Continued cooler weather causes withdrawal symptoms for anglers

Anna Maria Island anglers are experiencing withdrawals from not getting their typical fix of fishing throughout the week due to the cold weather and windy conditions.

All the chores around the house are done and the fishing rods are rigged and ready in case a break in the weather occurs — which should be in the near future.

And when it does, the fish had better hide because every angler in Manatee County has been itching to get out for longer than a week. 

Sheepshead — a fish that seems to shake off the cold without much effort — will be one of the main targets when anglers can get out on the water. Casting live shrimp, fiddler crabs or sand fleas around barnacle-encrusted pilings is a good plan of attack if you’re fishing from land, and if you’re out on the boat you may start on the artificial reefs to try your luck. 

Redfish also seem to be fairly hearty when it comes to cooler water temps, which makes them a good option to target as well.

Creek mouths, docks, canals and oyster bars are a great place to start when looking for a hookup. Casting live shrimp or small crabs cut in half will usually get the job done. Plus, these baits will also attract other predators like sheepshead and black drum, which may help to increase your odds when the cold has you feel the cards are stacked against you. 

Lastly, casually doing a drift over deep grass flats with shrimp-tipped jigs may surprise you if you stumble upon a school of pompano, bluefish or ladyfish. These species are semi-tolerant of the cooler water and can provide some excellent action when you aren’t expecting much. Also, the drifting and jigging helps you to cover more area, which in theory should increase your odds of finding some fish.