Author Archives: fearsnofish

Weather, fishing patterns change daily — plan accordingly Fishing around Anna Maria Island is about as predictable as the weather patterns. When the seas are calm, anglers are venturing into the Gulf of Mexico to target snappers, groupers and hogfish. When the cold fronts come and the wind blows, and the Gulf is too rough, […]

Water temperatures have dropped slightly around Anna Maria Island but that doesn’t mean the fishing is cooling off. Migratory fish such as Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish are swarming the nearshore structure of the Gulf of Mexico and in Tampa Bay. If you’re looking for some great light-tackle action, these fish can accommodate you. As […]

Anglers fishing around Anna Maria Island are enjoying a variety of inshore and offshore fishing as well as some cooler weather.  While fishing inshore, the lush grass flats that are present in our waters offer up some great action on catch-and-release species — snook, redfish and spotted seatrout. Live shiners are in abundance, which is […]

Fishing around Anna Maria Island is productive if you don’t mind fishing in the wind. Fishing inside Tampa Bay, tucked up close to mangrove shorelines is producing some good fishing for catch-and-release snook. You can find a few catch-and-release reds mixed in. You want to target these areas during the higher stages of the tide […]

Prior to Tropical Storm Nestor, fishing around Anna Maria Island was proving to be as good as it gets. With numerous days of no rain and no wind, the inshore and offshore waters were pristine. But the storm put a damper on the quality and quantity of fish. Catch-and-release species — snook, redfish and spotted […]

Fall fishing around Anna Maria Island is shaping up to be quite good when targeting native and migratory species. On the flats, numerous catch-and-release snook are on the feed in attempts to fatten up for the winter. Catch-and-release redfish are arriving on the flats in good numbers and are equally eager to take a bait […]

Fishing the inshore waters around Anna Maria Island continues to improve as we move through autumn. Large quantities of baitfish are invading Tampa Bay and the Gulf beaches, causing many predatory species to be on the prowl.  The most prominent of the predatory fish is the Spanish mackerel. Joined by its cohorts, jack crevalle and […]

Fishing the inshore waters surrounding Anna Maria Island is beginning to improve as we move into fall. Cooler nigh temperatures seem to be bringing water temps down slightly, triggering the beginning of migrations for a number of species. Baitfish such as scaled sardines — or shiners as we call them — are in abundance in […]

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a little touch of fall in the air — at least on the water surrounding Anna Maria Island.  A slight drop in the water temperature, some drier air and cooler nights and mornings is prompting us to want more of this fall weather. And it’s prompting the fish too.  Snook […]

Fishing around Anna Maria remains consistently good inshore and nearshore. Fishing along the beaches is especially good for catch-and-release snook. Walking the shoreline in the morning or evening when the seas are calm is a great opportunity to some sight casting for snook — a typically back-country species. For a hookup, an assortment of baits […]