With temperatures hovering in the mid-90s as we head into fall, Anna Maria Island anglers are finding themselves fishing low-light conditions to beat the heat to enjoy shallow water action.
Fishing low tides where the bay bottoms out just after sunset can be productive in September and your chance arrives the week of Sept. 25.
Fall officially starts Sept. 23.
Tides corresponding with sunset present opportunities to encounter tailing redfish, schooley snook and maybe a gator trout or two — if you’re lucky.
Wading the flats and casting is essential. Yes, you’ll have to get out of the boat to get a hookup.
Shallow flats adjacent to channel edges and deep sandy potholes are prime territory for predatory fish to lie in wait for a tasty morsel to drift by.
Speaking of morsels, select live shrimp can be great bait. Also, soft plastics on a jig head are quite deadly, if you know how to work them.
The most important aspects to wade fishing are stealth and a steady eye on the water.
It’s pleasing when you see that first redfish tail silhouetted in the evening sun ever so slightly sticking out of the glassy calm water.
And it’s even better when you make the right cast and the water erupts as a redfish violently devours the bait.
Or when you hear that distinct sound a snook makes when eating a bait near the surface. As you scan the surface of water, you may discover the remnants of the swirl made by the snook. Another cast and the fight ensues as the snook travels out of its hole and into skinny water that barely covers the shallow flat causing a wake.
The blue herons and other wading birds spook from the excitement and fly off to observe the action from a distance.
And then it’s dark.
Blind casting would be the only option, so it’s time to go home. It’s time to enjoy the cool breeze as it gently pours off the Gulf and across the bay into the backcountry and the satisfaction of knowing you beat the heat and caught the fish.
Capt. David White of Anna Maria Charters is putting clients on a good number of yellowtail snapper while working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
Bottom fishing is proving effective, although chumming to get the fish to rise off the bottom is an option.
Gag grouper also are being caught while offshore fishing with White. Live pinfish on a bottom rig are getting plenty of attention as they flutter on the hook, struggling to escape the jaws of a hungry gag.
Moving inshore, snook fishing is keeping White’s anglers busy. Free-lining live shiners is working well while fishing the beaches and passes, as well as the flats.
Lastly, for anglers with strong arms and a little bit of know-how, White is targeting gag grouper in depths of 15-20 feet. When hooked in shallow water, the gags are skilled in the art of running back into structure to cut your line — so every inch counts.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel says he sees an abundance of sheepshead around the pier.
Although it’s not really the right time of year to target sheepies, anglers dropping live shrimp as bait around the pilings are hooking up on convict fish.
Other catches that are falling victim to the allure of a live shrimp on the hook include snook, redfish, and an occasional jack crevalle.
Schools of ladyfish are passing by the pier as they move in and out of the passes, so it’s productive to keep some jigs or spoons handy. These fish are great action on light spinning gear.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding good action on the deeper flats of Sarasota Bay.
By drifting and jigging with soft plastics or pompano jigs, Girle is finding dense pockets of spotted seatrout. Once the schools are located, Girle is able to anchor up and catch fish on nearly every cast.
In between trout schools, Girle is happy to say he’s picking up pompano, as well as jacks and ladyfish.
In the Gulf of Mexico, Girle is bottom fishing with live shiners as bait. At depths of 20-40 feet, Girle is finding success on mangrove snapper, Key West, grunts and numerous juvenile grouper.
Send photos and reports to fish@islander.org.