Fishing around Anna Maria Island is requiring strategy as anglers flee the wind and areas of water affected by red tide.
With back-to-back cold fronts blowing strong winds and rain through the area, fishing is challenging. While temperatures aren’t dropping much, other factors make it difficult to get out on the water. And with patches of red tide sweeping through our waters, finding the window of when and where to go fishing is difficult.
Many anglers are venturing into the Gulf of Mexico on days when the seas are calm and winds minimal. Getting out past the reaches of red tide provides good results when targeting migratory and bottom species.
On windier days, the key is to find areas both sheltered and free of red tide. Fishing residential canals is producing action on a variety of species, including redfish, sheepshead, snook and black drum. All are responding to live shrimp as bait.
Some areas of open water on the flats are holding fish — as long as the areas have not been exposed to red tide. Spotted seatrout are the most apparent species and are responding to artificials like soft plastics on a jig head.
To sum things up, Anna Maria Island anglers have their work cut out for the days to come. Finding clean water is key and picking days when the weather permits being on the water is also a factor. Lastly, you have to find the fish.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding myself venturing into the Gulf of Mexico between fronts.
Finding clean water —free of red tide — is crucial to catching fish and the nearshore ledges and reefs are producing action for my clients on sheepshead, snapper, hogfish, porgies and Key West grunts. Live shrimp on a knocker rig is resulting in plenty of action.
On windier days, working out of the wind in sheltered canals works well for redfish, spotted seatrout and black drum, with sheepshead mixed in.
Finally, jigging the flats and passes with shrimp-tipped jigs is leading to pompano.
Capt. Warren Girle is catching a variety of species while working canals and docks throughout Sarasota Bay. Casting live shrimp on a small knocker rig under docks and along seawalls is yielding his clients plenty of redfish, black drum, sheepshead and mangrove snapper. Some snook, as well as a few slot-sized spotted seatrout, are being caught in the canals. To target these fish, Girle is removing the weight from the rig and free-lining the shrimp.
On days when fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is attainable, Girle has his clients working the reefs and ledges with live shrimp. In these areas, sheepshead are the most prevalent and mangrove snapper are mixed in. Hogfish, triggerfish and porgies as well as plenty of juvenile grouper are being caught at the deeper ledges.
Capt. Jason Stock is targeting large amberjack while running offshore into the Gulf. The jacks — some reaching 90 pounds — are being caught on live and artificial baits. Stock reports pinfish are working well. As for artificials, a combination of surface plugs or lipped plugs is producing action. While trolling, Stock is putting clients on action on kingfish, blackfin tuna and bonito.
Lastly, Stock reminds us that red grouper and lane snapper are in season, which will provide some worthwhile bottom fishing in the weeks to come.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says fishing at the north end is slower than normal although that can change in a day if conditions are favorable. As of now, pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are finding sheepshead and black drum to be cooperative, and the occasional redfish is taking a hook, says Malfese.
Capt. David White is fishing nearshore with live shrimp as bait, casting along sandy beaches adjacent to passes or in the Gulf of Mexico and the effort is leading to a mixed bag of species, but black drum and sheepshead are being caught with some frequency.
Pompano are also present, although they can be elusive at times. Large redfish are readily taking live shrimp offerings when fishing the proper tides.
Finally, a mix of ladyfish and jack crevalle can be found on any given day — if you can beat the wind.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.