Backwater fishing heats up with water temps
Fishing the backwaters around Anna Maria Island is getting better as summer temperatures arrived in force with June. Summer officially begins June 21.
Now is a good time to fish the flats due to the fact that a majority of fishers are out on the beaches targeting tarpon. There aren’t many times during the year when the fishing is so good that you can find a spot all to yourself on the flats. So if you get a chance to break from tarpon fishing, go work the backwaters and enjoy a little peace and quiet.
Inshore fishing around Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay is producing good numbers of spotted sea trout in water depths of 3-5 feet. Early morning and late evening are the peak times to target trout, while redfish are congregating on mangrove edges during the higher tides. Try casting live shiners to the edges of the mangroves to entice these bull reds to bite. The farther you can get your bait in the bushes without getting snagged, the better your chances of a hook up. It’s almost time for snook to start moving through the passes to the beach to begin their spawn. Keep your eyes peeled for small schools along the shoreline.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has announced the current harvest prohibition of snook in Florida’s Gulf waters, Everglades National Park and Monroe County state and federal waters will remain in effect through Aug. 31, 2012. This will allow the Gulf snook population additional time to rebound from two harsh winter seasons. Fishers can still catch-and-release snook during the closures and are encouraged to release fish carefully to help ensure their survival.
Offshore fishers are targeting American red snapper. The season opened June 1, and already good numbers of fish are being reported. In the catch-and-release category, gag grouper and amberjack are still being caught beyond 9 miles. Migratory species, including cobia and shark, are being caught around the offshore wrecks and reefs.
Capt. Warren Girle is targeting tarpon in the passes and off the beaches of Anna Maria and Longboat Key. “The bite tapered off a little this past week,” Girle says, “but we’re still averaging four or five hookups a day.” Girle is using live crabs, threadfin herring and shiners to target the silver kings.
Moving offshore, Girle is seeing mangrove snapper and catch-and-release gag grouper in 40 feet of water. Using live shiners for bait, Girle is catching mangrove snapper up to 24 inches. Spanish mackerel are being caught offshore on the same bait.
The inshore bite consists of redfish, spotted sea trout and catch-and-release snook for Girle. To target these species, he’s using live shiners or Exude darts on a 1/8-ounce jig head. Girle suggests fishing the higher tides around the mangrove edges to target redfish. “Find the schools of mullet and you’ll find the reds,” Girle says. To target trout, Girle is working grass flats with a depth or 3-4 feet for best results.
Jeff Medley at the south bait shop on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Fishing Piers says cobia are still hanging around the pier and they’re some of the biggest ones he’s seen in a long time. Pier fishers are using live pinfish and threadfin herring to target these big, brown bombers. “Make sure you’ve got your heavy tackle with you,” Medley says. “These fish are big.”
Other migratory species being caught at the pier include Spanish mackerel, bonito, jack crevalle, and pompano. Shiny lures such as Gotcha plugs and silver spoons are working great for the mackerel, bonito and jacks. To catch the pompano, Medley suggests using a goofy jig tipped with a piece of shrimp.
Nighttime fishers are still producing limits of mangrove snapper. Cut pieces of shrimp or threadfins are a good bet to entice these tasty little snapper to bite your hook.
Jonny Keyes at Island Discount Tackle says tarpon remains the No. 1 target for anglers. Fish are roaming the beaches, as well as staging up in the passes awaiting the full-moon tides. A variety of baits are working for these silver torpedoes. Keyes suggests live pass or blue crabs in addition to threadfins and shiners.
Anglers working the beach are catching whiting on small pieces of fresh-cut peeled shrimp. Keyes says using a No. 4 hook is ideal because whiting have a small mouth. Also on the beaches, fishers are targeting mackerel and bluefish with silver spoons. “Wait for the higher tides for best results,” Keyes says.
Flats fishers are still catching good numbers of spotted sea trout using live bait under a popping cork. Sarasota Bay offers a wide expanse of lush grass beds to target these yellow-mouthed flats dwellers. You can also use top-water plugs in low light conditions, such as early morning or evening.
Offshore fishers are targeting American red snapper starting at about 120 feet of water. Both frozen and live bait are working due to these snapper being so aggressive. Keyes says the catch-and-release amberjack bite has been exceptional.
Capt. Mark Howard of SumoTime charters has been targeting tarpon off the beaches and in the passes. “Tarpon fishing is unique in that one day you can hook 10 fish and then, next time out, you score a goose egg,” Howard says.
A variety of baits and a quiet approach is key to successful catching of these hard fighters. “Running up into the schools of tarpon with your outboard motor running and the radio blaring will only shut the bite down. Position your boat where the fish will be and not where they were. Patience and consideration for fellow fisherman is paramount when fishing for tarpon,” Howard says.
Howard says the speckled trout moved last week to 5-8 feet of water over grass beds, where he was reeling in fish over 20 inches. He suggests chumming with shiners to get the bite going.
“Looking forward, the full moon on June 15 will make for some huge tidal movements, and this will get the fish chewing.”
Capt. Rick Gross of Fishy Business is going “tarpon crazy.” Don’t worry, it’s still safe to go fishing with Gross as long as you want to catch tarpon, and a lot of them. Gross is fishing in the passes north and south of Anna Maria Island as well as off the beaches. He’s finding fish, ranging from 80-150 pounds, feeding on shiners, crabs and threadfins. Gross is using a 6/0 circle hook rigged with 60-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to 50-pound braided line with a Penn 850 Spinfisher and an 8-foot Star rod to win the battle with the silver king.
Gross also is fishing the backwaters of Sarasota Bay targeting redfish, trout and snook. “Most of the reds have been over-slot fish,” Gross says. “But we’ve been catching some keepers, too.” He’s targeting redfish by anchoring, chumming with live bait and then pitching shiners on a 1/0 live-bait hook. Spotted sea trout are being caught using the same method, although Gross says he doesn’t chum as much as he does when he’s fishing for reds. Gross also suggests if you’re fishing for trout to find grassy areas that have good water flow or current. “The trout bite seems to have slowed down a little due to the quarter-moon phase,” Gross says. “Try fishing grass flats that get good water flow.”
Send fishing reports to fish@islander.org.