With mild weather lingering around Anna Maria Island in early January, anglers were enjoying perfect conditions on the water and great fishing.
A weekend cold front brought a quick drop in temperatures and choppy waters, but we will see a quick return to better conditions for anglers.
Meanwhile, before the front, fishers from offshore were boasting of amberjack, cobia and kingfish. The inshore bite was holding its own with catches of redfish, spotted seatrout and catch-and-release snook. Sheepshead and black drum were gathering around residential docks and there were rumors of pompano are popping up, according to beach fishers.
It was almost as though “old man winter” might have forgotten about us this year.
For Southernaire Charters, I’m concentrating on the inshore bite. The catch-and-release snook fishing is proving to be some of the best there is on the flats. Who would’ve thought we’d be free-lining live shiners for snook in January?
You don’t see me complaining. And my clients aren’t either.
Rallies of snook are occurring on the afternoon incoming tides, with most catches being schooley fish, 20-26 inches.
Residential docks and canals are host to a variety of fish. I’m casting live shrimp on a 1/2-ounce knocker rig around pilings and seawalls, resulting in redfish, black drum, sheepshead and mangrove snapper. We’re even hooking into a few catch-and-release snook this way. I frequently reserve these areas for windy days when fishing in open waters can be difficult, but any day is good.
Finally, casting shrimp or jigs along the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key is resulting in pompano and permit. Both bites are sporadic, but there’s always a chance at hitting “the mother lode.” When these rallies occur, anglers get to experience some of the best light-tackle fishing our area offers.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is working nearshore and offshore structure, resulting in a variety of species for his clients. By fishing around hard bottom and ledges in 30-60 feet of water, Lowman is leading clients to plenty of fish to take home for dinner. Using live shrimp as bait, combined with a 1-ounce knocker rig, is resulting in hogfish, porgies, white grunts and mangrove snapper. Also in the mix are juvenile and red grouper up to 18 inches.
Moving inshore, Lowman is fishing along the beaches for pompano, permit and other species. Live shrimp are working well as bait. Sheepshead, black drum and flounder are being taken along the shore of Anna Maria Island and beyond.