Anna Maria Island Fishing Report-July 2018

—The bite was hot the entire month of July in the waters around Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Fishing action was the typical “heat of the summer” fishing frenzy, both inshore and near shore.

—Inshore fishing, July was the month for catching a ton of trout. The majority of seatrout are right at, or under, the “keeper” 15″ min. There have been some big female trout mixed in as well, some to 25″. I’ve been using live greenbacks over areas of live seagrass. The two most important factors have been to fish where the water is both clean, and moving. My clients are also finding jacks, juvenile grouper, ladyfish and mangrove snapper in these same areas.

—On calm days in July, I usually fished near shore structure, like rocky ledges or artificial reefs, for mangrove snapper, spanish mackerel, big snook, permit and sharks.

—This time of year, I like to leave the dock early, and get back to the dock to fillet some fish before it gets too hot out there. It is usually quite a bit cooler out on the water than it is on land.

—Come book a charter now and “beat the heat”!

Summer snapper!

Nice Trout!

Fighting snook!