Into the winter phase

Anna Maria Island fishing is heading into our winter phase. It is challenging when the water temperature teeters in the mid-to-high 60s — the fish kind of want to go to their winter spots, but the water is just warm enough that they also want to be in their fall spots. Knowing the base place to catch them while they are transitioning is absolutely critical, and so is keeping a close eye on water temperature. They can be in wintering areas early and move to transition areas by midday. Locating fish is a precise science right now, but if you know how to do it, the fishing is very good.

We have caught a mix of everything this past week on the flats around Anna Maria — lots of reds, more snook than anything, some nice trout, good-size flounder, black drum and sheepshead. Offshore has been good as well: plenty of grouper and snapper for action, hard-fighting false albacore, and some really nice kingfish from 20 to 25 pounds.

It has been a beautiful fall and I really look forward to fishing this winter. I love it when it cools down and the water drops below 60 — all the different species pack together in the deepest, warmest areas, so you never know what is going to bite next. It keeps my job interesting.