Strong winds and frequent cold fronts are creating challenging fishing conditions for the anglers that ply the waters around Anna Maria Island.
With a drop in water temperatures, typically-targeted species of snook and trout are less attentive than normal.
But don’t be alarmed, this is Florida and things should warm up nicely between the cold fronts.
During these warm-ups is when your best chances will occur to find success on the water.
Targeting different species also will improve your odds of success. Sheepshead, for instance, are tolerant to colder water temps. In fact, colder days when the waters are rough are quite good for targeting the convict fish around pilings.
Pompano also seem to be tolerant of cooler water and can be found in a variety of places, including beaches, passes and on the flats.
Other species you may find agreeable include black drum and redfish.
Another option may be to venture into the Gulf of Mexico and deeper water to find more consistent water temps, which keeps the fish that inhabit the area more comfortable and more apt to take a bait.
The artificial reefs and ledges within 10 miles of shore are great places to drop a bait to hook up with some grouper and snapper.
For all the species mentioned, live shrimp as bait will work great.
On my Just Reel charters, I am working a variety of areas for a variety of species. Fishing along the beaches is routinely yielding pompano, black drum and sheepshead.
Of course, live shrimp as bait is working best.
For the pompano, a jig tipped with shrimp also is quite effective.
On calm days when the winds are light and easterly, I’m venturing into the Gulf to fish over ledges and artificial reefs. I’m seeing big sheepshead being reeled up, as well as mangrove and lane snapper. There’s also an abundance of Key West grunts available for those wanting to have a fish fry. Lastly, checking floating debris in the Gulf is leading to some hits from keeper-size tripletails — also good in the frying pan.
Capt. David White is fishing inshore along the sandy Gulf beaches and on the grass flats of Tampa Bay. While fishing along the beach, live shrimp as bait is working best. Species such as sheepshead, black drum, redfish and pompano are being caught.
Casting live shrimp on a small knocker rig is enabling White’s clients to cast longer distances and the rig helps keep the shrimp anchored in the sand, where the fish are foraging for their meal.
While working the flats, White prefers to use live shiners as bait. On warmer days, fishing during afternoon tides, White instructs his clients to cast the shiners along mangrove shorelines. By doing this, his clients are hooking into some catch-and-release snook as well as redfish and spotted seatrout.
Capt. Jason Stock is glad to see the strong winds and rough seas subside so he can venture offshore with his charters. Bottom fishing is the preferred method in the Gulf at this time of year to yield a variety of species. Gag grouper are aggressively responding to live and frozen baits. The same applies when targeting snapper. Both mangrove and yellowtail snapper are being caught regularly by Stock’s anglers. According to Stock, the mangrove snapper are quite large, with some exceeding 20 inches.
Capt. Warren Girle is fishing nearshore structure when the weather allows a run into the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing ledges and other structure in the Gulf is producing plenty of action for Girle and his clients. Live shrimp are the bait of choice they’re attracting sheepshead, snapper and grunts to the hook. Girle says gag grouper and permit also are taking interest in his live shrimp offerings.
On windier days, Girle is taking charters on patrol in the residential canals that run off of Sarasota Bay. Casting shrimp around docks and seawalls is yielding some catch-and-release snook, as well as redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper — and it’s a good way to stay out of the wind.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says despite the cold weather and rough water, fishers at Anna Maria’s northernmost pier in Tampa Bay are managing to find a bite. Species such as redfish, black drum and sheepshead are the primary catch. Also the most frequent. Live shrimp is the bait of choice. Other species being reeled up include catch-and-release snook and a few mangrove snapper.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.