Inconsistent weather is the only constant while fishing local waters
Inconsistent weather is resulting in a sporadic bite in the waters surrounding Anna Maria Island this week.
Within four days of fishing I have seen the wind blow in four different directions. Adaptability, knowledge of the local waters and persistence are all playing a huge part in being successful on the water.
On my recent fishing trips with Southernaire Fishing Charters, I’m having to fish different areas on a daily basis. Not being able to get on a steady pattern can be both challenging and frustrating, but I’m still managing to put fish in the cooler for my clients.
Most days are quite windy so I’m having to fish inshore and close to shorelines or mangrove islands to find shelter and calm water. By doing this, I’m finding respectable numbers of snook and spotted seatrout. Most of the snook I’m catching are 20-26 inches — the norm for most anglers in the area. Slot snook are being caught on occasion, which is always a reward for the lucky anglers who catches one. As for the spotted seatrout, many slot and over-slot fish are being caught. I’m seeing trout up to 26 inches with most being in the 18-inch range.
Finally, fishing nearshore structure when winds are blowing out of the east is providing great action as well as ample amounts of great tasting fish to take home for dinner. Mangrove snapper up to 20 inches are taking lively shiners combined with a 1/2-ounce knocker rig. In the areas I’m catching snapper, I’m seeing some flounder and a few stray Spanish mackerel.
