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Anna Maria Island Charter Fishing Guide

March 2017 Monthly Fishing Report

Posted by on Mar 31, 2017 in March | 0 comments

Anna Maria Island Fishing in March
March 31, 2017
Hogfish, Sheepshead, Snapper, Mackerel, Pompano, Permit

—Fishing around Anna Maria Island and Tampa Bay this March has been fun. We have been fishing as far from shore as the wind allowed us to go. On calmer days, I have been taking my 26 foot SeaCat offshore 5 to 10 miles to bottom fish for hogfish, porgies, sheepshead, snapper, kingfish and mackerel. When the weather kept us closer to shore, the target species’ have included sheepshead, snapper, pompano and permit. All month, live shrimp have been our primary bait. As the water warmed, shiners began to appear locally and we used them as well.

Gulf of Mexico snapper

Nice Mangrove Snapper

king mackerel

First kingfish of the season

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Anna Maria Island Spring Kingfish

Posted by on Mar 12, 2017 in March | 0 comments

Spring Has Sprung!
March 12, 2017
King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel

—Around Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Island, fishermen usually relate the arrival of spring with two events: shiners in the grass flats and skyrocketing king mackerel. Well, shiners are in the grass and we caught our first kingfish of the season yesterday. I guess it’s springtime!
—I have been fishing around 10 miles offshore on most of the charter fishing trips lately, using live shrimp and other frozen baits. Snapper and hogfish have been the main targets. Yesterday, in addition to live shrimp, the live well was also filled with shiners, in hopes that we could find our first kingfish of the season.

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Tampa Bay Sheepshead Fishing

Posted by on Mar 12, 2017 in March | 0 comments

Anna Maria Island Sportfishing
March 9, 2017
Sheepshead

—The bright full moon this week has changed offshore fishing a little. The mangrove snapper and hogfish bite has slowed down. These reef predators seem to prowl the reefs at night when the moon is bright. Although we have been able to catch some snapper and hogfish, they have been finicky and not very aggressive during the daylight hours.

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Anna Maria Early March Fishing

Posted by on Mar 7, 2017 in March | 0 comments

Anna Maria Island Fishing Guide
March 6, 2017
Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper
Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Anna Maria Island Waters

—Fishing near shore structure over the last few weeks in Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico west of Anna Maria Island has often been an exciting story. Sheepshead, hogfish, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, triggerfish, porgies, grunts and more have been eagerly taking live bait fished near the bottom.

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Anna Maria Island Sportfishing – February

Posted by on Feb 20, 2017 in February | 0 comments

Anna Maria Island Fishing Guide
Captain Bill Lowman – February, 2017
Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Anna Maria Island Waters
Permit, Pompano, Sheepshead

—Now that we have had a few more cold fronts roll through the area, the big sheepshead have moved into the near shore and Tampa Bay waters. Look for them at most artificial reefs and other submerged structure. Most days, a shrimp will work just fine as bait. Small crabs also work great.

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