Anna Maria Island anglers are anxiously awaiting the opening of gag grouper season Sept. 1. Although the duration of the season is a meager two weeks — ending Sept. 15 — many anglers are eager to get out on the water, hoping to boat a limit of gags to bring home for dinner.
And with the season lasting only two weeks, these grouper will be the most precious of the year.
Heading offshore is a safe bet, as a greater number of fish should be frequenting the consistently cooler temps in the deep water, which, in theory, should provide the best chances of hooking up.
That being said, there should be a few nice examples lurking around our inshore waters, too. But these fish are limited as are the spots they inhabit. So plan now if you want to take part in opening day.
Although gag grouper are considered a prize on the plate, they are also known to be one of the most fearless of the grouper species and can pack a punch on even the heaviest gear.
These tackle-busters are well known for their abilities to put both the angler and gear to the test. And, behind the strength, these fish possess smarts, too, as they are quite proficient at maneuvering around whatever structure is present to break your line and escape to freedom.
In other words, there’s some skill to catching gags. It’s not as easy as just finding a spot and dropping a line. The angler’s physical strength and acumen are keys to success.
As far as bait is concerned, gag grouper seem to be opportunistic eaters, which opens the angler to an immense array of options. Live bait, such as pinfish, grunts or shiners, are top choices, but not the only choices. When these aggressive fish are dominating their territory and feeling hungry, they’ll eat just about anything that they can fit in their mouth.
This being said, offerings of dead bait — squid, frozen sardines and threadfins — also are effective.
And if you’re out of bait, artificials can prove to be deadly as well. A large jig with a curly-tail grub has been known to lure some large groupers out of their hiding places.
Trolling dive plugs is an option. The initial strike when trolling can shock an angler, as the strike seems to be the strongest as the grouper is ambushing a passing lure.
After the catch comes the reward of arriving back at the dock to hopefully do a little bragging in anticipation of that evening’s dinner of fresh gag grouper. Whether grilled, blackened or fried, gag grouper will stand up to any fish. The gag’s slightly meaty texture flakes apart with the fork and will leave you yearning for more every time.
Don’t forget grouper must be 24 inches in total length and the bag limit is two per person per day.
It’s time to get out your grouper gear and start pre-fishing your spots to prepare for gag grouper season.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing limits of mangrove snapper reeled up and over the gunnel. Fishing structure in Tampa Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico is resulting in great action on these popular snappers. Chumming around the wrecks and reefs is bringing schools of snapper to the surface, which makes them targetable with just a snapper hook and a sinker.
I’m even seeing snapper on the flats while targeting catch-and-release snook along the mangrove shores, which is always a nice addition between snook bites.
Speaking of snook, the backcountry waters are quite warm, so I’m finding fish in the passes and along the beaches, where water temps are slightly cooler.
We’ll look next week at the snook opening, also on Sept. 1.
Trout fishing is going strong on the deeper flats of Tampa Bay and along the beaches of AMI. Some flats are infested with trout 13-15 inches, yielding a bite on every cast, while other flats are holding larger examples of 18- to 20-inch fish. The larger fish seem to be more spread out, but can be rewarding for anglers looking for big trout.
Migratory fish, including jack crevelle, ladyfish and mackerel, are being found in most areas inshore, especially where schools of hatch bait are present.
Capt. David White reports action on spotted seatrout while fishing the deeper grass flats of southern Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Free-lined shiners over the deep grass flats are yielding many spotted seatrout 12-20 inches. Incoming tides work best, although White says he has several areas where the outgoing is providing just as much action.
Ladyfish and macks are frequent in these areas, which adds variety to the bite.
Meanwhile, catch-and-release snook fishing is keeping bent rods on White’s charters. Casting to snook along the beaches and passes proves to be the most exciting, as anglers can see the fish devour the hook. Mangrove shorelines and oyster bars in the backcountry also are yielding catches of snook, says White.
Fishing structure, such as docks and oyster bars, is a good bet, as White is putting anglers on redfish in these areas and along the beaches, where some black drum are mixed in with the bite.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is satisfied with the inshore fishing around Anna Maria Island as he’s seeing good action on redfish, trout and catch-and-release snook for his clients.
Targeting trout along the Gulf beaches and in Sarasota Bay is yielding plenty of slot-size fish 15-19 inches. Mixed in with the trout bite are ladyfish and jack crevalle. Mattay says redfish and catch-and-release snook are being found in the backcountry along mangrove shorelines, oyster bars and in the passes.
Mangrove snapper are making a good showing, especially around structure in the Gulf and in Tampa Bay. Spanish mackerel are lurking in the same areas and are hooking up on free-lined shiners.
Moving offshore, American red snapper and red grouper are dominating the bite. Live or dead baits on a bottom rig are proving to get the job done.
Send photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.