Fishing around Anna Maria Island in September can have its ups and downs.
With the end-of-summer extreme heat and numerous thunderstorms that pop up, finding a sweet spot where the tides are right and the fish are biting can be challenging.
On the other hand, when everything seems to align, you can experience exceptional fishing in September. And while the official start of fall may be Sept. 22, there’s still plenty of summer to come for us on the Gulf coast.
Throughout the inshore waters, the hot topic is snook fishing, the season having reopened Sept. 1. But finding snook on the flats isn’t as easy as it’s cracked up to be due to the high water temps. That being said, fishing the passes, beaches and even some of the artificial reefs can produce larger snook and, if you’re lucky, maybe one in the slot.
September can bring the first arrival of schools of redfish to the backcountry. Finding a school isn’t a guarantee, but when you do find one it can be a memorable experience. Catching one redfish after another for the better part of an hour can wear out your arms and you’ll have enough fish stories to sustain you for weeks to come.
Spotted seatrout are yet another species on the flats that can be caught regularly in September — if you can locate them. The hardest part is finding keeper-size trout. Many areas holding trout will be infested with fish measuring 12-14 inches. On some mornings, you may see 20-30 trout but only have one or two to put in the cooler.
That’s September for you.
Lastly, if you’re looking for dinner, mangrove snapper are a pretty good bet. They gather around structure where they can be found fairly easily. Bridges, piers, docks, wrecks and reefs — all of these areas will suffice. Just remember to use some light leader and a small hook, as the snapper can be finicky. And, the most intricate irregularity in your bait can turn them off. Be stealthy.
Capt. Johnny Mattay is catching numerous mangrove snapper while fishing structure in Tampa Bay. Using live shiners as bait on a bottom rig or free-lining them is working to catch limits of the tasty fish.
When targeting the snapper over wrecks and rockpiles, Mattay is encountering some keeper gag grouper. For the snapper, medium spinning gear is a good choice. But to target the gags, Mattay is using heavy spinning gear — stout enough to control the hard-fighting fish among the structure. Live pinfish are the bait of choice for the gags.
Spanish mackerel are present around wrecks and are eagerly taking live shiners as bait combined with a long shank hook.
Lastly, fishing the flats for snook and redfish is going well for Mattay. Live shiners and pinfish as bait are working when casting up against the mangroves on high tides.
Capt. Jason Stock says now that amberjack is in season, he is targeting them regularly, although, with the warm water temps, he’s having to travel quite a distance offshore to get good action.
The good news for Stock’s anglers is yellowtail snapper are being found offshore, with limits caught on most days.
Fishing nearshore structure also is producing good action on Stock’s charter runs. Cobia and large snook are being caught around the reefs. And they’re spotting and catching permit with live crabs as bait.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria says the Spanish mackerel are making a showing in Tampa Bay. Pier fishers using speck rigs or silver spoons are frequently hooking into macks 15-20 inches — and blue runners are mixed in with the bite.
Those opting to use live shrimp as bait are finding mangrove snapper accommodating for their coolers. Casting baits under the pier works best.
Also lurking under the pier deck are snook and over-slot redfish. Both are being caught by lucky anglers, and a few slot-size snook are being added to the tally by the really lucky pier fishers. Live shrimp are working as bait for both species. Some anglers are choosing to use larger baits — pinfish and ladyfish — and they’re having success, too.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.