We’re pushing the thermometer.
The nights may be cool but there are numerous warm days behind us and more to come, pushing the heat up on fishing around Anna Maria Island.
Many anglers are making the switch from live shrimp to live shiners as bait, which introduces new species into the lineup.
Snook are venturing out of their wintertime hiding places and staging up on the shallower grass flats to enjoy the sun’s warmth. On days when water warms above 70 degrees, you can bet the snook are motivated to feed.
Live shiners placed in the vicinity of snook can be quickly devoured.
The same applies for spotted seatrout, which are being found in abundance on deeper grass flats.
And not only trout are gravitating to the deeper grass, you can find Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish in the mix, which adds quite a variety to the bite. Again, live shiners as bait will work well for these fish.
Targeting sheepshead is still an option, although the bite probably won’t last too much longer. You’ll need to have a few dozen live shrimp in the bait well with your shiners if you plan on targeting the sheepies. Live shrimp on a weighted rig with a small, stout hook fished around wrecks, reefs, bridges and piers probably will trigger a response. If the sheepies are finicky, you need to have fiddler crabs or sand fleas to convince them to bite.
On calmer days, venturing offshore is rewarding. Species such as red grouper are being caught with some frequency. Also, reports of large yellowtail and mangrove snapper are alluring to anglers in the know.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m working the deep grass flats for spotted seatrout. Many slot-size fish 15-19 inches are being caught by my clients. While targeting the trout, I’m also seeing numerous Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish on the hook.
Around structure in Tampa Bay, I’m still finding sheepshead — most in the 2-pound range.
Finally, on the shallow flats, I’m finding small schools of snook for clients to target.
Capt. David White is working offshore when the weather produces a calm day in the Gulf of Mexico. On these days, fishing around hard bottom areas and ledges is yielding mangrove and yellowtail snapper. With some catches coming in around 25 inches, this snapper bite is worth looking into. Red grouper also are being caught in those areas, as well as catch-and-release amberjack.
Moving inshore, spotted seatrout are being found on deeper grass flats, along with the usual mix of macks, ladyfish and bluefish. White also reports that fishing shallower flats and beaches is providing action on catch-and-release snook for his clients.
Capt. Jason Stock is fishing nearshore, which is providing action on permit for his anglers. Casting live crabs around wrecks and reefs in the Gulf of Mexico is resulting in permits weighing 10-15 pounds.
Moving to offshore wrecks, Stock is putting clients on numerous red grouper, as well as mangrove and yellowtail snapper in these areas.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding action in Sarasota Bay while fishing deep grass flats. By jigging with pompano jigs, Girle is putting his charters on a variety of species, including spotted seatrout, ladyfish, bluefish and, of course, pompano. Tipping the jigs with shrimp is helping to lure the fish to the hook.
Fishing in and around canals with docks and seawalls also is providing action. In these areas, Girle is using live shrimp as bait, leading to catches of redfish, black drum and sheepshead.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says sheepshead are making a decent showing. Pier anglers using live shrimp or an assortment of crustaceans — sand fleas or fiddler crabs — are hooking into numerous sheepies, with some up to 18 inches in length. While targeting the sheepshead, anglers at the pier are also hooking up on an occasional black drum or redfish.
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