Fishing around Anna Maria Island is quite good despite days of wind in the 20- to 25-mph range.
Finding calm water that holds fish is challenging but when you achieve it, you’re in for a good day.
Hiding from the winds in residential canals is a great way to find calm waters and still catch a few fish. Casting live shrimp under docks yields a variety of species — sheepshead, black drum, flounder, mangrove snapper and catch-and-release redfish.
You have to do your homework to find a catch — they’re not going to be under every dock — but methodically searching should yield results.
Fish a dock and throw a few casts. If nothing happens, move to another. Eventually, you’ll find a bite.
And don’t forget to keep track of the docks that hold fish because those docks typically will hold fish year after year.
On less windy days when it’s safe to venture out into open water, jigging the flats for catch-and-release spotted seatrout is providing some good action. I like the DOA Cal jigs on a 1/4-ounce jig head. Drifting and jigging over flats in 5-8 feet of water is yielding many slot-size trout, a few over-slot fish and quite a few under-slot fish.
Mixed in with the trout bite are ladyfish, bluefish, jack crevalle and even some pompano for the lucky anglers on the boat.
If you like to fish from land, the Rod & Reel Pier is reporting top action on sheepshead. The fish are taking live shrimp offerings. You also can target black drum and catch-and-release redfish with your shrimp.
Other land fishing options include the beaches of Anna Maria Island. Casting jigs tipped with shrimp into the surf is attracting whiting, pompano, black drum and some ladyfish. That’s pretty good action for a laid-back stroll on the beach.
Lastly, the offshore guys are having luck with black fin tuna, red grouper and many varieties of snapper. This bite is solid when the wind is calm and the seas lie down.
On my own Southernaire charters, I’m finding the action to be quite good on calmer days. I’m putting clients on pompano and permit along the beaches by casting shrimp-tipped jigs. While doing this, we’re hooking into ladyfish, sheepshead, black drum and a few Spanish mackerel.
When the beach fishing is unattainable due to the wind and rough surf, I’m drifting the deeper grass flats of Terra Ceia and Sarasota bays for catch-and-release spotted seatrout. The DOA Cal jig is working well for these bucked-toothed fish. Mixed in with the trout are ladyfish, bluefish and jack crevalle. The lucky anglers are finding an occasional pompano on the end of their jig.
Lastly, fishing wrecks and reefs in Tampa Bay yields limits of mangrove snapper, as well as some sheepshead for my charters.
Capt. Jason Stock is finding black fin tuna on days when the seas are calm enough to venture offshore. Most are in the 25-pound range, which makes for excellent action on medium-heavy spinning gear. Plus, you get to enjoy grilled tuna steaks.
Also, while offshore, Stock is leading clients to catches of hogfish and mangrove snapper while bottom fishing around ledges and reefs.
Capt. David White is finding the sheepshead bite irresistible and accommodating for his clients while working in Tampa Bay. The fish are found around wrecks, reefs, docks and even along the beaches. While targeting sheepies around docks, White’s clients also are hooking into some catch-and-release redfish.
On windier days, White is spending his charter fishing hours in the upper Manatee River, where catch-and-release snook and redfish are being hooked, as well as hefty jack crevalle.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says sheepshead are starting to make a showing. Pier fishers using live shrimp or crabs as bait are catching near limits of the tasty striped fish. Casting baits under the pier and around the pilings is yielding the best results.
Other catches at the pier, while targeting sheepies, include black drum and some catch-and-release redfish.
Casting jigs or spoons away from the pier is attracting the attention of Spanish mackerel and ladyfish. Both are fun to catch on light spinning gear and, if you’re looking to bring home for dinner, the macks aren’t half bad if you cook and eat them the day you catch them.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is working inshore around Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay. Targeting residential docks and canals yields good action for Lowman’s anglers. The areas come in handy during windy days and sheepshead, black drum, mangrove snapper and catch-and-release redfish are taking the bait.
Moving out of the canals and into open water is working well for Lowman, especially over deep grass flats. Catch-and-release spotted seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle and some pompano are being caught by clients.
Lastly, fishing structure in the Gulf of Mexico is providing nonstop action on Key West grunts, mangrove snapper and hogfish for anglers aboard Lowman’s boat. Porgies and sheepshead are in the mix.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.