Great mangrove snapper bite rings in 2015

Wintertime fishing around Anna Maria Island is in full swing. Especially for those fishers who like to target mangrove snapper. Most every rock pile or artificial reef in our local waters is holding good numbers of these feisty fish.

If you can’t make it to the reefs, you can try fishing the local bridges and get good action. Bait offerings include live shrimp and shiners. Both are working so the choice is yours.

On my recent charters out of town fishers are being rewarded with limits of mangrove snapper. Most fish are 12-15 inches with bigger fish on occasion. I’m finding some structure to hold more keeper-size fish than others. If you start catching 6 inch snapper, its time to try another spot.

Pompano, another sought after wintertime catch are starting to make a showing. I’m finding fish along the Gulf beaches are responding to small bubble gum colored jigs tipped with a piece of fresh-cut shrimp. Some days are producing good numbers while others are not. Persistence will pay off eventually. Try fishing incoming tides around passes and points.