Danny Stasny

Anna Maria Island anglers are excited to see good numbers of mangrove snapper making a showing in local inshore and nearshore waters. Finding the snappers can be as easy as finding structure — reefs, rock piles, wrecks, piers and bridge pilings — making them a favorite of boating anglers and those who fish from land. A variety of baits are working to attract the feisty snappers to the hook, depending on your location.

With pop-up storms becoming more frequent, Anna Maria Island anglers are keeping a watchful eye on the horizon while on the water. Being vigilant as these storms increase is wise, because many can contain strong wind gusts and lightning, which cause a beautiful day on the water to turn into a dangerous situation in minutes. Monitoring the weather radar can be helpful if storms are looming in the distance but in many instances these pop-up storms may not register soon enough.

With water temperatures reaching the upper 80s, combined with air temps in the mid 90s and a feels-like temperature over 100 degrees, Anna Maria Island anglers are getting out early in the morning and returning before noon in order to find a decent bite and beat the heat. Carrying plenty of fresh bottled water and other beverages to replenish electrolytes is key when spending any amount of time on the water in these conditions. Dehydration is real and once you’re there, it’s not easy to come back.