Amid the dark cloud over our heads called COVID-19, many people are finding the best place to be is on the water surrounding Anna Maria Island.
What better way to avoid crowds than a peaceful morning fishing the clear waters of Tampa Bay and beyond?
Fishing the inshore waters is yielding good action, despite our record-breaking heat and high water temps.
Morning fishing is best, especially for catch-and-release snook and redfish.
As the day heats up, fishing deeper flats for catch-and-release spotted seatrout also is productive. As a bonus, the deeper grass flats host a variety of other species — Spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and especially mangrove snapper.
The small snapper seem to be everywhere. Patient anglers are catching limits of these feisty little fish regularly by scaling down their leader and hook sizes to trick the fish into biting.
Anglers moving offshore will find yellowtail and mangrove snappers, as well as permit, amberjack and a variety of groupers. Numerous sharks are present, too. So reel up those snappers fast to avoid having them chomped away.
On my Southernaire charters, I’m targeting catch-and-release snook and reds first thing, while the waters are slightly cooler after the darkness of night. Casting free-lined shiners around mangroves, oyster bars and residential docks yields good numbers of fish.
As the sun rises and warms the water, I’m moving to deeper grass flats to target catch-and-release spotted seatrout. Mixed in are Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, bluefish and, best of all, mangrove snapper. These little guys are everywhere, and I am enjoying watching anglers reel in their limits for dinner.
Capt. Warren Girle is finding a limit of mangoes throughout the deeper grass flats of Sarasota Bay. By free-lining small shiners in these areas, Girle is finding schools of snapper taking up temporary residence in the turtle grass. Mixed in are macks, bluefish and catch-and-release spotted seatrout.
On some recent offshore adventures, Girle lucked into large permit at the offshore wrecks. Over the wrecks, Girle is putting anglers on limits of yellowtail snapper and some large mangrove snapper.
Capt. Aaron Lowman is targeting a variety of species while anchored over the deep grass in Tampa Bay, where Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and catch-and-release trout are taking baits. As a bonus, anglers are catching limits of mangrove snapper.
Moving shallower, along the mangrove-lined shore and oyster bars, Lowman is putting clients on catch-and-release snook and redfish.
Moving into the Gulf, Lowman is hooking into permit and bonita, as well as keeper-size gag grouper over the inshore reefs.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says catch-and-release snook are appearing more frequently. Some catch-and-release redfish are being caught, too. For anglers looking to catch dinner, mangrove snapper are accommodating at the pier. Limits of the tasty fish are taking live shrimp offerings. Light fluorocarbon leader and small hooks are the perfect recipe to attain the limit of five snapper.
As for migratory fish, some ladyfish and jack crevalle are being caught on small white jigs.
Capt. Jason Stock is enjoying time at the fillet table as he returns to the dock from his offshore charters. Yellowtail and mangrove snapper limits are keeping him busy and his clients smiling in anticipation of a fish fry.
Amberjack and permit are being caught offshore and well-suited for fishers who like something big on the end of the line. Other fierce adversaries in the offshore mix include bonita, goliath grouper and a variety of sharks.
Capt. David White is finding success by chumming yellowtail snapper to the boat while anchored all over wrecks and reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. Mixed in with the yellowtails are some large mangrove snapper for a little variety in the cooler.
Since the opening of the amberjack fishery Aug. 1, White has been spending time targeting the powerful fish. Also, red grouper are taking a hook over hard bottom areas in depth around 100 feet.
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