Anna Maria Island anglers are experiencing a great springtime bite between lingering cold fronts.
On calm, warm days, anglers fishing the flats are finding success while targeting snook, redfish and trout, all taking offerings of live shiners as bait.
For the snook and redfish, fishing along mangrove islands and oyster bars during higher stages of the tide is resulting in the most consistent bite. Many slot-size snook and redfish are being reported.
Targeting spotted seatrout is going well as it seems just about every grass flat from the mouth of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay is holding trout. It may take a little searching to find the size you want, as some areas are holding fish 12-14 inches while others are holding fish over 20 inches. You’ll need to find where the 15- to 19-inchers are lurking if you want to have trout for dinner.
For those who like to use live shrimp as bait, we should see some sheepshead showing around structure in the bays and the Gulf. Don’t rule out catching pompano, whiting and black drum while baiting with shrimp along the beaches.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing plenty of action on spotted seatrout. Casting live shiners on deep and shallow flats is leading to limits of trout 15-19 inches, as well as a bunch of over-slot trout.
On some days, getting a limit of slot-size fish in the boat has it trials, due to all the over-slot trout lurking around right now.
Snook fishing is going well on warmer days during higher stages of the tide. Casting live shiners over shallow flats is leading to good rallies and my anglers have hit on a couple of keepers.
Capt. Wes Wildman says inshore fishing is as good as it gets between cold fronts. On warmer, less windy days, Wildman says he’s doing well targeting spotted seatrout. Casting live shiners over grass flats is resulting in limits of trout along with plenty that are above the upper slot of 19 inches, which have to be released.
Wildman is targeting snook while they’re in season. Since opening day March 1, keeper-size fish are being caught by his clients and, again, live shiners are working best as bait.
Wildman also is finding keeper-size redfish around mangrove islands and oyster bars.
Capt. David White says since opening day of snook season, he’s been putting clients on quite a few slot-size fish. Fishing around mangrove shorelines with live shiners is resulting in good snook action, and afternoon high tides are producing the greatest yield.
Spotted seatrout and redfish are being caught frequently during the higher stages of the tides, according to White. For the trout, deeper grass flats hold good numbers. And as for the redfish, mangroves, docks and oyster bars are good places to hunt.
Finally, White is finding numerous pompano while jigging along the Gulf beaches. Tipping jigs with shrimp is enticing the pompano to bite more frequently, says White.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
Kids fishing tournament set
Manatee Bridging the Gap will present a fishing tournament 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 18, on the Green Bridge spanning the Manatee River between Bradenton and Palmetto.
The tournament is open to kids ages 10-17.
Participants receive T-shirts, training, fishing gear.
Awards will be presented for longest, smallest and most fish.
For more information, call 941-737-0612.