Mackerel, Trout, Top Targets in Bradenton

Capt. Tom Chaya of Anna Maria Fishing Charters out of Catchers Marina on Anna Maria Island said Spanish mackerel have begun to show up thick one-to-five miles off the beaches, around piers and on deep grass flats.

He said trout are around, but anglers will have to fight through smaller ones to get legal ones.

Chaya said to look for the edges of bars on low tides in Terra Ceia Bay, off Emerson Point and in Miguel Bay for the best action on redfish.

He is still waiting for the big, breeder redfish to show up.

“We’re catching some each day but the massive schools haven’t shown yet,”  he said.

Trout, meanwhile, are almost everywhere inshore in 4-to-6 feet of water depth.

“I’m using sardines,” Chaya said. “I’ve been able to net some decent ones. There’s a plethora of different kinds of sardines.”

Capt. Tom Chaya can be reached at (941) 778-4498. Website is www.annamariafishingcharters.com