Capt. Mark Johnston of Legend Charters out of Bradenton, Florida on Cortez Road said he went offshore with Capt. Sam Kimball also of Legend Charters, and found grouper fishing to be fantastic. “It’s just ridiculous,” he said. “We’re getting limit catches on every trip.” The pair are fishing in 50 to 80 feet of water in the Gulf, with the action coming wherever there is a hard bottom or ledge. Clear water is also important for a good catch, Capt. Mark added. Other catches include lots of mangrove snapper and gag grouper to 20 pounds, caught with live pinfish. In the backwater, they’ve been fishing in Palma Sola Bay, Anna Maria Sound and near Longboat Key for redfish and black drum. Best action is coming from near deepwater docks. They’re also reeling up some nice-sized flounder.
Danny Stasny at Island Discount Tackle at Catchers Marina in Holmes Beach Florida said water and weather has been rough for fishers, but there are still redfish and sheepshead to be caught, plus ladyfish on the seagrass flats in the bays. Snook are in a transitional period en route to their winter homes and don’t seem to be biting, he added.
Capt. Larry McGuire of Show Me The Fish Charters out of Cortez Florida, said that “this is probably the best time to catch gag grouper. As our water temperature drops, grouper move closer in for the winter and they bunch up on the rock piles, ledges and hard bottom areas and they have a ferocious appetite.” He is also putting his charters onto limit catches of red grouper, mangrove snapper, amberjack, sharks, triggerfish, porgys and even a few kingfish and Spanish mackerel. He’s finding the best action in less than 65 feet of water, with live and cut bait both working great.