Author Archives: fearsnofish

Targeting catch-and-release species such as snook, redfish and trout is really starting to heat up and should continue as we progress toward April.

Fishing the flats of Anna Maria Sound with live shiners as bait is producing a good variety of catch-and-release species such as snook, redfish and trout.

With numerous windy days this past week, most fishing around Anna Maria Island is occurring in the sheltered waters of Tampa Bay and its surrounding smaller bays and sheepshead are the highlight of the week. 

Thanks to calm sunny days with temperatures in the 80s and then a recent cold front dropping temps into the 50s, our weather is consistently inconsistent, however the fishing around Anna Maria Island is holding true for February — as long as you can make it out on the water.  Typically, February around Anna Maria […]

Fishing around Anna Maria Island remains good for targeting sheepshead as greater numbers of fish are showing up daily.  Fishing structure — piers, bridges, wrecks, reefs and rock piles — are providing limits of fish for determined anglers who use shrimp as bait. If you run across fish that are finicky, try tantalizing them with […]

Fishing around Anna Maria Island this week seems to be following a trend much like the weather — unpredictable. It has its ups and it has its downs and we seem to experiencing every spectrum of weather.  One day it’s in the 50s, then one day later it’s in the 80s. Factor in some rain, […]

As we settle into February, you can expect the fishing around Anna Maria Island to settle into its wintertime pattern. With stronger colder fronts moving in and cooler water temperatures present, we should begin to see a good influx of sheepshead starting to move into our area.  As these tasty fish prepare for their spawn […]

Fishing between cold fronts can make all the difference in the world when fishing around Anna Maria Island during the winter months.  With this last front, winds exceeding 30 m.p.h. and air temps in the 40s, put quite a damper on fishing for a few days. But the “in-betweens” can produce some great days on […]

Fishing in between the cold fronts is providing fairly consistent action for those trying to catch fish around Anna Maria Island. With spring-like temperatures, some anglers are still willing to use shiners as bait, which is resulting in good catch-and-release snook action in addition to Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and catch-and-release spotted seatrout.  Cashing in on […]

Fishing around Anna Maria Island is about as predictable as the weather patterns. When the seas are calm, anglers are venturing into the Gulf of Mexico to target snappers, groupers and hogfish. When the cold fronts come and the wind blows, and the Gulf is too rough, it’s time to move inshore to target sheepshead, […]