End of October hopefully brings end of wind, rain
By Capt. Danny Stasny
Anna Maria Island Fishing Conditions in October
As Anna Maria Island anglers settle into the last week of October, I think we’ve seen more windy days than not, causing a fluctuation in an inconsistent bite.
And with the correlation of a couple of cold fronts and higher amounts of rain than normal, getting a head on what’s happening on the water has been challenging to say the least. During this October, the backwater bite has been all over the boards with some days being exceptions while other barely providing any action at all.
Fall Fishing Challenges and Kingfish Migration
Persistence and patience are key in these scenarios and eventually staying the course is the best option as we wait for a consistent bite to return. Typically, when the backwater bite becomes difficult, the obvious choice is to move into the Gulf of Mexico. in search of action as migrating fish like mackerel, kingfish and bonito typically move closer to shore. But with many days of windy conditions, this bite has been unattainable due to the rough seas and diminished water clarity leaving few options for the angler.
November Fishing Outlook for Anna Maria Island
Ultimately, anticipation of November’s bite is growing high as hopes of a more consistent weather patterns and a more consistent bite are hopefully in the future. We are still waiting for the fall run of migratory species which should be occurring in the next couple of weeks. We should also see improvements in the backcountry as snook, redfish and trout being staging on the flat to feed heavily in order to fatten up for the approaching winter.
This being said, we should potentially see some excellent fishing in the near future as long as we have favorable conditions on the water void of strong northeast winds and rain.
So be ready for November as fishing should be quite good before we finally settle into a wintertime pattern.
Sarasota Bay Fishing Report: Spotted Seatrout
On my Just Reel charters, I’m covering quite a bite of water to find the best action. Sarasota Bay is yielding some good action on spotted seatrout, especially in areas where bait is present. Mixed in are ladyfish and jack crevalle which adds a variety to the bite.
Snook and Redfish Fishing in the Backcountry
I’m seeing quite a few snook being caught along mangrove shorelines, although keeper-sizes 28-33 inches are few and far between. Most are 20-26 inches.
Redfish are scattered throughout our area with most being caught along mangrove shorelines and oyster bars. These fish are averaging 15-25 inches.
Gulf of Mexico Fishing: Spanish Mackerel
Moving into the Gulf of Mexico, Spanish mackerel, blue runners and jack crevalle are being caught. Most mack catches are quite impressive as they are measuring 22-26 inches in length.
