Brief break from rain allows anglers to hook up inshore, offshore

With a slight reprieve from the constant thunderstorms we’ve been experiencing Anna Maria Island anglers are eagerly getting out on the water to experience some of what September fishing in West Central Florida has to offer. 

With American red snapper recreational season open on the weekends, you can bet all of the weekend warriors are out in force to catch a limit. 

Other snappers such as mangrove and yellowtails are being added to the aggregate as near-limits are being caught, too. Anglers who aren’t equipped to venture long distances into the Gulf or just have no desire to do so, are catching enough to keep themselves busy. With a multitude of bait fish such as shiners, sardines, threadfin herring and glass minnows flashing in and out of Tampa Bay on the tides, Spanish mackerel, bonito, ladyfish and jack crevalle can be found on most days without too much hassle. Whether you’re in a boat or fishing from one of the piers, you should be able to get action on these tough-fighting fish as they frenzy around the bait schools. 

If you’re looking for something larger, redfish and snook are lurking around the passes and the beaches adjacent to them waiting for a tasty morsel to swim by. 

The same applies on the flats. Casting baits along mangrove shorelines — especially oyster bars and where good water flow exists — can result in great action on both reds and snook. 

Fishing deeper grass flats is another option where to find fish, especially spotted seatrout. Casting medium-size shiners in these areas can yield many hookups on trout as well as other species such as ladyfish and jacks. If you’re willing to brave the September heat, there is fishing to be done. Just keep on eye on the horizon for pop up thunderstorms.