Fishing around Anna Maria Island is quite good, especially with the arrival of tarpon on their migration along the coast in preparation to spawn.
Many anglers are dedicating all the fishing time they can get to target the elusive fish.
Patrolling the beaches and passes is most favorable for an encounter with the prehistoric monsters, although many fish can be found in Tampa and Sarasota bay waters.
A variety of baits are being used to entice the silver kings to the hook, including pass crabs, threadfin herring, large shiners, pinfish and shad. And although live bait is preferred, don’t be astonished to see anglers using dead baits, as tarpon can be scavengers.
For gear, the oversized spinning tackle is the most popular. The largest spinning reel packed with a few hundred yards of heavy braided line combined with an 8- or 9-foot heavy-action spinning rod is ideal. Add 8 feet of some 60-pound fluorocarbon with a 6/0 circle hook at the terminal end and you’re in business.
As it is early in the tarpon season, large numbers of fish have yet to appear, but we’re getting reports of fish from New Pass to Egmont Key. The numbers should increase as we approach the full moon in June, which usually is when the most fish are present.
So if you haven’t dusted off your tarpon gear, it’s time. Put some fresh line on the spool and make sure your reels are functioning, as very soon they will be put to the ultimate test — a fight to land a silver king.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing impressive snook catches. Morning tallies among anglers range 20-30 fish being caught and released.
I’m also seeing redfish when targeting snook, which adds variety to the bite.
Lastly, spotted seatrout are being added to the cooler by anglers targeting a fish dinner.
Sydney Neville at the Rod & Reel Pier says while tending the bar and making sure her guests don’t go thirsty, she sees a variety of species being caught. Mangrove snapper are being coaxed into biting by anglers using live shrimp as bait.
Dropping shrimp under the pier on a weighted rig works best and other species — redfish, sheepshead and snook — also are taking the bait.
Pier fishers using artificials such as jigs and spoons are hooking up with macks and jacks when bait schools are present. Casting a speck rig around the edges of the bait schools also is yielding a bite.
Lastly, Neville notes that she’s seeing schools of tarpon passing by the pier.
Capt. Warren Girle is on the water in search of tarpon. Fishing along the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key is resulting in hookups. For bait, Girle is using live pass crabs and live threadfin herring. Although early in the season, Girle says he’s seeing respectable numbers of fish roaming up and down the shoreline. Most catches are 70-80 pounds, with larger fish are being caught by lucky anglers.
Capt. David White is enjoying inshore fishing around Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay. While fishing deep grass flats, White is seeing many Spanish mackerel and spotted seatrout being caught, with both species responding to live shiners as bait. Freelining the baits or adding a split shot to get the bait close to the bottom is working well to get a bite.
In shallower areas, White is targeting redfish and catch-and-release snook. Again, baiting shiners produces the best action. Fishing mangrove shorelines is favorable, although White is also finding both species on the beaches where good tidal flow exists.
For anglers hoping to catch a big fish, White is leading them to action on blacktip sharks. Chunk bait, such as fresh-cut mackerel or jack crevalle, is tempting the sharks to bite the hook.
Lastly, with tarpon season upon us, White is getting ready to focus his days chasing silver.
And to wrap up the week, Capt. Scott Moore called May 20 to comment on the tarpon bite, which he called “finicky.” Adding, “There’s more bait now than I’ve ever seen in our waters,” and he got his captain’s license in 1979.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.