Fish early, late and deep to beat the heat
With water temperatures reaching the upper 80s, combined with air temps in the mid 90s, and the feel-like temperature over 100 degrees, Anna Maria Island anglers are getting out early in the morning and getting back before noon in order to find a decent bite and beat the heat.
Carrying plenty of cold waters and other liquids to replenish electrolytes is key when attempting to spend any amount of time on the water in these conditions. Dehydration is real and once you’re there, it’s not easy to come back from so staying hydrated is essential to enjoying a day out in the Florida heat.
When fishing the backcountry, it’s in your best interest to get out early to find a bite. As the day progressives and the flats heat up, you may find species like snook, redfish and trout slightly less motivated to bite, which can lead to nothing more than a sunburn and heat exhaustion without anything to show for it.
To be honest, night fishing could be advantageous if that’s your thing. If not, just trying to catch that bite from around 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. could be productive.
Many anglers are moving to deeper waters where temperatures for the fish are slightly more comfortable, which is yielding better action. Mangrove snapper fishing on the nearshore wrecks and reefs is a good option.
And pushing out further to the offshore waters is probably the best option with species like American red snapper and red grouper lurking in depths of 120 feet or more.
Pelagics like cobia, wahoo and blackfin tuna are also available in these areas which can add quite a thrill for the angler and for the those waiting at home for a fish dinner.
In any case, try to be prepared while being out on the water in these extremely hot conditions. Having access to shade is a good thing as well as being fully stocked with plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.
On my own Just Reel charters, I’m trying to spend my mornings fishing deeper water where the bite seems to be more consistent.
Targeting mangrove snapper in depths of 15-30 feet of water is proving to be consistent with limits of fish being caught most days.
Spotted seatrout are being cooperative when found in areas of 10-12 feet of water with dense grass covering the bottom. Good tidal flow and clean, clear water is another beneficial aspect to find a good action on the trout. Mixed in are ladyfish, jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel.
Lastly, targeting catch-and-release snook is rounding out the day with most catches occurring closer to the passes and beaches then in the backcountry.
