Fishing around Anna Maria Island remains fairly consistent despite a passing cold front before Thanksgiving.
A couple of nights with air temps in the mid-50s had an impact on fishing, although anglers with a little knowledge and a lot of patience are finding a bite.
Using live shiners as bait is working well for fish such as spotted seatrout. Trout seem to be less affected by water temps in the low 60s, which makes them a perfect target during the cooler months to come. I’m finding the bite to be slightly better during afternoon tides when the water has had a chance to warm up a degree or two. Slot and over-slot fish are being taken by fishing live shiners under a cork.
Snook fishing is becoming slightly challenging. I’m seeing plenty of snook, but getting them to bite is a different story. Waiting until late afternoon when the shallow flats are reaching their warmest temps is your best bet. Again, live shiners are the best bait, although a hand-picked shrimp will produce a bite.
Speaking of shrimp, live shrimp cast under residential docks are producing redfish and black drum. I’m using a 1/2-ounce knocker rig with a 2/0 circle hook combined with a live shrimp. This rig is easy to cast with accuracy and keeps the shrimp securely on the bottom, where the reds and black drum are dwelling.
Capt. Warren Girle is working around reefs and hard bottom to put his clients on the bite. Around the reefs, kingfish are readily taking free-lined shiners on a long shank hook. He’s also finding Spanish mackerel in these areas. Bottom fishing around the reefs and over hard bottom is producing mangrove snapper, as well as a few red grouper. Cobia are taking the hook, but the bite is random.
Moving inshore, deeper flats are producing spotted seatrout and bluefish. On the cooler, windy days, Girle uses live shrimp as bait. By using shrimp in canals and under docks, Girle is putting clients on redfish, black drum and a few snook.
Capt. Jason Stock is running offshore to the wrecks and reefs with good results. While using threadfin herring or large shiners as bait, Stock is hooking up gag and red grouper, amberjack and kingfish. For the grouper, a simple fish-finder bottom rig is producing a bite. For the amberjack, free-lined baits are Stock’s preferred method. As for the kings, slow trolling is attracting the most attention.
Hogfish are welcome aboard Stock’s vessel. By dropping live shrimp on a small bottom rig or jig head, Stock’s anglers found hogs in the 5-pound range.
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business is working the flats of Anna Maria Sound and various other areas with good results on redfish. Live shiners fished under a cork or free-lined around oyster bars and mangrove shorelines are producing redfish up to 33 inches.
Deeper grass flats are holding spotted seatrout. Gross is using live shiners under a cork to lure these fish to the hook for his anglers. Slot and over-slot fish are being caught.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is fishing the flats of Sarasota Bay with good results on snook. Lowman is finding schools of smaller male snook bunched up on flats adjacent to deeper channels and mangrove edges. Live shiners and even jumbo shrimp are working as bait.
These linesiders are on the feed, which is resulting in some easy fishing for Lowman and his clients.
On nearshore structure, Lowman is finding Spanish mackerel and kingfish accommodating. Mangrove snapper, gag grouper, flounder and a stray cobia are present in these areas. Live shiners or pinfish are Lowman’s bait of choice while working the reefs.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier is seeing pier fishers reeling up a variety of good-eating fish. Flounder, sheepshead and redfish — to mention a few — are being taken on live shrimp. Black drum are taking the hook, as well as a few mangrove snapper.
Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and blue runners are present on days when the bait schools are gathering around the pier. Spoons, jigs or Gotcha plugs are all top producers for these migratory species.