Watch your fronts people

Fishing should rebound after the minor cold front that moved through Tuesday with the weekend outlooks calling for warmer temperatures.
That should mean grouper and snapper will be starting to make their winter inshore migration and that means anglers don't have to venture very far out to enjoy some excellent action.
In addition, freshwater fishing for bass, bluegill, shellcracker and speckled perch has been good, reports the Herald Tribune.
The Bradenton Herald, meanwhile, is also advising to check the weather reports before planning your big trip.
'Fishing in both freshwater and saltwater seemed to hit its peak this week at about 10 am Tuesday, just before a cold front passed through. Remember that fishing could jump off once again this weekend just before another front comes through. Some weather “experts” predict the front could come today. A new moon the next few days will have tides moving rapidly. The Manatee River is a prime option for a mix of fish. Redfish and snook have fled up the river in masses as water temperatures drive them to protected and warmer areas. Some of those warmer areas are off the mouth of the river in extremely low water. These areas hit a temperature that triggers a bite sometime after 10am, which, of course, will vary.'

Tight lines everybody!

Cold weather, hot water

Anglers prepared to get out there and brave the chilly weather are being rewarded with some great catches off Anna Maria Island. The wind and cold might not suit the angler but the water temperature is perfect for the fish at between 68 and 70 degrees.
Captains are reporting a colorful return with redfish, bluefish, black drum and yellowtail jacks all being brought in. Meanwhile, backwater fishing for sheepshead is also starting to pick up, while snook season is well under way although they are fish running a little small so far.
Captain Larry McGuire in the Anna Maria Sun, reports great fishing offshore, with gag and red grouper, amberjack, big kingfish, cobia and a variety of snappers.
‘The best action on my four-hour trips has been out in the 30- to 60-foot range,’ he says. ‘On full day trips, going deeper out past 100 feet is hot. Both live and cut bait are working. Have a happy Thanksgiving.’
Well, the same to you captain…

Tight lines!

Sea trout, catch trout

Hello there fishing friends,

Another week of poor weather might have had some of you considering the sanity of fishing, but stick with it, with a warmer front and lighter winds predicted for the coming week we should be back among the fish soon enough.

Some of you will be out pursuing the larger winter sea trout which have been showing up more and more as the first of the fall cold fronts hits. As the weather gets cooler the snook will also be making their seasonal move up into creeks and docks, seeking the darker, warmer waters of back bay areas, where they can survive the cooler conditions.

If you want to know more about the spotted sea trout to be found in the waters around Anna Maria Island, here is what the fishing website Fish4Fun has to say: 'The Spotted Seatrout is a sturdy fish with an elongated, streamlined body. The mouth is large with a larger lower jaw and an upper jaw with two prominent canine teeth. The dorsal fin is divided by a deep notch. The Spotted Seatrout is silvery in color with olive green tints on the back. It has a lateral line which runs from just behind the gills to the tail, above which are numerous black spots which extend on to the second half of the dorsal fin.
'The fish prefers water temperatures in the 65 to 75 degree F. range. They can be found in just about any inshore or near shore waters. From the surf and jetties, grass flats and shell banks to inland coastal rivers. The average fish ranges in size from 14" to 20" and can weigh from about a pound up to five pounds. Larger fish can be found, and the world record is 17 pounds 7 ounces.
'The methods and equipment for catching these trout are varied. You can use spinning gear, baitcasting gear or flyfishing gear. They can be caught by still fishing, casting or drifting, from shore, bridge or boat.
'Live shrimp is the bait of choice for most trout fishing, however if you are going for a trophy-sized fish, live small fish are a better choice. These are usually fished below a popping cork. Dead bait such as mullet strips, shrimp and pinfish can be fished much the same way as live bait.
Artificials which take numerous trout can include silver or gold spoons, plastic tail grubs, bucktail jigs and plugs. Fly fishermen use a variety of popping bugs and streamer flies.
'Seatrout can hit with a strong force and the first instinct is to set the hook hard. Don't do it! They have a relatively soft mouth which tears easily. Set the hook gently and don't try to winch them in.'

