Springtime fishing is going strong.
We should see water temperatures climbing into the lower 80s as May progresses.
This can impact the fishing — especially in the backcountry.
Fishing low-light conditions during morning tides to seize the moment before water temps climb too high will be advantageous. Species such as snook and redfish will be on the prowl during the hours just before and after sunrise.
Slightly cooler water temps at dawn versus dusk will motivate the shallow-water species to feed.
But, as the morning progresses and the sun gets higher in the sky, you might need to switch tactics and fish in areas slightly deeper, where the cooler water temps prevail.
In areas such as deep grass flats, you can find spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish.
If you decide to go even deeper, you might try the reefs, wrecks and ledges in the nearshore and offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where grouper and snapper will be your targeted species.
Bottom fishing around the nearshore reefs and wrecks can produce excellent action on mangrove snapper and you might also find migratory species, such as Spanish mackerel, kingfish and cobia roaming about.
For the grouper, you’ll probably want to venture further to the reefs. Depths around 100 feet are a good place to start. Both red and gag grouper frequent these depths during the warmer months.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding spotted seatrout to be cooperative while working the deeper grass flats of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Mixed in with the trout are Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, ladyfish and bluefish.
Moving to the shallower flats, I’m seeing a decent number of snook being caught. While casting baits along the mangrove shorelines, hungry snook are darting out from under the branches to attack baits.
While targeting snook, I’m also seeing redfish.
So is Capt. David White.
He’s catching a variety of species while fishing the inshore waters around Anna Maria Island. Fishing along mangrove shorelines is yielding action for White’s clients on redfish and snook — both responding to live shiners as bait.
Deeper grass flats also are producing action for White’s anglers, with spotted seatrout, jack crevalle and ladyfish taking the offering, free-lined live shiners.
Moving offshore, White is bottom fishing over ledges and reefs, where red grouper are being caught, as well as yellowtail and mangrove snapper.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding plenty of action fishing the grass flats of Sarasota Bay. On the deeper grass flats, a variety of species are being caught, including spotted seatrout, bluefish, mackerel and jack crevalle.
On some flats, rallies of fish lasting 30 minutes or longer are common while other areas require moving the boat frequently to keep the bite going.
On the shallow grass flats, Girle is hooking up with snook and redfish. For the snook, Girle has his anglers casting live shiners into sandy potholes throughout the shallows. As for the reds, mangrove shorelines are working best.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says mangrove snapper are becoming more frequent at Anna Maria Island’s northernmost pier.
Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait on a weighted rig are catching some tasty snapper measuring 10-12 inches, with some larger fish mixed in. Using shrimp as bait is best as the snappers are versatile — and many species like eating shrimp.
Other catches on shrimp include black drum, redfish and an occasional snook.
Pier fishers casting artificials away from the pier are hooking into macks, ladyfish and numerous blue runners.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Recreational harvest of snook in state’s Gulf waters closed
The recreational harvest of snook in Gulf state and federal waters closed May 1 and will reopen Sept. 1.
The seasonal harvest closure occurs during peak snook spawning in the Gulf and is a management tool that helps to conserve Florida’s valuable snook populations for anglers today and for generations to come.
In an announcement for the closure, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it is “considering a holistic management approach for snook that includes a review of several environmental and human factors, such as habitat, fishing effort and stakeholder feedback, to evaluate the fishery on a more local scale.”
FWC commissioners could consider new rules this month.
Stone crab season ends
The 2022/2023 season for harvesting commercial stone crabs ended May 1.
The harvest season opened Oct. 15, 2022, and it will reopen Oct. 15, 2023.
The fishery closes each year to help protect and sustain Florida’s stone crab population, which inhabits bays and estuaries along the Florida Atlantic coast, Gulf coast and in the Caribbean.