Hot, Humid weather – perfect recipe for fishing success
If you enjoy hot humid weather while you’re fishing, now is a good time to get out on the water surrounding Anna Maria Island.
Make sure to bring a cooler full of water or your drink of choice, as you want to stay hydrated while being out in the heat all day.
Despite the hot weather, fishing in Tampa Bay for catch-and-release species — snook, redfish and trout — is quite good. In fact, the trout bite is simply excellent. Spotted seatrout 10-24 inches are being caught frequently over deep grass flats during strong outgoing tides. Free-lining live shiners is proving to be deadly for the trout, although I’m seeing plenty take small pinfish as offerings, too.
Catch-and-release redfish are being caught frequently by casting baits along the edges of mangrove shorelines where good tidal flow exists. These reds are being caught in all sizes, ranging 15-30 inches.
Catch-and-release snook are following suit with the reds, although they were a little tough during the full moon. Now that the full moon is over, you’ll see linesiders start responding as expected to live shiners as bait. They can’t resist them.
Moving offshore mahi-mahi — or Dorado or dolphin fish — are often being caught. In fact, good numbers of these fish are making a showing, which is encouraging considering we don’t see them as often in the Gulf as we do in the Atlantic.
Another migratory fish being caught offshore is blackfin tuna.
Bottom fishing is resulting in many yellowtail and mangrove snapper, as well as some red grouper.
On my Just Reel Fishing charters, I’m seeing a lot of catch-and-release trout taking the hook. Most catches are 18-22 inches with smaller and bigger ones mixed in.
Catch-and-release snook fishing is going well for my clients. Most catches are occurring in the first few hours of daylight combines with good tidal flow. Catch-and-release redfish are mixed in with the snook bite.
For those who want a fish dinner, I’m seeing mangrove snapper being caught randomly throughout the day while fishing the flats. On some days I’m putting a couple limits in the cooler and on other days only a few.
