Another cold front moved in from the north Feb. 22. So Anna Maria Island anglers are again facing cold temps — 30s and 40s overnight — and windy days on the water.
But with March right around the corner, springtime fishing is in the not-so-distant future.
There’s hope.
As for now, anglers fishing inshore are being rewarded with catches of sheepshead, black drum and redfish. Casting live shrimp as bait attracts all three of the species to the hook, depending on where you’re fishing.
Reefs and wrecks in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are providing good action on the sheepies.
For the reds and black drum, fishing along the Gulf beaches or in residential canals around docks and seawalls is working well.
Moving offshore, in depths of 100 feet or more, red grouper seem to be readily available for anglers working hard-bottom areas. Live and frozen baits are working well.
Snapper fishing is good offshore. Lane, vermillion and mangrove snapper are being caught frequently.
Lastly, wreck fishing in the Gulf is providing action on amberjack.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing plenty of sheepshead being caught while using live shrimp as bait. Casting shrimp around structure in the Gulf and Tampa Bay is leading to good numbers of keeper-size fish. And there are many smaller sheepshead in the mix.
Fishing along the beaches with shrimp is producing action, especially on black drum and redfish. Both species are responding to baits placed on the bottom with a weighted rig.
Spotted seatrout are being located along the beaches where structure exists. Casting artificials like soft plastics on a jig head leads to numerous hookups on trout, as well as on bluefish and Spanish mackerel.
Capt. David White reports he’s finding action for clients by working along the Gulf beaches and using live shrimp as bait. He is hooking up his anglers with black drum, sheepshead, redfish and pompano. To catch these fish, White is employing small jigs tipped with shrimp or live shrimp on a weighted rig.
Fishing over structure in Tampa Bay also is producing action, especially for the sheepshead. Live shrimp on a knocker rig fished on the edges of the structure is producing the best action.
Capt. Johnny Mattay is catching good numbers of fish while working offshore in the Gulf. Fishing hard-bottom areas with frozen sardines and live pinfish is yielding his clients’ limits of red grouper, as well as a variety of snappers — including lane, mangrove and vermilion.
Also, while wreck fishing, Mattay is putting clients on plenty of amberjack, which are well-suited for anyone wanting to put their stamina to the test. These fish fight hard right until the end.
Moving inshore, Mattay says he’s finding good action along the beaches. Casting live shrimp, shrimp on jig heads or simply a knocker rig is leading to catches of sheepshead, black drum, redfish and pompano. In some areas, he’s even pulling up on a few trout for his anglers.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.