Warmer weather heats up the inshore, offshore catch – The Anna Maria Islander

Will Trepp of Greenwich, Connecticut, shows off a spotted seatrout caught April 23 in Sarasota Bay while using shiners for bait. The fishing trip with Capt. Warren Girle turned productive in the afternoon, with several mackerel, jacks, redfish and snook on the hook. Islander Courtesy Photo

Fishing inshore around Anna Maria Island is exceptional. And whats so encouraging is that the fishing will only get better as we approach summer.

Catch-and-release spotted seatrout have invaded the deeper grass flats in great numbers providing great action on light- to medium-spinning gear. Most catches are 12-18 inches, with larger fish up to 24 inches in the mix.

While targeting the catch-and-release trout, anglers are hooking into various other species, including bluefish, jack crevalle, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel. With the abundance of all the species on the flats, you can bet to experience some great rod-bending action on your next adventure on the water.

And it doesnt stop there.

Fishing the shallower grass flats for catch-and-release snook is in high gear. Schooley-size fish 20-26 inches are cooperating when offered free-lined live shiners. With water temps in the mid- to upper-70s, the snook are feisty as they take the hook. Numerous jumps and drag-screaming runs across the flats are why these fish hold such an adoration with inshore fishers. And, lucky anglers are finding slot-sized catch-and-release redfish mixed in with the snook bite. Most catches are 20-25 inches. These fish are especially apparent when fishing areas where oyster bars exist.

Moving offshore, mangrove snapper are becoming more prevalent as the water temperatures rise. Fish up to 9 pounds are being caught around structure and hard bottom offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. And, if you know about mangrove snapper, you know a nice 9-pounder is a force. Better have your stout gear ready to stand a chance against one of these large mangoes.

Red grouper are coming to the bait while offshore, especially around Swiss cheese bottom and ledges. Lastly, pelagics blackfin tuna and amberjack are being caught around offshore wrecks.

On my Southernaire charters, Im finding the flats fishing for catch-and-release spotted seatrout to be quite fulfilling. During swift incoming tides, Im seeing 20-40 trout coming to the boat while fishing over deeper grass flats.

Mixed in are some Spanish mackerel and a bonus this week we had several cobia and a couple of tarpon take baits. Its always a shocker when youre expecting to set the hook on a trout and instead, it turns out to be a 40-pound tarpon. Not a bad trade-off.

As for the cobia, all were under-size, but still, a fun catch when casting bait in 5 feet of water.

Catch-and-release snook fishing along the mangroves also is keeping my clients busy. Most are 18-24 inches, although a couple of slot-size fish are managing to slip into the lineup. Im also excited to see some catch-and-release redfish mixed in with the snook bite.

Capt. Jason Stock says the mangrove snapper bite is going strong while working offshore for his charters. Most catches are 3-5 pounds, although some mangoes are reaching 9 pounds. If you know anything about mangrove snapper, a 9-pounder is a really big one and it makes for a filling saute pan.

Also, while bottom fishing offshore, Stock is putting clients on numerous red grouper as well as catch-and-release gag grouper and catch-and-release red snapper. Fishing baits toward the surface is also providing good action especially for blackfin tuna and catch-and-release amberjack.

Capt. Warren Girle is catching his fair share of catch-and-release redfish while in Sarasota Bay. Dock fishing for reds in the bay is offering the best action, although Girle is hooking some along the mangroves shorelines, too. Targeting catch-and-release spotted seatrout in the deeper grass flats provides the best action for Girles sport anglers. Many of the spotted seatrout are being caught and released plus hes finding ladyfish, bluefish and Spanish mackerel on the hook.

Lastly, catch-and-release snook fishing is on fire along the shallow grass flats where mangroves and oyster bars exist.

Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel sees a mixed bag of fish. Pier anglers using live fish as bait are hooking into some black drum, flounder and some catch-and-release redfish. A few catch-and-release snook are being caught on shrimp, too, but live pinfish are working as bait for the linesiders. Those pier fishers opting to use artificials are finding action on macks, jack crevalle and ladyfish. All three species are hitting silver spoons, Gotcha plugs and small jigs.

Capt. David White says the macks are a good bet while casting in Tampa Bay. Fishing around artificial reefs, wrecks or rock piles is proving to be good. Free-lining live shiners combined with a long shank hook in these areas is resulting in numerous hookups for Whites anglers.

Moving to the grass flats, White is finding action on catch-and-release snook and redfish. Both are taking offerings of live shiners as bait. Lastly, fishing along the beaches with live shrimp is working well for the black drum bite.

Capt. Aaron Lowman is finding some great shallow-water action by instructing clients to cast live shiners along mangrove shorelines and across the open grass flats. Catch-and-release species redfish and gator trout also are being caught in these areas. Fishing around the strongest parts of the tide is key to this bite, according to Lowman, who adds, catch-and-release snook fishing is occurring in the same areas.

Fishing deeper grass flats is yielding catch-and-release spotted seatrout. These trout arent topping the 20-inch mark, but the number of fish makes up for their size. Mixed in with this bite are plenty of jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel.

Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.

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Warmer weather heats up the inshore, offshore catch - The Anna Maria Islander