With mild temperatures and calm waters, Anna Maria Island anglers are taking advantage of early December’s excellent weather to get out on the water and do some fishing.
Inshore fishing around Anna Maria Island will remain good as long as mild weather holds and no severe cold fronts close in on us.
Live bait fishing with shiners is producing excellent action for redfish, trout and catch-and-release snook as water temps remain in the upper 60s to low 70s.
Migratory species — bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle — are responding positively to the water temperatures, which gives the inshore angular options when choosing what to go after.
Carrying live shrimp for bait is advantageous while fishing inshore because we’re starting to see sheepshead and black drum along the beaches and around rocks and docks.
Also, rumors of pompano are floating around. So having a few shrimp handy could open the door for a nice addition to the fish box.
The nearshore bite is following suit, especially around wrecks and reefs. Spanish mackerel are dominating the bite in many areas so flat-lining live shiners can lead to hookups on every cast if you’re on the right chunk of rock.
Don’t hesitate to do some bottom fishing in these areas, too, because mangrove snapper, Key West grunts and sheepshead are milling around. Of course, live shrimp is key, especially for the sheepies.
And finally, moving out past the artificial reefs to areas of hard bottom is producing plenty of action when using live shrimp as bait. Hogfish are the highlight, with a mixture of mangrove and lane snapper, Key West grunts, porgies and plenty of juvenile grouper to round out the bite.
Having a few pinfish or live shiners in the baitwell is smart, as there could be an occasional keeper-size red grouper in these areas. Plus, you want to be prepared because you never know what you’ll encounter out there, do you?
On my Just Reel charters, I’m fishing many locations depending on the weather and water temperatures.
On calm days, I’m venturing in the Gulf to depths of 40-50 feet, which is producing plenty of ingredients suited for a fish fry. Hogfish, mangrove snapper and lane snapper are the sought-after species at these depths, backed up by plenty of Key West grunts and porgies. In many instances, the baits are being eaten as soon as they reach the bottom.
On breezier days, I’m staying inshore, which is more sport-fishing than meat-fishing, although I’m managing to put limits of trout in the box and usually a redfish or two to add to the collection.
Catch-and-release fishing for snook is filling the gaps, as well as targeting migratory fish — mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish and jack crevalle.
Finally, I’m starting to see a few sheepshead and black drum along the beaches while working the docks.
Capt. David White says he’s finding good action on spotted seatrout while working deep grass in Tampa Bay. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle are mixed in to add variety on medium-spinning gear.
As water temperatures warm throughout the day, White is moving to the shallows, where redfish and catch-and-release snook lurk. Both species are frequently taking the hook, especially on the warmest days between the cold fronts.
Finally, sheepshead and black drum are being caught while fishing rocks and docks and along the beaches.
Capt. Johnny Mattay says he’s seeing plenty of red grouper being reeled up while offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Live pinfish or frozen sardines are luring the large bottom dwellers to have a bite.
Switching to live shrimp as bait is leading to respectable numbers of hogfish from hard bottom areas and ledges.
Moving inshore, Mattay is putting clients on a steady bite of catch-and-release snook while casting live shiners along mangrove shorelines during higher stages of the tide.
Fishing deeper flats with live shiners is producing limits of spotted seatrout, as well as a mix of mackerel, jacks and ladyfish.
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