Spring snook on the flats

Spring fishing has been very good off the mangrove studded shorelines of Anna Maria. March is typically one of our very best months for flats fishing, and so far it has lived up to expectations. The snook, redfish and trout fishing has been explosive.

Snook fishing has been the best of all. I can honestly say I am even surprised by the number of large snook we are catching — it has been years since I have boated this many trophy fish. We have been averaging 30 to 50 a day and landing trophy-size fish on the large majority of charters. On my best day in the last few weeks I would say we caught over 60 trophy snook. One morning I had nine fish over the slot: a 35-incher, two 34s, two 30s, and four in the 28-to-29 range, along with a pile of smaller fish.

Redfishing has also been very good. On most days I have been getting plenty of keepers mixed in with the snook, in the 22-to-26-inch class. On the higher tides I have been hammering the larger bull reds — once I get them chummed up it is as fast as you can hook them in the 25-to-33-inch class. Trout fishing is strong too; I have not been targeting them much but we are getting plenty for the ice box, ranging from 16 to 25 inches.

I have not been offshore lately because the inshore has been too good. There have been reports of a few kings out there, which marks the beginning of the offshore explosion. Remember peak tarpon starts May 1st and runs to about the third week of July — I have a few dates open but they are filling quickly.