Anna Maria Island Fishing Report: November 2020

Fishing in November is a very fun and exciting time to fish around the Anna Maria Island area. With

water temps dropping you have a lot of options. Flats fishing is getting good with the snook, reds and

trout beginning to stage in their back-country spots. Look for mangrove lines with good

scattered bottom located near deep water and oysters. For these fish light tackle is preferred medium to

medium heavy rods with reel anywhere in that 2500-4000 size with a 6ft of 20lb fluorocarbon leader. Live

shiners are the best live bait to use, but, if you like a challenge of fishing with artificial lures, I would be using natural colored swim baits while covering a lot of water. Mirrolure MR-17 are always a fish favorite in either white with red head or any natural color. If you’re a fly fisherman, you want something that lands soft and looks like a bait fish. Another really fun option is to get out super early on grass flats with a lot of pot holes and throw

"walk-the-dog" style plugs to catch big trout, snook and redfish.

As for the yummy fish that you can eat there are a lot of spanish mackerel near the beaches of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. Again, live shiners are the best bait, but you can also readily use artificial lures. I recommend 40lb leader and a silver spoon (with a treble hook) and a steady/fast retrieve. For you fly fisherman use either 40lb leader or a light bite wire with a clouser minnow or deceiver with some flash; just be prepared to go through a lot of flies as the mackerel are quite toothy. If you're lucky, you can run into some

bonita as well, which are an absolute blast on light tackle! And yes, bonita are a big fish (bonus points if you can name that movie!)

Either way, get out there, have some fun, and book a trip online today!

Capt. Jake