Cool breezes, calm waters and cooler temperatures overnight and in the mornings are making fishing quite pleasurable for those venturing out to work their magic in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island.
The mild conditions are a welcome site among anglers working our local waters in mid-October, and the fish seem to be enjoying the change, too.
On the grass flats of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay, snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are feeding freely on the vast amounts of bait present in the shallows. Casting live shiners for bait is providing the action in these areas. Morning outgoing tides seem to be the best times to target the flats species. On some flats, all three species are being caught.
Casting close to the mangrove bushes is resulting in snook and redfish, while casting away from the bushes is resulting in spotted seatrout. When casting for the trout on deeper flats, Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle also are showing up to take the hook.
Those wishing to specifically target the macks and jacks are anchoring in deeper water around structure — reefs and wrecks. Mangrove snapper are present in these areas, which is resulting in limits of these tasty fish for the cooler.
Moving offshore, pelagic species are the highlight. Reports that cobia, blackfin tuna and mahi mahi are frequent is encouraging offshore anglers to run the boat out into the Gulf and venture past the sight of land. There are mangrove and yellowtail snapper deep offshore waiting, where hard bottom or other structure exists.
On my Just Reel fishing charters, I’m seeing many spotted seatrout being caught. Free-lining live shiners is resulting in catches of 30-40 trout in a half-day charter. Deep grass flats are holding these fish as well as a macks, jack crevalle and mangrove snapper.
On the shallower flats, I’m finding snook and redfish quite accommodating for my clients. Most of the catches are just under-slot, measuring 22-26 inches. As for the reds, most catches are over-slot, exceeding the 27-inch maximum size limit.
Don’t forget that flounder are now prohibited from harvest with a seasonal closure that started Oct. 15, running through Nov. 30. When back in season, the size limit for flounder will be 14 inches total length with the daily bag limit of five per person.
Also bear in mind that lane snapper is closed in federal waters to both commercial and recreational anglers Oct. 18-Dec. 31.
And finally we are enjoying a harvest of snook, redfish and seatrout with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s approval Oct. 15 of new rules. The harvest area is limited to Tampa Bay, north of the Anna Maria Island Bridge.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says redfish and snook are the most frequent catch this week at the northernmost pier. Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are finding the reds most accommodating. Most of these reds are over the 27-inch limit, so bring a stout rod. As for the snook, shrimp is working as bait for the smaller linesiders — up to 26 inches. To target larger fish, try using live pinfish or ladyfish. Mangrove snapper are being caught frequently by anglers at the pier using live shrimp as bait. While targeting the snapper, a few black drum are taking the hook.
Those anglers opting to use artificials are finding silver spoons and small jigs are attracting attention. Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish can’t resist these lures.
Barry Jones at the Anna Maria City Pier, a little south of the R&R in Tampa Bay, reports Spanish mackerel measuring 12-26 inches are being caught by anglers using live shiners as bait. Jones adds that lures — silver spoons and Gotcha plugs —are working well for the macks. Those using live shrimp as bait are hooking into mangrove snapper ranging 8-14 inches. Other species being caught on shrimp include jack crevalle, pinfish and some cowfish.
Capt. Jason Stock, back from vacation, is catching a variety of migratory fish while working the offshore waters on his full-day charters. With the extra time a full-day charter allows, Stock is able to run well offshore into waters that are less frequented by anglers. In these areas, cobia, blackfin tuna, mahi and some tripletail are coming to the boat. Anchoring over structure is working well, especially for mangrove and yellowtail snapper. To hook these fish, Stock is using a jig head baited with a shiner, and most hookups are occurring mid-depth — between the water surface and the bottom.
Capt. David White is working inshore in south Tampa Bay to Sarasota Bay, where fishing the flats is proving to be quite productive for White and his anglers. Many snook are being caught along the mangrove shorelines that form the eastern shoreline of Tampa Bay. Redfish are being found in the same areas, while structure is producing action from mangrove snapper and macks, adding variety to the bite.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.