Fishing Report December 20, 2020

Frequent cold fronts and consistently windy conditions is making inshore and offshore fishing slightly challenging around Anna Maria Island.
Patience and a knowledge of fishing our local waters is key when trying to find a bite in these situations. Fishing inshore can still be productive if you know where to fish. Residential docks and canals is a good place to start. Casting live shrimp on a knocker rig in these areas can yield action on catch-and-release redfish as well as black drum, mangrove snapper and flounder.
Another method to find a bite is by drifting and jigging over deep grass flats. Soft plastics on a jig head are resulting in catch-and-release spotted seatrout as well as ladyfish, jack crevalle and even some pompano.
Fishing offshore around ledges, reefs and hard bottom is another option. For this, you’ll need calm conditions which means no strong winds. While in the Gulf of Mexico, anglers are being rewarded with many species including mangrove snapper, hogfish, Key West grunts and sheepshead. Most of this action is occurring between 30-60 feet of water. And if you’re willing to venture farther out to depths of 80-100 feet, red and gag grouper fishing is quite productive. You’ll also find many mangrove snappers and amber jack.
On my Southernaire charters, I’m spending my days inshore. Casting shrimp around the docks is producing a consistent catch-and-release redfish bite for my clients. I’m also finding enough sheepshead and flounder so my clients can take some fish home for dinner.
Casting free-lined shrimp or artificials such as soft plastics is yielding decent amounts of spotted seatrout.
Lastly, fishing channel edges where rocks exist is resulting in some black sea bass and some mangrove snapper.