Tarpon Thinning, Bay Fishing Busting Loose

Snook fishing reportedly is picking up in the passes, and free-lining white bait has been one of the best options. Trout also are in the passes and off the beaches, along with the snook.

Slot-sized redfish tended to have been sluggish before rains last week cooled water temperatures.

Anna Maria Island Capt. Warren Girle said redfish have been biting well in north Sarasota Bay. 

“There’s been four grouper of 50-75 fish there right now,” he said. “A lot of oversized fish. Some nice tournament fish the other day.”

Girle on Friday caught a ton of trout, mixed in with bluefish, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel.

“The bay is on fire right now,” he said. “Not as much tarpon off the beaches. I think a few have moved on.”

With tarpon having been targeted the past few weeks, the bay fishing has improved, especially for Girle when he wades on low tide and fish move into second-degree holes.

“It’s almost like fishing an aquarium out there,” he said.

Girle said the water temperature was up to 88 degrees off the beaches.

“That’s when they start moving north,” he said. “Throughout the summer they’ll move all the way up the coast to Louisiana and some will move to Texas before making their move to the Caribbean.”