April: 2011On the inshore scene, the speckled trout bite has been red hot. Moving water is the key to successful fishing. We have been limiting out of trout on my charters this week. Redfish and snook have been scattered. Fish the potholes close to the mangroves to get these elusive fish. Near shore fishing off the beach has been exciting and action packed when the wind cooperates and blows from the east. Oversized Spanish mackerel have been burning up reels with non stop action. Kingfish are mixed in with the Spanish mackerel tight to the beach. Filling your livewell with lots of shiners and using them to chum will get the party started. Now is the best time of year for fishing in Manatee County 2010) Finally Spring is coming to Anna Maria with warmer weather and different fishing choices. Mackerel, Trout, and Redfish have been feeding heavily as the warm weather moderates temperatures.Shiners have finally made it to the flats. Cobia have made a showing off the beaches.
2009) April is one of my favorite times to fish.Many species are chewing hard. Bait has been easy to get for a couple of months. Snook, Trout and Redfish have been my main targets.Some very big ones have been landed . Mackeral have invaded our area . The spring pattern is at its Peak.
2006 )The fishing has been very good lately. NO RED TIDE around and the shiners are thick. My parties have been doing well on the Snook and Kingfish. We have also caught sharks , Mackerel, Redfish ,Cobia, and Trout. The weather has been picture perfect. .
Mr.Gilchrist with a Whopper Sheep Head
May:
2011The heat of Summer , the white butterflies , and the Silver King , tarpon, have arrived on the waters of Anna Maria Island and Tampa bay. June is prime Tarpon time and the schools of fish have made a strong showing around our waters. On the backwater scene , speckled trout are still biting and continue to be the go to fish for fun ,action,and dinner. Fish the drop offs along grassy areas and in 5-8 ft of water using shiners to entice these beautiful fish to chew. .
Shark fishing is also kicking into high gear. Blacktips ,lemons ,spinners bonnet heads and bull sharks are coming to the party . Use a couple of chum blocks hung over the side to draw these apex predators to your lines. Cut up ladyfish, mullet and other fish will be to the sharks liking. Be careful when landing these bruisers and use a long handle release tool to keep your fingers and hands safe 2010)The Summer time fishing pattern is in full swing with Megalops Alanticus (Tarpon) taking the Main Stage. The Tarpon have shown up strong off the beaches, in the passes, and the Skyway bridge. For the beaches a quiet approach to the pods of fish is imperative. Use a trolling motor and use the wind and current to get into position to get present a bait to the fish. Pulling up to the fish with the outboard running will shut the bite down. This weekend ,strong outgoing tides will mean the tarpon are loading up in the passes. On Wednesday ,we jumped 6 fish on a strong outgoing . The bait of choice was crabs and threadfins .
Speckled trout continue to bite feverously on moving water . Shiners hooked in the pectoral area have triggered the most strikes. Fish the drop-off of flats and the intercostals waterway for some fun and lively action.Big over slot redfish have moved into Tampa bay . Follow the schools from the flats into the mangroves as the tide is incoming and then vice versa as the tide drops. 2009)has been a great month so far .Bait has been easy and the fish have been cooperating.I have been targeting Snook , Speckled Trout and Redfish.The Trout bite has been extra HOT this year with many20"+ fish being landed. Redfish have picked up with some nice 10lb fish being landed this week.Snook are catch and release BUT still fun to catch. Tarpon are showing up and sharks have hit been chewing hard .
2006) was one great month for Redfish and Snook around the Anna Maria area. My clients were catching reds to 12lbs and snook to 10lbs.SHARKS are fish I have now started to target. 20+sharks a day is the the norm. Tarpon were slow. Mark
A Father and Son Fun Day
June:
2011Summer time has arrived on the waters around Anna Maria island and the fishing has heated up as well. On my recent charters we have been targeting tarpon off the beaches and in the passes. Tarpon fishing is unique in that one day you can hook 10 fish ,and then next time out you score a goose egg. Having a variety of baits and a quite approach is key to successful catching of these hard fighters.
Speckled trout have moved into deeper water, 5-8ft over grass beds. My clients have been landing fish over 20" last week. Lacie Chapman,15, of GA landed a 26" gator trout on a recent charter as well as many more in the slot fish. Chum with shiners to get the bite going.
2010)The waters of Anna Maria Island remain oil free and crystal clear. Fishing is as hot as the weather. Tarpon fishing has been excellent with many boats hooking up with some monster size Tarpon in the 150lb range. Islander Tommy Price had the drag on his reel literally melt due to a huge tarpon pulling off 200 yards of line . Crabs , shiners , pinfish , and thread finns have been the bait of choice.
Shark fishing has been good inside the bay with Black Tips , Lemons, and Spinner sharks taking the main stage. Hang a chum block hung over the side of the boat and mix in some cut up shiners into the slick . I also like to dole out some Purina Tropical fish food into the slick to "Sweetin" the chum slick. A chunk of ladyfish , Bluefish or Blue Runners rigged on some wire or cable leader will get the job done.Use caution as the sharks are very agile and will try and swing around take a bite out of you . A long handled release tool will help with the safe release of these apex predators.
Inside the bay , the Speckled trout fishing has been excellent . A limit of keeper sized fish is easily available over the grass flats . Englander Ian Gihlcrist and daughter Vicki had non stop action on a 1/2 day charter with me and took home some very nice Spekled trout.
2009)I was on a working vaction in the Keys this past month and had a fantastic time. For the 1st 2 weeks the seas were nice 1-2ft and we dolphined fished almost every day. the big one was 50lber caught by THomas Price .The last week the weather turned rainy and windy and so I worked the Tarpon over .Tarpon in the Keys are like Snook here,EVERYWHERE. My best day was with the my wife as we jumped 10 . 2006)The fishing has been great . No red tide to speak of . Sharks have been chewing .Tarpon at the Egmont Pass have been excellent. It has been a good year for them . 6 -10 hookups with about 50% land ratio. 60 to 150 lb. Snook are in the passes. Reds are everywhere. Mark