Good advice, here's what one looks like:

Oh, and tight lines!

Get shrimping

If you're new to fishing on Anna Maria Island there are so many things to learn it can turn your head. On this blog I'll be trying to help you out as much as I can, so let's start with one of the most popular baits for the beginner - live shrimp.

Using sand shrimp as bait is an excellent choice because it is a favourite food of bottom feeders and emits a powerful scent, which will attract them.

Unfortunately, they are fragile and almost impossible to keep on a hook, something a lot of newcomers get wrong. Try using a safety pin hook, which is designed to hold soft baits like sand shrimp. It has a pin which runs the full length of the back of the bait, leaving the tail and pincers free to move. Some people go as far as to use a few turns of wire, such as the kind used for weighting flies, to help hold the shrimp.

Taking good care of your shrimp is important also. It is important to make sure they are alive and kicking – they will catch more fish this way.

Keep them uncrowded, well aerated, and cool in an ice chest. The strong lid that can double as a seat, it has a plug for easy draining, and is well insulated to guard against the heat.

And here's one final useful tip. Instead of using ice to keep the shrimp cool, freeze water in plastic bottles so that when the ice melts it won’t dilute the water and kill the shrimp.

When the shrimp is failing to get strikes, use brightly colored shrimp by dying them with food coloring. This will stimulate strikes if regular colored shrimp aren’t working. So now you know all about shrimp.

You can buy it at all the bait shops on or near Anna Maria Island, so why not give it a try.

Tight lines!

Walking on water hits the spot

Seems like fishing in Anna Maria is even more popular than we thought. According to a survey conducted by Research Data Services Inc for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau between March and August 38.9 per cent of visitors said the Anna Maria City Pier was their second favored attraction to visit, following St Armands Circle, which had a 58.9 per cent.
The Rod & Reel Pier came in as the third most favored attraction to visit, with 38.7 per cent of those surveyed saying they enjoyed the private pier in Tampa Bay just north of the Anna Maria City Pier. Maybe those fishing tales are starting to work.
Not that any of this comes as any surprise to any of us who get down to the island's piers as often as we can. Us honorary pier rats are happy to welcome any new members, so if you haven't been down for a day's fishing on Anna Maria Island just wander along and have a go. There is certain to be someone there willing to lend a hand if you're a newcomer. But don't expect too much help if you catch the biggest fish...

Tight lines!

Get out there people!

Captain Mike Heistand, writing for The Islander in Anna Maria, reports a steady pick-up in action from all his fellow captains and by those returning from the island's piers this week.
He says: 'Fishing has improved after passage of the blustery weather spurred by the first real cold front to arrive on our shores this fall. Offshore fishers were able to get out in the Gulf of Mexico and bring back excellent catches of grouper and snapper. Most of the action is still a bit out from shore, but colder water temperatures should bring the fish closer to the beach.
'Backwater fishing for redfish is great right now. Snook action is scattered depending on tides and location. Mackerel are still around and biting, and it’s the start of the sheepshead season.'
The pier anglers at Anna Maria City and the Rod and Reel have been reporting sheepshead, mackerel, mangrove snapper and redfish, snook and black drum.
Read his full report here
Want to know what a black drum looks like close up? Check it out!

Grouper still hot in the cold

Captian Larry McGuire reports great grouper fishing right now, especially large red grouper, gag grouper, monster mangrove snapper, lane, vermillion and yellowtail snappers, triggerfish, kingfish, big sharks 'and all the amberjacks you can handle'.
In line with most of the captains' reports, Larry is also finding the deeper water more productive but expects the grouper to become more accessible as they move closer into shore for the winter. 'The weather is nice and the fish are hungry, so now is the time to come out and get some', he told the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper.
Your best bet for getting out to the deep water is to charter a skipper to take you out there. Check out the list at the Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce to help you decide which one to choose. Any one worth their (sea) salt will soon get you over the fish and have those rods bending.
Tight lines!