Red Tide and Wind – avoid both for a hook up
With an influx of red tide and windy days, fishing around Anna Maria Island could be termed “hit or miss.”
On calmer days, venturing out into the Gulf of Mexico can be satisfying for anglers in search of a bent rod. Spanish mackerel and kingfish can be found around nearshore and offshore structure. You may also come across a cobia or two if you’re lucky. And all those stone crab traps out there, I’ll bet it’s not a bad idea to keep your eyes peeled for a triple tail.
Inshore fishing is following the same suit. Avoiding the patches of red tide is leading anglers to the flats of Sarasota Bay all the way north to Miguel Bay. Snook are abundant in areas where the water is free of red tide. Redfish can be found intermingling with the snook.
Finally, deeper grass flats are host to a variety of fish including spotted seatrout, ladyfish, mackerel and jack crevalle. Free-lining live shiners in these areas can be exciting because you never know what’s going to hit your bait. Again, this bite is occurring in red tide free waters.
