Avoid areas with red tide to find the fish With red tide still being reported throughout our region, opportunity for the local fishing may seem bleak. Don’t be discouraged. Finding fish that will bite may be more challenging, but there are fish to be caught. On my charters, I’m migrating to the Gulf […]
Tag Archives: 2015
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 […]
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. […]
09
Aug
Aug
Stop watching the radar and go fish The weather is back to normal and the fishing is following suit. Light east winds in the morning followed by a sea breeze and 40% chance of rain in the afternoon. Ahhh. A sigh of relief. If you haven’t been out since the storms dissipated, here’s […]
19
Jul
Jul
Hatch bait increases, bringing migratory species to area Fishing around Anna Maria Island is improving compared to the bite of last week. An influx of hatch bait is appearing in Tampa Bay, which is in turn attracting a multitude of migratory fish. Around these large schools of bait are Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, blue runners […]
02
Feb
Feb
Pompano are the species to target in January Typically, January fishing around Anna Maria Island brings one thing to mind for me — pompano. During this month, we start to see a concentration of these tasty fish foraging along our shorelines and through the flats. Although these fish are abundant, it seems to be […]
10
Jan
Jan
Great mangrove snapper bite rings in 2015 Wintertime fishing around Anna Maria Island is in full swing. Especially for those fishers who like to target mangrove snapper. Most every rock pile or artificial reef in our local waters is holding good numbers of these feisty fish. If you can’t make it to the reefs, you […]