Spring Time is the Best Time...
The spring fishing season is in full effect. The bait schools, including pilchards and threadfins, are starting to move in large numbers and along with it are the fish. The bait has been plentiful and most days I am catching it in the lower part of Tampa Bay near deeper structure. I am also starting to see more and more bait show up on the grass flats in Terra Ceia Bay and on the Bulkhead.
The Snook bite has continued to remain strong with most of my trips catching around 20+ Snook. Most of the Snook are in 2 ft - 3 ft of water on or near sandy holes on the grass flats. Some of these areas are holding 40+ fish in a single 10 ft diameter sand area. As we move closer towards the end of spring these fish will make their way to the passes, including Longboat Pass and the north end of Anna Maria Island, to being spawning on the full moon. The Trout bite has starting picking up for me and this past week we managed to get a handful of keepers of most of the trips. Most of the Trout are not staying in any one place to long as they are on the move too, making their way to the passes and deeper beach areas off Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island to being spawning . This week we also managed to pick up some Flounder along with some Cobia while we were fishing for Trout. The Redfish bite has definitely proven to be the most difficult the past two weeks. I've reached out to several other local Captains and they too are finding the Redfish bite to be extremely challenging. I know to the south and the north of our area guides are having no problem with the Redfish bite, but for some reason the numbers of fish and the bite is not there for us. The Tarpon should start showing up in good numbers of the next few weeks so look for reports of the Tarpon fishing to start picking up. This next week might start off slow and be some what challenging with an approaching cold front passing through on Saturday/ Sunday and a reinforcing cold front passing through in Tuesday. Look for my fishing report next week to find out how it turns out.
If you are looking to book a fishing charter trip and are near Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Longboat Key, Sarasota, or Tampa Bay book with Anna Maria Inshore Fishing LLC. call or text fishing guide Captain Kyle Taylor (941) 345-7182 www.AnnaMariaInshoreFishing.com
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