With water temps on the rise, Anna Maria Island anglers are eager to get out on the water to try their luck at wintertime fishing.
Fishing structure in the Gulf of Mexico at depths of 30-50 feet is yielding decent results for anglers using live shrimp as bait.
With water temps in the upper 50s to low 60s, patience is a virtue, as many species are slower on the bite than normal.
Even species that are less impacted by the cold, like sheepshead, are slow to bite when the water temperatures dip. Sometimes an increase of just a few degrees can make a difference between a slow bite and a good bite. So hang in there.
While targeting sheepies, anglers are hooking into Key West grunts, flounder, mangrove snapper and juvenile grouper, which makes for quite a variety — and a great fish fry.
Moving into the backcountry, anglers are finding a slightly different story. Frequency in the bite is leaving a little to be desired because water temperatures have shut down many of the shallow-water species we target. This is especially apparent with the local snook population, as they are trying to maintain by finding the warmest areas to take refuge from the cold. Targeting linesiders seems futile until we have warmer weather. They are not as motivated to eat as they are to survive the cold-water temperatures.
It’s probably best to set your sights on species like redfish and black drum, which are affected by the cold but seem to be slightly more tolerant of it than the snook.
Casting live shrimp under docks and around seawalls in canals is a great way to target reds and black drum.
Just remember to be patient.
On my own Just Reel charters, I’m seeing decent numbers of sheepshead being reeled up in the Gulf. Live shrimp as bait, combined with a 1/4-ounce knocker rig, is getting the job done. In many instances, due to the cold water, the sheepshead bite is subtle. In fact, many anglers don’t know they have a fish until they lift the rod and feel resistance — at which time they start to reel quickly as the rod is bent over double on a big sheepie. This bite requires skill and a little luck.
In the same areas as the sheepshead, I’m finding mangrove snapper, Key West grunts and juvenile gag grouper.
Moving inshore, the bite is more challenging. Casting live shrimp under docks is leading to catches of redfish and black drum. Both are somewhat sluggish on the bite, but at least they are eating. Also, the bite seems to be scattered, with no big groups of fish in any one spot. For anglers, this means a lot of moving around and a lot of casting.
Capt. David White is finding action using live shrimp as bait. Whether in the Gulf of Mexico over structure like wrecks and reefs or in the backcountry around docks and channel edges, live shrimp is the key to success when fishing in chilly water.
In the Gulf, White is putting clients on sheepshead, Key West grunts and mangrove snapper. A bottom rig combined with a live shrimp fished on the bottom is working well. Flounder and juvenile gag grouper are being caught in the same areas with the same rig.
Moving into the backcountry, White is putting clients on slot-size reds while casting shrimp under docks. Also caught are black drum and an occasional flounder.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters says he’s finding good action while working offshore in the Gulf. Using live pinfish or frozen baits like sardines and squid is leading to limits of red grouper with plenty of catch-and-release gag grouper mixed in. A variety of snappers, including mangrove and lane, are also bringing success to Mattay’s anglers while offshore.
Moving inshore, Mattay has clients targeting sheepshead around rocks and docks. Live shrimp as bait is working well to catch the popular wintertime “convict” fish. Black drum, redfish and a few pompano also are included in the inshore bite.
Bottom line: Dress like it’s winter. Wear layers to start, and you’ll be peeling them off as the sun rises high in the sky, and putting them back on when the sun heads to the horizon.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.