As March roars in, Anna Maria Island anglers are preparing for the springtime bite.
Although species such as sheepshead, pompano and black drum are present and being caught on live shrimp, many anglers are switching to live shiners as bait to target spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, snook and redfish.
Determined anglers are carrying shrimp and shiners as bait to fish the species they encounter.
On the opening day of snook season March 1 has head out to their favorite snook spots in search of a slot-size linesider.
With water temps in the low to mid-60s, many snook are still in their wintertime hiding places and the ones that are on the move might take a little coaxing to get on the hook.
Fishing afternoon tides, when the water has reached its highest temperature, is advantageous. In many instances, just a few degrees can make a difference in the feeding habits of early spring snook.
If you’re fishing morning tides, look around the deeper grass flats of Tampa Bay south to Sarasota Bay to find schools of spotted seatrout. Free-lining live shiners with the addition of a split-shot to the rig is quite effective in catching trout.
You might encounter jack crevalle, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel in the mix, adding some variety to the bite.
And, for those using live shrimp as bait, there are opportunities to catch sheepshead around the piers, bridges, wrecks and reefs. We should be seeing a large influx of sheepies in Tampa Bay, supplying us with a good late-season bite.
Targeting species like pompano are a good option as they love to devour shrimp in their path.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding myself all over the place depending on what the winds and tides provide. On days with light winds from the east, I’m venturing into the Gulf with live shrimp in the bait well to fish ledges and reefs. Hogfish, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, porgies, flounder and Key West grunts are all on the menu.
On breezier days, I’m patrolling the deeper flats in Tampa Bay for spotted seatrout. The fish are taking shrimp, shiners and artificials, such as soft plastics.
On the warmer days, I’m experimenting with targeting snook, which has been a hit-or-miss affair. One day they bite well, while on other days they seem to be less motivated.
Capt. Johnny Mattay is impressed with the inshore bite while fishing in Tampa Bay. Fishing over deep grass with live shiners as bait is yielding Mattay’s clients many spotted seatrout as well as Spanish mackerel. Both species are readily taking baits, which is providing good action for Mattay and his anglers.
Moving to shallower flats, using live shiners is yielding good action. Redfish and snook respond to free-lined baits when cast along the edges of the mangroves.
For the offshore bite, Mattay is venturing into the Gulf of Mexico in search of red grouper, amberjack and mangrove snapper. Using live pinfish, frozen sardines and squid as bait in depths of 80-100 feet is leading to many hookups as well as fish for dinner in the cooler.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says anglers using live shrimp as bait are finding action on sheepshead and black drum. With the water being clear, Malfese suggests using a light leader and a small hook to trick the fish into biting. He adds that snook are in abundance under the pier and are quite visible in the clear water.
Bait such as threadfin herring and shiners are congregating around the pier, which might attract more migratory fish, such as macks, ladyfish and jack crevalle.
Capt. David White says he’s finding good action along the beaches where his clients are casting live shrimp as bait. Species such as pompano, black drum and sheepshead are being caught most days.
Switching to live shiners as bait works to find a bite and he’s putting his anglers on spotted seatrout and macks over the deep grass areas. An occasional jack crevalle or ladyfish also is being caught.
On the shallower flats, White has his clients targeting snook and redfish, which are being taken along the mangrove shoreline. Lastly, while fishing offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, White is finding action on red grouper and mangrove snapper, as well as hogfish.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.