Thanksgiving leftovers are gone — time to fill the fridge with fillets Now that all of the leftover turkey is finally gone, maybe there’s space in the fridge for some fish fillets. And, while we’ve seen a drop in water temps and some gusty winds, we should still be able to catch some […]
Author Archives: fearsnofish
Strong breezes, red tide puts a damper on fishing action Strong breezes from the south are still managing to allow traces of red tide to linger in our local waters. Despite this occurrence, fishing remains consistent, especially in waters north of the Anna Maria Bridge on Manatee Avenue. As long as you can […]
Mangrove snapper still hot but harder to find The fall mangrove snapper bite is going strong, although concentrations of fish seem to be on the move. On a recent excursion with my father-in-law, Paul Leighton, and his friend, Earl Range, we had to do a little searching to find the bite. After catching an […]
Shorter days, cooler weather — fishing remains hot Fishing at the nearshore structure that surrounds Anna Maria Island is shaping up nicely as we fall into autumn. The abundance of mangrove snapper is astonishing. Limits of these tasty fish are being caught on most visits into the Gulf or the bays. Live shiners free-lined […]
September fishing is consistent for flats and migratory species This week marks the beginning of fall, and the overnights temps are falling. Fishing around Anna Maria remains consistent for the month of September. Fishing structure for snapper and flounder and the flats for trout, reds and snook are proving worthwhile during morning incoming tides. […]
12
Sep
Sep
Mangrove snapper — the ace in the hole Mangrove snapper fishing is still going strong around inshore, nearshore and offshore structure. On a recent morning, while fishing with Steve Phelps, chef/owner of Indigenous restaurant in Sarasota, we experienced the bite firsthand. We started around seven in the morning along the beaches of Anna Maria […]
05
Sep
Sep
September — back to school for local and visiting anglers September fishing around Anna Maria Island looks to be shaping up nicely for local and visiting anglers hoping to get some action. Although the heat is quite intense out on the water right now, there is still a bite to be found. Schooling redfish […]
03
Sep
Sep
Snook – Its what’s for Dinner As of Sept. 1, snook season is open in our region. So, from now until December 1, those anglers wanting to harvest a snook within the designated slot of 28-33 inches may do so. That being said, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC, is encouraging anglers who do […]
23
Aug
Aug
If I have to fillet another snapper… If I have to fillet another snapper…kind of sounds like a complaint but actually it’s the complete opposite. I love catching mangrove snapper, and I love eating them, too. And, as a charter captain, I can speak for my clients by saying they like to catch […]
16
Aug
Aug
Weather and fishing fall into August pattern Fishing the nearshore reefs and wrecks is resulting in mangrove snapper, flounder and juvenile grouper. Migratory fish such as Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and blue runner can also be found around structure this month. For all of these species, live shiners are the bait of choice. […]