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. […]
Tag Archives: anna maria island fishing report
02
Aug
Aug
Rain, rain go away — please stay out of Tampa Bay If you like fishing in the rain, this past week was your week. Like clockwork, thunderstorms developing in the Gulf of Mexico were taking landfall every morning usually before 10 a.m. Does this affect the fishing you ask? No too much, the fish […]
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 […]
12
Jul
Jul
Beat the heat — fish early or go deep Well, if I said fishing around Anna Maria Island is good as it gets, I’d be lying. Or better yet, let’s say I’d be slightly exaggerating the truth — that sounds better. Although the fishing is not exceptional, that doesn’t mean there aren’t fish to be […]
05
Jul
Jul
Bye bye tarpon, it’s time to catch dinner As you probably already know, gag grouper season opened as of July 1. The season is set to run through December 2 and close on December 3, 2015. Size and bag limits are as follows — you are allowed two gag grouper within the four grouper […]
28
Jun
Jun
Water temps heat up and so does the snapper bite If you can stand the heat, fishing around Anna Maria Island is favorable, especially for mangrove snapper. Whether fishing around artificial reefs, wrecks, rock piles, bridges, rivers or jetties you are bound to find some mangrove snapper. I’m even finding snapper on the flats while […]
20
Jun
Jun
Tarpon remain center stage for yet another week around Anna Maria Island Schools of fish are being reported from as far south as New Pass in Sarasota all the way north to Egmont Key. Preferred baits are crabs, threadfin herring or live shiners. Targeting fish around the passes before sunrise is a sure fire […]
14
Jun
Jun
Tarpon or bust — the craze for the silver king continues Once again, tarpon are center stage for yet another week. Tarpon junkies from near and far are flocking to our local waters just for the opportunity to match wits with the elusive silver king. If you haven’t seen the pass at Bean Point on […]
01
Jun
Jun
Once a tarpon fisher, always a tarpon fisher A gleaming mass of chrome fury erupts skyward amidst an orange sunrise on the horizon of Anna Maria Island. A sequence of aerial acrobatics followed by a series of drag-screaming runs that put the strongest angler to the test. Multiple jumps, skyrocketing, thrashing, twisting in […]
24
May
May
Tarpon remain targetable in waters surrounding Anna Maria Island Tarpon fishing along the Gulf beaches is in full swing now. Schooling fish can be found along the beaches of Anna Maria Island and Long Boat Key with frequency. You can also spot schools in Longboat Pass, Bean Point and the southwest pass […]