Stay flexible in February
Capt. Rick Gross
February 2, 2012
Anna Maria - Saltwater Fishing Report
It is hard to tell we are still in winter here in Anna Maria. Water temps are more like mid spring. As a result the fish are not in typical patterns for this time of year. To stay ahead of the game you have to be flexible.
Sheepshead have been on the slow side this winter. The past week it has started to pick up with bigger fish as well as better numbers of fish. Next weeks full moon should start a full blown spawn and the fishing will really get good.
Pompano are also starting to be more prevalent in there normal haunts on the beaches and area passes. The other day Doug Fox and I caught twenty on doc's jigs fishing a rock pile off the beach.
The best red fishing is still around structure mostly in the form of docks. There are fish on the flats but they are really hard to get to bite this time of year.
Snook while still not in the numbers they were before the freeze are showing up in a early springtime pattern. Last May and June was much better for this great gamefish. If we can get through the full moon in February without any major cold it will help the fishery a bunch.
Spanish Mackrel never left the bay area. The skyway shipping channel has fish as well as the nearshore reefs off the island. I always keep gotcha plugs on hand just in case a school shows up.
Trout on grass flats running four to six feet deep are another option that could make for a good day on the water. Shrimp under a popping cork is hard to beat this time of year. The D.O.A. shrimp gets the nod as well as a wide variety of jigs.On the warmer days topwater baits have been working very well.
Thank You & Good Fishing!
Capt. Rick Gross
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