Anna Maria Island anglers and just about every other Manatee County resident who enjoys boating and fishing are dealing with another threat to the ecosystem and our way of life, and it comes in the name of Slip Knott LLC and SSA Marine.
The 724-acre parcel of Rattlesnake Key and the spoil islands to the north have been sold and there is a proposal to create a cruise ship terminal for cruise ships too large to fit under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge adjacent to the fishing grounds.
The port, currently a concept, would threaten the health of our local watersheds, including Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay and Sarasota Bay, as well as increase the pressure on our county’s infrastructure.
The public is speaking out in protest with one petition at change.org/SaveRattleSnakeKey. About 10,000 signatures have been collected, which means we have a lot of work to do.
We have a voice about these matters, and now is time to raise it.
Let your thoughts be heard among our county commissioners and sign that petition. Get involved.
Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper will be organizing, attending public hearings and monitoring the process. Visit suncoastwaterkeeper.org/stop_skyway_cruise_port to stay informed.
As far as fishing goes, many of my fellow anglers are seeing a wintertime pattern while working inshore. Using live shrimp as bait is the best option, yielding species like sheepshead, black drum and redfish. Rocks and docks are good locales to try your luck. Also, inshore reefs in Tampa Bay and in the Gulf are excellent spots to drop a shrimp because sheepshead, snappers and grunts tend to frequent these areas.
Moving to deeper waters of 45-55 feet, is producing good action on more varieties, including hogfish, snappers, porgies, flounder and grunts. This bite is consistent depending on your numbers and can provide an ample amount of fish if you plan on a fish fry.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m finding redfish around canals and docks by casting live shrimp as bait. Mixed in are sheepshead, flounder and black drum, as well as mangrove snapper.
On calm days I’m venturing into the Gulf to fish ledges and reefs, which are yielding snappers, grunts, porgies and hogfish.
Capt. David White says sheepshead are the main catch, with good numbers being caught in a variety of places, from the reefs in the Gulf to structure inside Tampa Bay.
It’s worth a stop and a cast at the many bridge and pier pilings.
Live shrimp on a bottom rig will lure these zebra-striped fish to the hook, resulting in some great action and great tablefare.
While working inshore, White is finding action for his clients on redfish and black drum. This bite is occurring along the beaches and in some canals.
Capt. Johnny Mattay of Anna Maria Charters is putting his clients on quite a few species of fish while anchoring over reefs and ledges in the Gulf. Mangrove snapper, grunts and porgies are frequent catches, with some hogfish mixed in, which is a great assortment for a fish fry.
Flounder and sheepshead are present in these areas, especially along the edges of the reefs. Using live shrimp as bait is yielding the best action, according to Mattay, especially for the sheepshead.
Share your catch with us and send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.…Read more by Capt. Danny Stasny