Anna Maria Fishing Charters in July

Anna Maria Island Fishing Guides
Captain Aaron Lowman – July 31, 2016
Grouper, Seatrout, Snapper, Flounder

—Snapper fishing in Tampa Bay, and near shore structure around Anna Maria Island, has been hot this week. As we move away from last week’s full moon, snapper fishing has improved during daylight hours. Early and late in the day have been most productive. Live and cut shiners on small circle hooks with a split shot, or knocker style sinker, have been the best rigs. Remember to bounce a jig on the bottom for the bonus fish this month…jumbo flounder in areas where snapper congregate.

July Fishing Around Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island Fishing Guide
Captain Aaron Lowman – July 21, 2016
Spotted Seatrout and Mangrove Snapper

—Trout fishing around the backwaters of Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay this week has been very productive. I usually look for grassflats with signs of bait around, like a flickering surface or diving birds. Grassy areas like this have been producing tons of fish with plenty of keepers over 15 inches. Live shiners, free-lined on a matching size circle hook, help with catch and release.

—Snapper fishing is hot inside Tampa Bay near submerged structure with current. Hang a chum bag around a reef, bridge, or even docks to draw snappers out of hiding. Live shiners, or chunks of shiners, drifted back in the current on light line is one of the best ways to catch these wary fish in the heat of the summer.

Anna Maria Island Snapper & Cobia in July

Anna Maria Island Fishing Guide
Captain Aaron Lowman – July 14, 2016
Snapper, Cobia and Sharks

—Reef fishing for mangrove snapper, cobia and sharks has been the hot ticket around Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay during this first week of July.
—Mangrove snapper have been steadily slamming baits presented near the bottom, and at times have been rising up like a dark cloud in the water column to eat chum. Free lining a live bait, or a chunk of bait, will keep the snapper bite going after the school starts to catch onto what you’re doing.
— Live chum helps keep the party going through the brutal heat of the day. Spanish mackerel, and even a few king macs and cobia, will chase your live shiners free lined away from the boat.
—Big, spawning sized flounder are all over rock piles/reefs in anywhere from 10′ – 50′. Bouncing a live shiner, or pinfish on a knocker rig is a good bet. Half ounce bucktail jigs, worked sharply but methodically along the bottom, are big producers of flatties as well.
—Sharks, jacks and bluefish have made a push into the bay and surrounding beaches. They may be following the influx of hatch bait this week. Small spoons or bucktail jigs work great for these guys.

Snapper in July

Big Flounder

Cobia in the chum