The fall bite is in its early stages and Anna Maria Island anglers are anxious to get out on the water and get in on the action.
Migratory or pelagic species are the highlight. Kingfish, Spanish mackerel and bonito can be found ravaging bait schools in the Gulf of Mexico around the wrecks and reefs. Anchoring and chumming with live bait is a good way to get hooked up and, if you don’t mind burning some gas, slow-trolling baits is a good option.
Be prepared to encounter other species, such as ladyfish and jack crevalle, as well as numerous sharks. Blacktip, spinner and sandbar sharks can’t resist getting in on the action when schools of mackerel and bonito are present. You’ll know the sharks are there when you reel in a mack that is bitten in half.
If you’re searching for the fish, look for the terns, gulls and other birds, as they are a giveaway that bait is in the area. If you can find the birds, the chances of finding the fish are pretty good.
As for what gear to bring, there are chances of hooking up with all sizes of fish, ranging from macks to sharks. So you’ll want an assortment of tackle. The same applies to your terminal tackle — long shank hooks and wire leaders are a good idea when hunting for toothy fish and all of these fish have teeth.
Do your homework and get the proper gear so you’re not just donating hooks as you get cut off on every other fish.
Also, make sure the smoker is ready to go when you arrive home because you’ll probably want to slap a big kingfish on there for some fish dip.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m cashing in on the pelagic bite as much as possible. It’s not only fun but the thrill for my anglers of catching the fish is rewarding for me. Kingfish, mackerel and bonito are the primary catch. On the flats, snook and trout are a mainstay.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says pelagic species in Tampa Bay — Spanish mackerel and bonito — are being caught. Pier fishers using lures, such as silver spoons, speck rigs or Gotcha plugs, are getting in on the action as the fish pass through, ravaging bait schools that inhabit the waters surrounding the pier.
Other species, such as ladyfish, jack crevalle and blue runners, can be caught during the feeding frenzies, adding variety to the bite and excitement. Pier fishers using live bait are attracting black drum and redfish. Both species are being caught in the slot, which means the angler takes home fish for dinner.
Snook are being caught, too, on the early morning and late evening tides. Larger baits, such as pinfish and ladyfish are resulting in slot-size fish as well as a couple of over-slots.
Capt. David White is finding plenty of action on migratory fish while working along the beaches of Anna Maria Island. He reports his clients are hooking into quite a few large kingfish as well as plenty of smaller ones, too. Macks and bonito are in the mix, adding variety to the bite. All of the fish are taking free-lined live shiners as bait.
Moving to the flats, White is putting clients on a good share of redfish and spotted seatrout. For the reds, live shiners cast around residential docks works best, although White is finding reds around the mangrove shorelines, too. As for the trout, fishing over deep grass flats during swift incoming tides with live shiners as bait is proving to be the most effective.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.