Fishing Anna Maria- Oct.and Nov. 2018

—Even though backwater fishing has been outstanding lately, a persistent red tide outbreak, and associated fish kills, continues to dominate the headlines here on Anna Maria Island, Bradenton and Sarasota. This natural algae bloom consumes the available oxygen in the water as it completes its life cycle, in turn quickly suffocating nearby fish. This has made fishing a little more challenging than usual over the past couple of months but that being said, my clients and I have been experiencing some fantastic fishing despite the bad news.

—There are certain areas surrounding Sarasota, especially, that have been hit very hard and may take a few months to recover to a somewhat normal pattern. Then, there are other areas surrounding neighboring Anna Maria Island that have seen very few effects from the red tide.

—It is in these cleaner areas that I, and many of the other full-time fishing guides, have been “hiding out” the majority of the past 3 months. Inshore fishing here around Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay has been outstanding.

—The snook bite just doesn’t get much better than it was during October and November. My boat is seeing great catch-and -release snook fishing along with redfish around docks, mangroves and oyster beds.

—Seatrout (speckled trout) got hit pretty hard the past few months by the red tide. However, November has seen the trout really start to bounce back and shallow water gag grouper have been on the menu over the past couple months as well, as conditions have allowed. When the tide, weather, and other factors come together just right, we have been able to find some nice keeper-sized gag grouper inside Tampa Bay. I use a combination of live baiting and trolling.

—Don’t believe everything you read, or see on the news. The fishing is great here around Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay! Book a charter today!!