Variety, silver king persistence keep local anglers busy
Tarpon fishing remains the main attraction for yet another week on Anna Maria Island. Anglers from Tampa to Boca Grande — and beyond — are flocking to our little island to get a taste of what our local waters have to offer.
Some say the tarpon fishing here is better than anywhere on the Gulf coast. And by the numbers of boats I’m seeing out there, maybe that’s the case.
The fish are finally dispersing from the passes to roam the beaches and roll in the surf of Anna Maria Island, Egmont and Longboat Key. Live crabs and threadfin herring as bait are top producers, although large shiners, pinfish and menhaden, also known as “shad,” are attracting a bite.
For those choosing to fish the backcountry, spotted seatrout are putting up the most consistent bite. Live shiners, free-lined or under a cork, are producing good action during morning incoming tides. Deep grass areas of 6-8 foot depth are a good place to start.
On my own Southernaire charters, I’m flip-flopping between tarpon and backwater trips. Both are productive, with fish being caught consistently. For the tarpon, I’m working pre-dawn until about 10 a.m., which seems to be a good plan. Casting live crabs into schooling fish is producing multiple hookups, especially before sunrise.
As for the backwater trips, spotted seatrout are taking baits on the flats of Sarasota Bay. Limits of fish are attainable, which is great for clients who like to take a fish or two home for dinner. Plus, while targeting trout, we’re catching Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish, adding a nice variety to the bite.
Capt. Warren Girle also is seeing success, jumping tarpon along the beaches and passes of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Live crabs cast into schooling tarpon are resulting in multiple hookups during the hour just before and after sunrise. Once the sun is up, Girle is switching to threadfin herring — live or dead — to attract a bite. Fish up to 150 pounds are being caught.
Moving to the flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is finding limits of spotted seatrout. Mixed in with the trout bite are macks, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Free-lined live shiners as bait are top producers for Girle.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is targeting tarpon in southern Tampa Bay, as well as along the beaches and passes, and is finding good numbers biting the hook. On that hook, Lowman is baiting up with live crabs or threadfin herring. Both baits are producing catches in the 100-150 pound range.
While working in Tampa Bay at the northern tip of Anna Maria, Lowman watched a large hammerhead chase a tarpon on the beach. He got some great photos while managing to head off the hammerhead and give the tarpon room to scoot away — for the moment.
Moving inshore, Spanish mackerel, spotted seatrout and catch-and-release snook are on the menu for Lowman. For the macks and trout, Lowman is working on grass beds with 5-10 feet of water. For the snook, shallow grass flats adjacent to mangrove shorelines are producing good action.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says with the arrival of bait schools, fishing is better by the minute. The schools of hatch bait are attracting the usual trio of suspects: Spanish mack, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Snook are cashing in on the abundance of bait, gorging themselves in preparation for their spawn.
Pier fishers using shrimp as bait are catching a variety of other species, including black drum, mangrove snapper and flounder. All three species are welcome sights to hungry anglers with hopes of a “fresh” fish dinner.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business Charters is following tarpon along the beaches and passes of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. He’s finding schooling tarpon during early morning incoming tides, and live crabs of threadfin herring for bait are attracting bites from fish 100-150 pounds.
In the backcountry, Gross is catching respectable numbers of catch-and-release snook. Live, free-lined shiners cast around mangrove shorelines and lush grass flats where tidal current exists are producing rallies of snook, sometimes exceeding 25 fish in one spot.
Capt. Jason Stock is on the hunt for tarpon, patrolling the beaches and passes and finding ample numbers of the silverking biting the hook for his clients. Live crabs or threadfin herring are producing hookups and most catches are averaging 100 pounds, although fish exceeding 160 pounds are not uncommon.
Moving offshore, Stock is keeping clients busy on gag grouper. Keeper-size fish are being reeled up with regularity. While targeting gags, Stock also is putting red grouper and mangrove snapper in the cooler.
Finally, fishing offshore wrecks with live crabs is resulting in permit in the 15-pound range.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.