Fishing the offshore waters west of Anna Maria Island is consistent for another week. Anglers in search of a dinner catch are wise to venture to the depths for a bite.
It’s just too hot in the back waters for fish or man — it’s the dog days of summer.
American red snapper season is over for recreational anglers, but commercial charter vessels have until Aug. 15. So if you haven’t gotten your fill, you still have time to book a trip to catch some of the most fierce — and tasty — of snappers.
Other species, such as red grouper and gag grouper also are being caught while fishing offshore. Live pinfish and frozen sardines work well for any of these fish. Mangrove and yellowtail snapper are apparent while working offshore and reefs, wrecks and ledges are good places to find the fish. Chumming isn’t a bad idea once you’ve picked your location.
Pelagics, such as wahoo, kingfish and mahi, are being reported by the guides offshore, who sa trolling and freelining live baits work for these high-speed fish.
Moving inshore, fishing is more challenging. Spotted seatrout are apparent over some of the deeper grass flats in southern Tampa Bay. Freelining live shiners works well to catch the trout but finding keeper-size fish in the 15-19 inch slot-limit is proving to be difficult — even on mornings where 30-40 trout are caught.
You may also encounter some Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and mangrove snapper while freelining shiners over deep grass flats. On some days, the mangrove snapper are abundant, making limits attainable. While inshore, catch-and-release snook fishing is another option. Free-lining live shiners works well during swift moving tides over grass flats adjacent to mangroves or oyster bars. Targeting the linesiders during the morning hours just after sunrise is a good bet.
Lastly, targeting shark along the beaches of Anna Maria Island, Passage and Egmont keys is entertaining anglers hoping to pull on a big fish.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing quite a few spotted seatrout being caught while free-lining live shiners over the deep grass flats. Keeper-size trout are sporadic, but they’re there. Mixed in are mangrove snapper, ladyfish and mackerel. On some days, limits of snapper are being caught.
Fishing shallow along the mangroves is good for hooking up with a snook, although with the vast abundance of pinfish on the flats, accurate casting and a little luck are needed to get a bite.
Lastly, I’m putting clients on some blacktip sharks measuring 4-6 feet along the beaches with fresh-cut mackerel as bait.
Capt. Warren Girle is reef fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, where mangrove snapper are the target, although some unexpected bites are occurring. Free-lining small live shiners behind the boat is resulting some days in snappers of 12-15 inches. On other days, bottom fishing works best. Still on others, drifting baits back in a chum slick works well. Occasionally large snook — 30-40 inches — are leaving their deep water hideaways among the reef rubble to snack on small shiners. This results for the anglers in some drag-screaming action on medium-heavy spinning gear.
On the deeper grass flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is finding spotted seatrout. On the shallower flats, catch-and-release snook are taking their bait.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is enthusiastic to report that fishing is quite good for anglers at the pier. Redfish and black drum are being caught by anglers using live shrimp as bait. Some of the redfish being caught are large, exceeding the maximum slot-size of 27 inches — so stout gear is suggested.
Catch-and-release snook are taking a hook, with most coming in between 20-30 inches.
Tarpon are yet another species in the mix at the R&R. Although not a common catch at the pier, these tarpon are mostly 30-40 pounds, but one catch was near 120 pounds.
Mangrove snapper are present around the pier and are being caught on live shrimp and live shiners.
Lastly, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle can be caught on artificials, such as silver spoons or speck rigs.
Capt. David White is running offshore, where bottom fishing in depths of 150 feet is providing clients plenty of action on American red snapper. In the same areas, red grouper are making their presence known. White says frozen sardines as bait work nicely.
Moving to slightly shallower water — depths of 60-100 feet — mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper and gag grouper are quick to take live and frozen bait offerings, while live pinfish are the bait of choice for the gags. Fresh-cut pieces of frozen sardines or small live shiners work for the snappers.
Moving inshore, White is hooking up with catch-and-release snook on the grass flats. Some juvenile tarpon also are mixed in on the inshore bite.
Capt. Jason Stock says he’s seeing plenty of fish being reeled up while working offshore in the Gulf. Bottom fishing is proving the best bet, with American red snapper, red grouper and gag grouper being caught in depths around 150 feet. Pelagics, such as blackfin tuna, are being found around offshore wrecks, where fish free-lined baits on the surface work best.
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