With the heat index around 100 degrees, fishing around Anna Maria Island is hot.
And this applies not only to the air temperature. Fishing the inshore waters for snook and trout is proving hot, too.
During swift incoming tides, many snook are being caught throughout the grass flats of southern Tampa Bay. Casting live shiners in these areas is yielding many hookups on linesiders measuring 20-30 inches.
The same scenario is true with spotted seatrout. An abundance of the fish are being found on deeper grass flats, with most fish measuring 14-20 inches.
Patrolling the beaches for tarpon is another good bet. Many tarpon catches are being reported throughout the coastal waters of Anna Maria Island and Longboat and Egmont keys. Live crabs or threadfin herring work well as bait, although some tarpon are being caught on other baits, such as pinfish or large shad.
Don’t forget about the offshore bite, also hot right now. American red snapper are open to catch recreationally. The fish are dominating the offshore bite, with limits being caught on most boats. Other species while bottom fishing includes red and gag groupers, as well as mangrove and yellowtail snappers.
Pelagic species are being found in good numbers and include blackfin tuna, amberjack and wahoo.
Don’t forget that you can expect to encounter hot days outdoors. Make sure to stay hydrated and keep yourself covered up to protect yourself from the sun. Sun poisoning and heatstroke can ruin a day of fishing. So carry plenty of water or other rehydrating liquid on the boat. A broad-billed hat and sunglasses will come in handy, too. If you can wear a long-sleeve shirt, you may last longer in the heat. But most of all, be diligent about staying hydrated.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing plenty of catch-and-release snook being caught. Most are 20-30 inches, with a few larger fish mixed in. Spotted seatrout also are frequently being caught, with many fish in the slot of 15-19 inches. While targeting trout, I’m seeing some mangrove snapper being caught. This bite should increase the next few weeks, as the snappers invade the flats in search of meals.
Targeting sharks along the Gulf beaches is a crowd-pleaser. Blacktip and bull sharks are prevalent in the waters between Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key. Casting chunks of fresh-cut mackerel or ladyfish is resulting in many shark bites.
Capt. Warren Girle is concentrating his efforts on patrolling the beaches and passes for tarpon. Most action is occurring on live crabs as bait and the majority of the catches are occurring before 9 a.m. On several occasions, Girle witnessed his clients hook a fish on their first cast of the morning before the sun rose. Casting live crabs to schooling fish works best.
When not targeting tarpon, Girle is working the backwaters of Sarasota Bay. Snook, redfish and trout are being caught on live shiners as bait.
Capt. David White is finding plenty of action while working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. American red snapper are being caught while fishing in depths of 150 feet. Limits of these fish are being caught daily.
Other bottom fish, including red grouper, mangrove snapper and yellowtail snapper, also are being caught while offshore.
Trolling while offshore is yielding action on blackfin tuna and wahoo.
Moving inshore, White is spending most of his time targeting tarpon. Casting live crabs or threadfin herring into schooling fish is resulting in catches between 80 pounds and 120 pounds.
Snook fishing in the backcountry is going well for White. Free-lined live shiners on shallow flats are attracting numerous snook to the hook.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding excellent action while working offshore in the Gulf. Bottom fishing is quite good for a variety of species, with the most dominant bite coming from American red snapper. Limits of the snappers are being caught daily. Other snappers being caught include mangrove, vermilion and yellowtail.
Fishing baits toward the surface is keeping Stock and his clients busy.
Pelagic species such as wahoo, blackfin tuna and amberjack are being caught while slow trolling or free-lining live baits.
On days when Stock is not offshore, he is spending his time targeting tarpon and shark along the Gulf beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat and Egmont keys. Large tarpon and sharks are being caught.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing many large snook congregating around the pier and under the deck. Anglers using live baits — large shrimp or pinfish — are occasionally hooking into the big linesiders. Numerous snook in the 20-inch range are being caught and released.
Mangrove snapper are beginning to show up around the pier. Live shrimp as bait works well for these tasty fish.
Lastly, when bait schools are present, anglers casting small white jigs away from the pier are hooking into Spanish mackerel.
Send photos and reports to fish@islander.org.