Springtime fishing patterns are settling in throughout the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island.
Inshore fishing is quite satisfying for anglers targeting the trio of snook, redfish and spotted seatrout.
Other species — jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish — are thriving in the Intracoastal waters, giving fishers variety in their targets.
Don’t forget: March is a great month for pompano, which is yet another species ready to take the leap to the frying pan.
Most of the inshore species — excluding the pompano — are being caught on live shiners. As for the pompano, you’ll want to have a few dozen shrimp handy.
And, if you have some live shrimp, don’t hesitate to anchor over structure in Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico to try your luck for late-season sheepshead.
Moving offshore, permit are demanding attention. Anglers casting live crabs over wrecks and reefs are finding success with this elusive fish.
Bottom fishing in depths less than 120 feet of water is yielding red grouper, as well as mangrove and vermilion snappers.
Lastly, if you’re looking for some upper-body cardio, amberjack are lurking at the offshore springs.
On my own Just Reel charters, spotted seatrout and snook are dominating the bite for clients. For the trout, fishing over deep grass flats in 4-6 feet of water works well. Mixed in are jack crevalle, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel, which adds variety to the bite.
As for the snook, shallow flats around mangroves are a good bet. I’m also seeing a mixed bag of redfish and flounder while targeting the snook.
Capt. David White is hunting snook on the grass flats of Tampa Bay southward into Sarasota Bay and casting free-lined shiners over shallow grass flats is working well to attract the linesiders to bite. Mangrove edges where good current exists is also good bet.
When targeting snook, White’s clients also are hooking into redfish measuring 25-30 inches.
Lastly, fishing over deep grass areas is resulting in numerous spotted seatrout for White’s clients. Many are in the slot of 15-19 inches, with a few exceeding 20 inches.
Capt. Jason Stock says permit fishing remains a highlight for his charter clients. Casting free-lined live crabs over wrecks and reefs in the Gulf is resulting in permit for Stock’s anglers weighing 10-25 pounds. On some occasions, Stock is sight-casting to the fish. Other times, he’s relying on faith that they are there. And typically they are.
Switching to live shiners or pinfish as bait is working well for amberjack, mangrove snapper and vermilion snapper.
Capt. Warren Girle is stirring up plenty of action while working in Sarasota Bay. Fishing over shallow grass flats is yielding snook action, while fishing deeper grass is yielding spotted seatrout, bluefish and Spanish mackerel. All species are reacting best when offered live shiners as bait, Girle reports.
Between fishing the deep and shallow flats, Girle is finding success working some secret dock locations for redfish that measure 24-27 inches.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says he’s seeing plenty of sheepshead caught on live shrimp. Casting shrimp under the pier works best to hook up with the buck-toothed, convict-striped fish.
While using shrimp as bait, anglers also are hooking into an occasional black drum, redfish and mangrove snapper.
Anglers opting to use artificials, such as small jigs or spoons, are reeling up mackerel, although the bite is sporadic. You may also see a jack crevalle or ladyfish while employing this method of fishing, reports Malfese.
Send photos and reports to fish@islander.org.