After withstanding our first hurricane of the season, Anna Maria Island anglers were putting the pieces back together before heading back on the water.
Hopefully everyone fared well during the storm, with minimal amounts of damage and, if nothing else, we had a refresher on what is needed to prepare for a major storm.
As the storm surge receded, making it possible for the island to “air out,” anglers were tending to the chores that follow a large storm, including cleaning debris from yards.
With that work done, one last chore remained — trying to figure out where the fish went.
Large storms such as Idalia tend to change up the patterns that were followed prior to the blow.
With storm surges and heavy rain, many fish will move from their normal areas to seek refuge in deeper water.
So the task remained — find the fish.
A logical place to start was the location and patterns of the fish prior to the storm.
So, let’s talk about where the fish were prior before Aug. 29.
Capt. David White was finding plenty of action on mangrove snapper while fishing in the passes and over structure in Tampa Bay prior to the storm.
Using a bottom rig consisting of a 1-ounce sinker and a circle hook combined with a small live shiner as bait was working well to lure limits of mangrove snapper to the hook.
Chumming with handfuls of dead shiners was also working to bring the snapper to the surface, where they were targetable with free-lined shiners.
This method is exciting as the anglers can see the fish they are targeting.
After snapper fishing, White was targeting snook in several areas.
Fishing the passes, as well as the sandy beaches close to the passes, was productive. This fishing was best when the waters were clear so anglers spot the fish along the shoreline and cast directly to the snook.
Fishing grass flats near mangroves also produced snook, as well as redfish prior to the hurricane.
Using free-lined live shiners in all scenarios was working best as bait, White said.
Prior to the storm, Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier said mangrove snapper were the primary catch at the northernmost pier on Anna Maria Island. Anglers at the pier are casting lines directly into the southern tip of Tampa Bay.
Limits of the mangrove snapper could be had by anglers using live shrimp — casting under the pier and letting the tide pull the bait back among the pilings. This was resulting in the most catches, said Malfese.
Snapper measuring 14 inches were being caught in this fashion.
Other catches occurring while fishing at the R&R included catch-and-release snook, as well as redfish.
Lastly, when bait schools were present, anglers had opportunities to catch migratory fish, such as ladyfish and Spanish mackerel.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.