Stop watching the weather radar, go fish
The weather is back to normal and the fishing is following suit. Light east winds in the mornings are followed by a sea breeze and a 40 percent chance of rain in the afternoons. Ahhh. That brings me a sigh of relief.
If you haven’t been out since the storms dissipated, here’s what you’ve been missing.
On the flats, spotted seatrout can be found in depths of 4-7 feet. Live shiners under a popping cork are producing good action during morning hours and especially during stronger moving tides. Keeper-size trout are a little hard to come by, although persistence will generally get you a limit of fish. Rallies of trout are attainable, although most are 13-14 inches. I’m seeing 20 or more seatrout come over the gunwale in a morning session, along with a mix of jack crevalle, ladyfish and bluefish. All of these fish provide great light-tackle action for visiting anglers and there’s also a few trout to take home for dinner.
Mangrove snapper are back in force. I’m finally able to get to the artificial reefs — thanks to the calm waters and light winds — and let me tell you, it’s nice to be out there again. I’m finding mangrove snapper up to 18 inches under depths of 30-40 feet, which is a welcome sight. The small hatch bait that is everywhere right now is perfect for these hungry snapper. On the clearer days, I’m free-lining fresh-cut pieces of bait on a long stretch of 20-pound fluorocarbon. But try bottom fishing first. If you don’t get a hit, it’s time to get stealthy. Both rigs are working on days when the water is slightly cloudy.
Finally, snook are showing in numbers around the passes and piers. Although they are out of season, these fish provide excellent action on light tackle even for seasoned anglers. Plus, snook are a hearty fish with a great survival rate when it comes to catch-and-release fishing. It’s a win-win situation.
Yes, it’s time. Time to take to the water. The storms have passed — for now — and the fish are waiting with their mouths open for you to drop your bait.
Capt. Warren Girle is taking advantage of the calm waters and light breezes by venturing offshore in search of a bite. Mangrove snapper are front and center for his clients on these excursions with limits in the cooler on a regular basis. By using live shiners on a bottom rig, Girle is reeling up snapper at 18 inches or better. Between snapper bites, Key West grunts, flounder and numerous red and gag grouper are filling the void.
Offshore structure is offering a bite on migratory fish, such as Spanish mackerel, blue runners and jack crevalle. All of these species are voraciously taking live shiners flat-lined behind the boat. With these species come sharks. Blacktips are eager for fresh-cut chunks of Spanish mackerel.
On the flats, Girle is catching respectable numbers of spotted seatrout. While using a popping cork, his clients are casting shiners over the flats to attract a bite. Bluefish and jack crevalle — both 4-5 pounds — are inhabiting the flats, and can be an unexpected bite when you’re used to hooking up with trout. Blues and jacks are great adversaries on light tackle thanks to their aggressive bite and strong fight.
Capt. Aaron Lowman at Island Discount Tackle in Holmes Beach is fishing spotted seatrout on grass flats that drop off along the channel edges. A free-lined shiner with the addition of a split shot to the rig is ensuring that the bait goes deep, where the trout are taking refuge from the heat. Trout in the slot and slightly over-slot are being taken on this method. While targeting trout on the channel edges, Lowman is hooking into ladyfish, jack crevalle and juvenile mangrove snapper.
After they wear out the trout, Lowman is targeting flounder for his clients. By fishing residential docks and small rock piles in Tampa Bay, Lowman is managing to lead his anglers to respectable-sized flounder. Flatties in the 16- to 20-inch range are being caught with some consistency.
Finally, mangrove snapper are being found around shallow water among the inshore reefs. Mangoes 12-15 inches are being caught on live shiners combined with a bottom rig. In these same areas, Lowman is hooking up with Key West grunts, flounder and juvenile grouper.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says the dog days of summer have arrived at the dock, but that hasn’t stopped the usual pier fishers from coming out to see what’s coming to the dock. Malfese suggests fishing the hours from sunrise until noon for a bite. Mangrove snapper are still dominating the action for fishers using Rod & Reel select shrimp as bait. Expect to catch mangoes 8-14 inches throughout the morning hours.
Catch-and-release snook are still available, especially for fishers using live shiners for bait. Most snook are falling under slot, although fish exceeding 30 inches are hooking up. Other baits, such as pinfish or small ladyfish, will attract attention from hungry linesiders. All for sport, of course.
Finally, jack crevalle, blue runners and ladyfish can be taken on small jigs, silver spoons or Gotcha plugs when the schools of hatch bait are present at the pier. Cast to the edges of the bait schools and retrieve your lure quickly to get a bite.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.