Fishing around Anclote Key, FL?

[wijames]

Can anyone tell me what to expect as far as fishing is around Anclote Key on FL's west coast. And possibly suggest a good reasonable marina in that area?

Thanks
PS: Ron, can you give me some insite on this?

[Ron Burgundy]

There is a very consistent sea trout bite in the grass flats. Just look for seagrass and potholes (bare sand) and you will catch them. I prefer artificials over live bait mainly because of the pinfish population. Hard to keep a shrimp on the line very long.

Redfish and snook can be found around the key but they require a little more work. Plus there is a lot of pressure on them. You should be able to pick off some pompano off the beach as well. I have a buddy who fly fishes out on the sandbar with pretty good results.

The spanish mackerel should be in town as they migrate south for the winter. Anchor in 8-10' and tie off a chum bag. Drift back a bait, pretty much anything, and wait. If you're not getting them in 20min move to another spot and repeat. I need to do this soon. My smoker needs to get some use.

It's hard to beat live shrimp for an all around bait. You will get bites just expect to go through a lot of them to get a decent game fish. Also a silver clark spoon is hard to beat for the macks. I was actually catching gag grouper with it a few months ago. I tipped it with cut bait and the grouper were all over it.

Hope that gets you going .

[Ron Burgundy]

Sunset Marina on the Cotee river is ok. Expensive but they do good work and have water access.

[wijames]

Sunset Marina on the Cotee river is ok. Expensive but they do good work and have water access.

Thanks Ron. I'd love to go out of Sunset but they won't let me run my sightseeing charter out of there. Any suggestions around Tarpon?

[wijames]

There is a very consistent sea trout bite in the grass flats. Just look for seagrass and potholes (bare sand) and you will catch them. I prefer artificials over live bait mainly because of the pinfish population. Hard to keep a shrimp on the line very long.

Redfish and snook can be found around the key but they require a little more work. Plus there is a lot of pressure on them. You should be able to pick off some pompano off the beach as well. I have a buddy who fly fishes out on the sandbar with pretty good results.

The spanish mackerel should be in town as they migrate south for the winter. Anchor in 8-10' and tie off a chum bag. Drift back a bait, pretty much anything, and wait. If you're not getting them in 20min move to another spot and repeat. I need to do this soon. My smoker needs to get some use.

It's hard to beat live shrimp for an all around bait. You will get bites just expect to go through a lot of them to get a decent game fish. Also a silver clark spoon is hard to beat for the macks. I was actually catching gag grouper with it a few months ago. I tipped it with cut bait and the grouper were all over it.

Hope that gets you going .

What area around the island do you find most productive?

[Ron Burgundy]

Depends on which species your targeting. The snook and reds are inside the key on the eastern side. Cast up close to the mangroves. It's extremely skinny in there. 1-2 feet so use caution. I wouldn't bother on the weekends because it will be too crowded. The trout are found further away from the island on the grass flats. 4-8' is usually where they are. Pompano are often on the northern part of the key near the pass. Sometimes snook are in the surf on the west coast of the sandbar.

[Ron Burgundy]

Not too sure about the marinas. I have little experience with any of them.

[wijames]

Depends on which species your targeting. The snook and reds are inside the key on the eastern side. Cast up close to the mangroves. It's extremely skinny in there. 1-2 feet so use caution. I wouldn't bother on the weekends because it will be too crowded. The trout are found further away from the island on the grass flats. 4-8' is usually where they are. Pompano are often on the northern part of the key near the pass. Sometimes snook are in the surf on the west coast of the sandbar.

Thanks. I'm retiring on the 15th so I plan to spend a lot of time fishing. Maybe we can head out together sometime. I just got a tri toon and having a new 75 hp Mercury put on it this week. Thanks again for the help.

Butch

[dragonx]

There are several good marinas on the Anclote river. Out at the key on the north side you will find a deep cut (around 20') which always keeps me interested when I lose everything except the pole to what's down there. If your careful coming out of the channel just past the land the power plant is that entire edge is loaded with fish at high tide.

[wijames]

There are several good marinas on the Anclote river. Out at the key on the north side you will find a deep cut (around 20') which always keeps me interested when I lose everything except the pole to what's down there. If your careful coming out of the channel just past the land the power plant is that entire edge is loaded with fish at high tide.

Thanks, I'll definately head out there! Would it be possible for you to send me some coordinates? Are you bottom fishing along the edge?
Thanks again

[dragonx]

Shore side, from Anclote river to discharge canal for the power plant, like to fish there at high tide about 40 feet off the bushes.