Inshore, offshore hookups remain hot despite cooler temperatures

With morning air temps in the mid 70s, fishing around Anna Maria Island is getting better as we progress through fall.

Water temps are falling in the mid-70s, too, which is really getting a lot of the inshore species — snook, redfish and trout — to start feeding heavily.

With an abundance of bait schools in Tampa Bay and along the gulf beaches, we should begin to see an influx of migratory fish such a Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and ladyfish making a showing — and don’t forget the Snappers and groupers.

Inshore, the mangrove snapper are being found on the flats and over structure. As for the grouper, gags are being caught in Tampa Bay with some regularity. Live bait presentations and trolling deep-diving plugs are working for these fish.

Moving offshore, reports of amberjack are becoming more frequent and snapper fishing for yellowtail and mangroves is quite good.

On my own Just Reel fishing charters, I’m seeing plenty of catch-and-release action on the inshore trio — snook, redfish and trout. The snook and trout are quite abundant, but the reds are being caught while targeting the snook.

Anchoring over structure in Tampa Bay is providing action on Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jack crevalle. Chumming these fish with some shiners is really creating a feeding frenzy which is entertaining my clients. When this is occurring hooked live shiners aren’t lasting more than five seconds in the water. That’s some good action right there.