Local fall fishing consistent despite reports of red tide
Despite some patches of the red tide bloom, which seems to be creeping along the Florida Gulf coastline, fishing around Anna Maria Island remains consistent.
Mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, shark and kingfish are being found around nearshore structure in depths of 20-40 feet of water. As far as the inshore bite, fishing in Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound are proving prosperous, although some fishing reports from to the south leave a little to be desired.
On my own fishing charters, I’m doing well on mangrove snapper. Small rock piles, wrecks and artificial reefs are producing mangrove snapper up to 18 inches. Not bad for bay fishing. Fishing with Greg Schume of Ohio recently resulted in some nice Tampa Bay snapper. Schume was able to limit out quickly by using live shiners on a 1/2-ounce knocker rig. By the end of the bite, Schume managed to have five nice snapper between 14-16 inches to have for his skillet.
Fishing the flats for snook is producing some nice catches as well as plenty of action. Free-lining live shiners along mangrove shorelines is resulting in many fish 20-24 inches.
There are some keeper-size snook mixed in with these schooley fish, although not quite as many as I’d like to see. That being said, I am finding larger fish in areas where the sandy potholes and ditches exist, around the slightly deeper water is attracting the larger of the large snook.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing pier fishers reeling up a variety of species. Using live shrimp on a bottom rig is attracting attention from flounder, black drum and mangrove snapper. Keeper-sizes of all three species are being caught with some frequency. Anglers with a little luck are even hooking into the occasional redfish, although most catches are over-slot and have to be released.
Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish are being caught when bait schools are present. Pier fishers casting jigs and spoons along the edges of the bait schools are finding success. Keeper-size mackerel are typical.
Finally, snook fishing around Anna Maria Island’s northernmost pier remains consistent. Most catches are 20-26 inches. Keeper-size snook are coming to the deck occasionally and a few over-slot are being hooked — especially at night.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay for spotted seatrout. Slot-size trout are being caught with regularity along with many under-slot fish. Live shiners under a popping cork are attracting trout in water depths of 4-6 feet. Mixed in with the trout are Spanish mackerel and small jack crevalle.
Moving into the Gulf of Mexico, Girle is working nearshore reefs in search of mangrove snapper and flounder. Both species are responding for his clients to live shiners bottom fished around the reef. For the flounder, Girle is working the sandy areas on the edges of the structure. As for the snapper, in amongst the reef is proving successful. While targeting these fish, Girle’s anglers also are catching Key West grunts and juvenile grouper.
While at the nearshore reefs, Girle is free-lining live shiners behind the boat. This method is resulting in numerous Spanish mackerel for his clients. Mixed in are kingfish and cobia, which are both a welcome sight on the end of your line — especially the cobia.
Capt. Aaron Lowman of Keyes Marina in Holmes Beach is working the flats of Anna Maria Sound and catching a variety of inshore species. Snook, redfish, flounder and spotted seatrout are all being taken on live shiners as bait. Lowman favors the outgoing tides when targeting these fish. He likes to start at high water around the mangrove edges and work his way out into the flats as the tide drops. By doing this, he’s following the fish with his clients, which in turn keeps bent rods on the boat.
Fishing rock piles and other structure in Tampa Bay also is producing a bite for Lowman. Mangrove snapper and gag grouper are the most apparent, although Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jack crevalle are present. Live shiners are working for most species, although the gags prefer a nice fat pinfish.