Anna Maria Island - Update 4

Snook have still be hard to get on the bite, despite numerous follows they've still been turning off at the last minute even though I've been stood at least a couple of yards up the beach. I even resorted to trying spin baits as well as small jigs and DOA shrimp patterns.

At least the jacks put in there usual appearance to give some welcome sport even if it wasn't to the fly rod.







Interesting watching what I think was a mobular ray surfing in on the back of the waves and nearly
 beaching itself before turning back into the surf (very short video clip on FB page)

Tight lines till next time




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AMI Update 3

Not a lot to report, with Memorial weekend visitors its been difficult to safely cast a fly until they have left for home or the restaurants.

Snook of the beach continue to be the target as they are cruising the skinny water beach side of the surf but no matter what I throw at them up to now they are refusing to take despite the numerous follows, only for them to turn off at the last minute.

Tarpon continue to roll on past but most are out of casting range. Hopefully things will change over the next few days, its a good job that the ladyfish and jacks keep putting in an appearance to keep the spirits up, especially today after 3 trips to the beach two ended up in a complete soaking and with the threat of lighting a definite time to stop. Third trip after the last of the rain had passed resulted in no fish but a beautiful sunset - time to sit back and soak it in.

Tight Lines

Anna Maria Part 1 & a bit

Fishing is never easy but with the surroundings that you are in you should just soak it all up.

Snook off the beach have been really finicky, fishing the skinny water early and late and casting to targeted fish has continued to see fish turn to chase the fly only to turn off at the last minute, it's so frustrating, but as I said above there's so much to see.

Thursday spent the afternoon out on the water with Capt Chad Gamble of Hook and Ladder Charters on one of our twice yearly trips. This trip is not mainly about fishing its really about a mini memorial to our daughter Rachel, the fishing takes a back seat, but does happen.

When we fished we tried various spots in the Sarasota Bay area looking to target Redfish and trout, it took us a while but we managed to find them in the feeding mood in the area of Buttonwood Harbour.

Some nice size fish came in as well as a good few under the slot size. We also managed to get cut off numerous times after a hook up, that we can only put down to Blue Fish.
Even spotted a sea turtle as well as the dolphins before it was time to head back to the dock.


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AMI Update

 

Last couple of days has been quiet on the fishing front, the few fish that have been coming to hand have mainly been Ladyfish and small skip jacks.

What's been interesting is that there appear to be a good few Cobia cruising the shoreline albeit some of them are well out of casting range with a fly but you never know one may come close enough and kindly grab the fly and another first will be in the bag.

Spent a good few hours chasing the snook that are patrolling the surf line early morning and as the sun goes down, had about 4 follows only for them to turn off at the last minute. Maybe it's got something to do with the clear water, will try a longer leader set up
tomorrow.
Tarpon fishers are still out there but not in a s great a number and I've only seen a couple of fish today all well out.

Tight Lines

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Anna Maria Island May 2015 Part 1

Well back on the island again, it will be fun to find out what the fishing holds in store on this trip.

Walked the beach this morning and the amount of boats out fishing for the 'silver kings' was lots mostly were positioned around Bean Point on the drop off to the deeper water of Tampa Bay, I saw one hook up, not sure if he managed to land it but it looked a good fish.



 After getting most of the shopping in, well at least for a few days I called in at AMI Outfitters on Pine Avenue to say hi to the owners, grabbed a few items them headed off to the beach to try my luck now most people had left for the evening.

Various lures tried before I managed to get a couple of hook ups from lady fish and a few skip jacks, what was interesting in the couple of hours that I was there I saw at least half a dozen Tarpon roll by, one of them all be it small was no more than about 20 yards off the beach, it would be nice to think that they are going to stay like this whilst I'm here, but I doubt it. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Tight Lines

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Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining or 2

At long last have managed to get back on the Upper Tay beat behind Taymouth Castle. Vehicle access has been restricted for quite a few years now with ongoing work on the castle and golf course, but managed to get permission as to drive in as long as I was out by 5pm so a good result saving a long walk.

Picked up permit from the Kenmore Hotel and what a bargain £35 with 9 named pools over the length of the beat and fishing available from both banks, although some places are hard to get to.


I'd decided that I was going to fish the Chinese Pool hard with the fly as its a nice long run where

there used to be some nice holding lies. The river had risen over the last couple of days which hopefully will have encouraged fish to push on up the river.

Set up was a Guideline LPXE 14', 8/9# matched with a Hardy Mach 55 sink tip and a silver bodied shrimp style fly.

Started at the head of the pool and was down to just about half way when there was a solid take about a rod length out, net was too far away so after a brief fight a lovely bar of silver weighing approx. 7.5lbs was tailed photographed, measured and safely released.

A welcome 'wee dram' to celebrate the success and it was back to where I'd finished to cover the rest of the pool. Just at the gauge marker there was a solid take in the middle of the river as the fly swung over the large rock and the fight was on again, this one was a lot more powerful and the first run had me into the backing, after a sustained fight where the fish came into the shallows only to bore out into the deeper water again, it was safely in the net, (which actually broke at this point, the frame snapped)good job the fish was safely inside. Again a quick measure, photo and another safe release of a beautiful Tay springer weighing in at 14lbs still with sea lice on so it travelled hard from the sea.

No more salmon after this but one very greedy brown trout that hammered into the fly. It's a long time since I've seen the brown trout here on the Tay having an absolute feeding bonanza, everywhere you looked there was fish rising.

Tight lines to all.

Don't forget to check out Friars Carse web site for fishing course information on the River Nith.