Inshore fishers around Anna Maria Island are welcoming some inshore boats as winds from the west have made the Gulf of Mexico too rough to venture offshore.
Finding success among the crowds in the bays has been challenging, although most fishing trips are resulting in action on the top trio of inshore species — snook, redfish and spotted seatrout.
Migratory species, including jack crevalle, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish are present, which broadens the action beyond fishing the shallows.
But all this is going to change.
May signals the arrival of tarpon, which will cause a noticeable vacancy in the back country as many anglers will be patrolling the beaches in search of a bucket-list fish. And still others will be out, casting the beaches, attempting to quench that uncontrollable thirst to hook a silver king.
As we settle into a milder pattern of light east breezes in the morning, followed by the sea breeze in the afternoons, many anglers will find ideal conditions for hunting for these illusive large fish.
In turn, the backwater fishing will experience a much needed break from the pressure of so many anglers moving from one hole to the next — like a revolving door — eventually resulting in excellent fishing on the flats.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m seeing plenty of action on spotted seatrout. Finding keeper-size trout is becoming slightly harder as many of the larger, spawning fish have moved on. But, mixed in with the trout, are Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish, which adds a nice variety to the bite. These species, pound-for-pound, will put up a better fight than trout, which many anglers seem to enjoy. Especially once they have a few trout in the cooler for dinner.
On the shallower flats, my clients are hooking up with snook and redfish, with the snook less apparent, although we’re finding a most days.
Capt. Jason Stock is spending any free time he has from charters to concentrate on a reef project. He anticipates construction will begin as soon as the permitting goes through. His nonprofit organization, Full Send Reef Habitat Inc., is working with both local and state officials to choose a site, cover all the regulations and get the reef in place.
Acquiring materials is one hurdle and Stock is on the hunt.
Tampa Constructing Services, located by Port Manatee, is donating various structures, including concrete culverts in a variety of sizes, including some large pyramid-shaped concrete structures. The pyramids are 10 feet tall and weigh 1,700 pounds, which should evolve into an excellent fish attraction.
Finding a reef site is the next step for Stock. Communicating with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision is key in this step, as they determine target areas for artificial reefs. FWC goes through a number of steps, including surveying the bottom to make sure no live structure or natural reef is present, and existing undersea life is not disturbed.
Once the area is determined, the construction is near. As of now, Stock says the targetable area is 22 miles southwest of Anna Maria Island. It will be a quarter-mile square, approximately 56 acres.
If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more or contributing to this project, contact Stock at jmsnooky@gmail.com.
Capt. David White is fishing inshore as a result of numerous days with strong west winds. It’s been impossible to fish deep in the Gulf of Mexico.
On his inshore trips, White is finding the best action for clients while targeting mackerel and trout over the deep grass flats in Tampa Bay.
Freelining shiners on a long shank hook is working best for this bite. Although you would typically not use long shanks for trout, it’s made necessary by the mackerel in the mix. Their razor-sharp teeth will wreak havoc on a fluorocarbon leader. Plus, the trout don’t seem to mind the larger hook.
On shallower flats, White is finding action on catch-and-release snook as well as redfish.
Capt. Warren Girle is going after spotted seatrout on the deeper grass flats of Sarasota Bay. He’s got his clients freelining live shiners and a variety of other species, including jack crevalle, macks and bluefish are coming to the party. Although these three species don’t rate high on the food scale, they make up for it in action on the end of the line.
On the shallower flats of Sarasota Bay, Girle is putting his anglers on snook and redfish. Both species are being caught along mangrove shorelines, where oyster bars and sandy potholes exist.
Lastly, with the arrival of May, Girle is getting his tarpon gear ready to patrol the beaches in search of silver kings in what can be a rewarding but short season of thrills.
As a reminder, tarpon can only be fished with hook and line. Snagging, snatch hooking, spearing and the…
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