Beginning of Anna Maria rainy season prompts migration of inshore trio — snook, redfish and trout

As Anna Maria Island anglers are experiencing the beginning of our rainy season, they find themselves migrating toward the Manatee River as species like snook, redfish and trout are moving into Anna Maria Sound due to falling salinity levels occurring in the river. Heavy thunderstorms, which produce several inches of rain, will cause the fish to head west out of the river as Lake Manatee releases mass amount of freshwater into it. This can result in some great fishing, if you know where to look. 

Before last week we were experiencing dry conditions, lowering salinity levels in the river, which resulted in many fish just staging in the river where bait was plentiful. Now that the water is becoming more brackish, the bait is moving out with predatory fish right behind it. 

Areas like Terra Ceia Bay, Emerson Point and De Soto Point are great options where fish will be staging, which can yield some large concentrations of the flats fish we like to target. 

Swift outgoing tides are probably best as ambush predators like snook and trout stage around points, oyster bars and mangroves waiting for a meal to drift by. 

Casting live shiners in these areas can be productive, but don’t rule out artificials such as soft plastics on a jighead or suspending twitch baits as these can be quite deadly in these scenarios, too. 

And, as bait flushes out of the river, keep an eye out as ladyfish and jack crevalle can be seen crashing through the schools of bait, which can lead to some sizzling action on light spinning gear. 

Tarpon can be found in these areas as they are moving out of the river to head towards beaches and can’t resist stopping for a free meal.

And, speaking of tarpon, numbers of fish are increasing as we near enter the first week of June. Most action is occurring around the passes and in the beaches adjacent to them. 

Evening, outgoing tides are good, but strong currents are flushing pass crabs out into the Gulf triggering feeding frenzy with hungry tarpon. 

Remember if you’re fishing “the drift” try to stay in line in an orderly fashion, so everyone gets an equal opportunity to cast at the fish. 

If you don’t know the protocol, take a few minutes to sit on the sidelines and watch what’s happening as to not end up being “that guy” who’s cutting in line or causing a disruption in the lineup. 

Although it’s hard to imagine for some folks, there is a system to fishing these fish in the passes, so be aware. 

And if you goof up, they’ll be someone there to educate you and may not be in the friendliest manner. So, take time to figure it out before you just go charging in towards the fish.

On my Just Reel fishing charters, I’m finding great action on spotted seatrout while bouncing from one flat to another in Sarasota Bay. This bay has a reputation for some great trout fishing and it’s living up to it this month. Deeper flats are holding plenty of trout 14-16 inches as shallower flats yield fish up to 24 inches. 

Catch-and-release snook fishing is good throughout our region, especially around the passes and mangrove shorelines where clean water and good tidal flow exists. Most snook catches fall between 20-30 inches with some larger examples mixed in. 

As for redfish, I’m seeing them reeled in while we are snook fishing, especially in areas where oyster bars exist. Most catches are falling in the slot of 18-27 inches.