With Gulf waters reaching consistent temperatures in the mid-70s, you can bet Anna Maria Island anglers have one thing on their minds — kingfish.
The springtime migration of the tackle-busting mackerel is occurring in the nearshore waters just west of Anna Maria Island, triggering anglers to prep the boat and experience some excellent action on medium-heavy spinning gear.
King mackerel, unlike their smaller cousins, can grow to extreme sizes, reaching 100 pounds. Most catches will average 15-30 pounds but you never know when the big one will take your bait.
Known for their speed and fighting power, kingfish are among the most popular fish to catch in our area. They can be caught in a variety of ways on live and artificial baits. Free-lining large, live shiners or threadfin herring is the most popular, although trolling lipped plugs also is effective.
Being one of the most sought-after bites, you would think they must be super good on the plate but the meat is strong in flavor and best suited for a smoker.
After the hookup and landing, many anglers will bleed the fish to pull some of the strong flavor out of the meat. Even with doing this, kings are still strong, so people turn to the smoker for a tasty fish dip. Due to their size, be prepared to have plenty of samples for friends and family. And don’t forget, if you’re harvesting kingfish, the limit in state waters is 24 inches to the fork of the tail and the angler may possess three fish per day.
On a side note, don’t forget we are all on the water together. Losing your temper with another angler can have some negative repercussions. It’s always best to keep your composure while fishing so you don’t end up being an internet sensation like the captain to the south of us.
As our population keeps growing in Manatee County, our inshore waters can seem crowded, especially by inexperienced boaters.
I understand this like anyone else who’s been fishing these waters for many years. We’ve all lost our tempers at one point or another in the heat of the moment, but taking things to extremes is never a good idea. And, with everyone carrying a video camera in their pocket, you have to be careful with what you do or say, as I can guarantee it’ll be documented. So, try to use patience on the water as the boat traffic and volume of people on our local waters is only going to increase — especially on holidays.
On my own Just Reel Charters, I’m patrolling the inshore waters of Sarasota Bay northward to Tampa Bay with my clients and spotted seatrout are dominating the bite. In fact, the trout bite this year is one of the best I’ve seen in a while. Trout of all sizes are being reeled to the boat with lucky anglers hooking into fish up to 24 inches.
Snook fishing is shaping up as the water temperatures rise. Casting baits along mangroves and oyster bars is resulting in some good rallies. I’m also seeing redfish being caught while targeting snook, adding variety to the bite.
Capt. David White says he’s finding plenty of action while fishing the inshore waters of Tampa Bay. He says Spanish mackerel are making a good showing on deeper grass flats, as well as shallower wrecks and reefs. He’s also reporting spotted seatrout are being found in good numbers while fishing the deeper grass areas, and redfish are making themselves available to anglers on the shallower flats.
Moving into the Gulf, White is working the bait schools to put clients on kingfish and bonito.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.