success is finding clean, clear water. This is imperative while working your lines inshore in Tampa Bay.
With blooms of Lyngbya lingering in waters near the mouth of the Manatee River and its adjacent waters, finding clean water comes from exploring. In the areas where the water is murky or cloudy due to the Lyngbya, you’ll notice there isn’t much action. The fish seem to vacate these waters. But fishing in clear, clean water will result in more action, especially if you have a swift-moving tide.
Another factor to take into consideration is your bait. With the arrival of “hatch bait” or baby shiners, you’ll see some species prefer these baits rather than the normal-size shiners we typically round up for the bait well. This is especially apparent when targeting the inshore mangrove snapper. They just love those baby shiners. You’ll notice the spotted seatrout and even snook will hit the hook better on the small baits.
Lastly, a little bit of luck never hurts — it’s always better to be lucky than good. As temperatures heat up, remember to fish during low light conditions. Early morning seems to be the best on the flats.
If you can combine a good tide during the early morning, fish in an area with clean water and get luck on your side, you can enjoy a good day of fishing.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding action in Sarasota Bay while working the deep grass flats with live shiners as bait. Using the hatch bait under a popping cork is leading Girle and his clients to limits of spotted seatrout. Trout 15-19 inches are being caught frequently, with a variety of other species mixed in with the bite. Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle are being caught over the same flats as the trout.
Fishing shallower flats adjacent to mangrove islands and oyster bars is yielding action on redfish. catch-and-release snook.
Girle is still chasing tarpon along the beaches of Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island, where live threadfin herring and pass crabs are attracting 80-150-pound silver kings.
Capt. David White is finding action offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. American red snapper are the highlight, with limits being caught regularly. Live and frozen bait offerings are short work for the aggressive snapper. Red grouper are being caught while bottom fishing in the Gulf. Again, live and frozen baits are working well to trick the fish into biting the hook.
Moving inshore, White is finding gag grouper on structure in lower Tampa Bay. Keeper-size gags are being caught on live pinfish and threadfin herring. Mangrove snapper also are present around structure, where they’re looking for small shiners.
Lastly, tarpon and shark are high on the list for White in a run along the beaches.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding a variety of snapper while working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. American red snapper are the largest and most popular. Limits of red snapper are being caught, with some reaching 20 pounds. And, if you’ve ever hooked a 20-pound red snapper, you know they are a force.
Other snappers being caught include mangrove and yellowtail. Both species are being caught frequently over wrecks and hard bottom.
Red grouper are another species being caught while bottom fishing offshore, especially over hard bottom areas.
On windy days, Stock is working inshore Tampa Bay for gag grouper. Tarpon also are being targeted on the days when Stock can’t make it to his offshore comfort zone due to rough seas.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says pier fishers are enjoying the mangrove snapper catch. Using live shrimp as bait is working best to hook these tasty fish. Other catches occurring on shrimp include black drum and catch-and-release snook.
Casting spoons or jigs from the pier is attracting attention, especially from Spanish mackerel. Ladyfish and jack crevalle also are biting at the pier.
On a final note, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the misfortune of one of our local charter captains, Capt. Aaron Lowman. On June 16, he suffered a brain aneurysm.
Friends and family are hoping for a full recovery and request your prayers as he fights to regain consciousness. Capt. Aaron married wife Dani about two years ago and they are proud parents of a sweet — 5-6-week-old — baby boy, Will.
Please, keep them and all of his family in your thoughts and prayers as Aaron struggles to overcome this life-threatening medical condition.
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