With more windy days than calm days in March, Anna Maria Island anglers are taking what they can get to have a day of fishing.
With the combination of cold fronts and variable winds exceeding 20 mph on many days, anglers are trying to find any sort of consistency on the water.
The good days on the water while inshore fishing can be quite good while other days are challenging. Finding clear, clean water is the first step to finding the bite.
In many instances this past week, I found the clearer the water the better the bite. Spotted seatrout are a good indicator. In areas where many trout were present during clear conditions, a change in water clarity diminished the bite considerably, leaving me to think the fish moved. In many cases I was right. Finding clear water typically proved the point as the trout bite would again improve.
Water temperature also plays a factor and the frequency of cold fronts is keeping the water temps low. This is a factor while snook fishing. A few weeks back, I was seeing water temps up to 74 degrees and, let me tell you, the snook came out of the woodwork. Several days of excellent snook fishing occurred and then another cold front appeared. And, as water temps dropped to the lower 60s, the snook bite diminished to mediocre.
So I guess what we’re looking at here is a need for consistency to bring things back to order. And probably after this front, we are experiencing they will.
March is known for being a month when the weather can go either way and this March has been cool and windy. But April is around the corner and considerably good fishing days will be here soon. So hang in there and brave the wind.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding spotted seatrout to be the most consistent action. Depending on wind and tide, I’m finding trout in a variety of areas. Deeper grass flats in 6-8 feet of water are holding good numbers of fish measuring 14-22 inches. In these areas, there are more fish on the smaller range of the slot. On shallower flats, I’m seeing a consistently greater number of larger fish. In fact, on some days it’s hard to catch a slot-size fish because everything is too big.
Casting free-lined live shiners over the shallows is working well, while over the deeper flats, an addition of a split shot is making a difference in catching a few or catching a lot.
Snook fishing on the flats is going well. It seems the later in the day and the higher the tide the better the snook bite. As for redfish, I’m seeing them mixed in with the snook in most areas.
Capt. West Wildman says although it’s been quite windy, he’s experiencing some of the best inshore fishing he’s seen in a while. In areas with clean, clear water, Wildman is catching limits of spotted seatrout. Casting live shiners over flats in Tampa Bay with depths of 5-6 feet is yielding the best action.
Wildman reports he is doing well on catching snook as he is catching at least one keeper per morning, and if you are a snook fisherman, you know that’s not bad. Plenty of snook 20-26 inches are being caught.
Redfish are being found while fishing in Sarasota Bay, says Wildman. Outgoing tides and live shiners as bait are the recipe for success for Wildman. Add a “fishy”-looking mangrove shoreline and you’re in business.
Capt. Johnny Mattay says he’s seeing steady action on snook while fishing mangrove shorelines with live shiners as bait. Casting shiners against the trees during high stages of the tide and into the outgoing is resulting in some good rallies on linesiders.
Redfish are being caught on either live pinfish or shiners. Some redfish are mixed in with the snook bite while others are solitary around rocks and docks.
Lastly, spotted seatrout are cooperating for Mattay while fishing deep grass flats or shallower flats where sandy potholes exist. Both live shiners and artificials are working for the trout. For the artificials, Mattay likes using a 1/4-ounce or 3/8-ounce jig head combined with a MirrOlure Lil John soft plastic.
Capt. David White is finding plenty of spotted seatrout throughout his travels in Tampa Bay. Freelining live shiners over deep grass areas yields not only trout but plenty of ladyfish and some Spanish mackerel.
Moving to the shallower flats White is finding good action on snook and redfish. Both respond to live shiners as bait, especially when fishing around mangrove shorelines, oyster bars and canals.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.