Early May mild temps results in hot fishing action inshore, offshore near Anna Maria
With temperatures remaining mild for the first week of May, Anna Maria Island anglers are getting out of the water to experience a springtime bite before the heat of summer settles in.
Flats fishing throughout our region is good as schools of baitfish are infesting the grass flats, which in turn is triggering the inshore trio — snook, redfish and trout — to feed heavily.
Water temperatures in the mid to upper 70s are the perfect conditions to maximize feeding habits resulting in some of the year’s best flats fishing experiences.
Swift moving tides — which we should see toward the end of the week — should present excellent opportunities on the flats especially during the higher stages of the ride.
Moving into the Gulf of Mexico, you can expect the same results. Kingfish and Spanish mackerel are being found around artificial reefs, wrecks and hard bottom areas, especially when large schools of bait are present.
And while you’re other there, keep your eyes peeled for cobia as they cruise along the surface of the water. Cobia are curious and will swim right up to the boat so have a large spinning rod handy to free-line a bait to them if the opportunity presents itself.
And, if you venture further in the Gulf in depths or 100 feet or more, red grouper are frequently being caught. Live or frozen baits are working so take your pick.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing plenty of action while working the flats of Tampa Bay southward to Sarasota Bay.
There are still many large spotted seatrout throughout our region making limits attainable on most days. Using live shiners as bait yields trout 14-16 inches and many of these fish are 20 inches or larger which means they have to be released but this also presents the opportunity to catch some really large examples.
Catch-and-release snook fishing is starting to heat up with rallies of 20 or more fish being caught on the flats on most days. Swift tides and clean water are the recipe for success. I’m also seeing some redfish mixed in with the snook bite, which is always a welcome sight.
