Category Archives: Fishing Reports

After weeks of strong winds and frequent cold fronts, Anna Maria Island anglers are anxiously awaiting a more consistent weather pattern and some exceptional April fishing.

Find shelter during windy days to find hookups With it being windy more than not, Anna Maria Island anglers are finding themselves braving rough seas. But fishers are determined to get out on the water to enjoy the springtime bite. Finding sheltered areas in the back bays, rivers and creeks is a great wat to […]

Fishing around Anna Maria Island this March can be categorized as hot and cold.  With temperatures reaching into the mid 80s on most days, many inshore species are beginning to creep out of their wintertime haunts to feed on the bait schools that are migrating into Tampa Bay and the surrounding waters. Since these fish […]

Spring nears, back country fishing heats up With springtime right around the corner, Anna Maria Island anglers are anticipating excellent backcountry fishing.  With a slightly cooler winter than normal, the snook are beginning to creep out of their wintertime haunts and are eager to feast on live shiners.  Although the large quantities of linesiders have […]

March starts springtime bite on a variety of species As the month of March is now here, Anna Maria Island anglers are finding themselves preparing for the springtime bite.  Although species such as sheepshead, pompano and black drum are present and being caught on live shrimp, many anglers are switching over to live shiners as […]

Anglers anticipate full moon, arrival of sheepshead Anna Maria Island anglers who like to target sheepshead are hoping to see the arrival of the popular fish in the weeks to come.  With a full moon occurring on February 24, anticipations are high that we should see the volume of sheepshead we are used to seeing […]

Heading west in the Gulf is the ticket for hookups Although the constant cold fronts and strong winds are limiting the days to get on the water, Anna Maria Island anglers are finding success on the calmer days when the winds are light and out of the east. On these days venturing out into the […]

More windy days, rough seas make fishing in the Gulf difficult Fishing offshore and nearshore structure is where it’s at for visiting and local anglers on Anna Maria Island. Targeting species such as mangrove snapper, sheepshead, Key West grunts and porgies is proving to be consistent as long as you can get out to the […]

Inconsistent temps cause inconsistent bite With temperatures fluctuating from 40-80 degrees in the course of a few days, Anna Maria Island anglers are trying “everything in the book” to get a consistent bite. Fishing nearshore and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico is as close to consistency as it gets this week, although getting access […]