As we ease into November, anglers fishing around Anna Maria Island can expect the fall bite to really kick off.
Spanish mackerel, kingfish, bonito and sharks will be available close to shore in the weeks to come.
In some instances, these species should be found within a mile of the beaches. For all the species, anchoring and chumming with live shiners can be effective and free-lining baits among the chum will trigger an instantaneous bite.
When rigging for Spanish mackerel, a long shank hook should suffice but if you’re seeing kingfish behind the boat, you’ll probably want to add wire leader to your rig.
Trolling is an option, especially when targeting the kings or bonito. Lipped plugs are effective, as well as silver spoons.
On the flats, the cooler weather triggers the popular inshore species of snook, redfish and trout to feed heavily. Casting live shiners against the mangroves works well for snook and reds. For the trout, live shiners are good, but artificials such as soft plastics on a jig head will work, too. If you’re feeling adventurous, try tying on a topwater plug. As the water temps fall into the mid 70s, the trout tend to be rambunctious and will take a plug on the surface.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing the flats fishing improving with slightly cooler water temps. Snook fishing around the mangroves is getting good. There are redfish lurking in those areas, always a welcome site. Spotted seatrout are abundant on the deeper flats, although slot-size fish are hard to come by. Limits are still being caught by my clients, although achieving them requires patience while sifting through the many smaller fish.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding most of his action in the Gulf of Mexico, where migratory fish, Spanish mackerel, kingfish and cobia, are being caught. All three species are taking shiners as bait. According to Girle, the macks are the most abundant, with catches of 30-50 fish in a morning. The kings are sporadic — as are the cobia — although Girle expects the fish to be more apparent as we press through November to the holidays.
Moving inshore, Girle is finding spotted seatrout on the flats of Sarasota Bay and in the surf along the beaches.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says fishing is good for yet another week at Anna Maria Island’s northernmost pier. Pier fishers using live shiners as bait are hooking into a variety of fish. Casting under the pier with a weighted rig is resulting in black drum, redfish, sheepshead and mangrove snapper.
Many black drum are being caught in the slot of 14-24 inches.
The reds are following suit, with mostly slot-sized fish — 18-27 inches — being caught.
Malfese says the sheepshead bite is early this year and sporadic, although anglers focusing on sheepies having good results.
Lastly, there are some snook being caught at the R&R on larger baits — pinfish and mojarras.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding plenty of action working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Gag grouper are being caught frequently, with daily limits attainable. Live pinfish as bait on a weighted rig are getting the job done, reports Stock. Mangrove snapper up to 8 pounds, as well as some red grouper are being caught in similar fashion.
Yellowtail snapper are being caught on smaller baits, such as live shiners. Migratory fish — cobia and amberjack — also are being found while working around the wrecks. Sizes for the cobia run up to 60 pounds.
Capt. David White is working inshore with good results on a range of species. In Tampa Bay, Spanish mackerel are the most apparent species. Freelining live shiners on a long shank hook is attracting the high-speed predators to bite.
Fishing around structure is resulting in gag grouper and live pinfish are the preferred bait.
On the flats, snook and redfish are being caught.
Finally on the nearshore reefs, White reports his clients are hooking up on cobia and bonito.
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