You Never Know Who You Will Catch at The Rod & Reel Pier

By RICHARD DYMOND - rdymond@bradenton.com

Erica Webb, the bartender at the historic Rod & Reel Pier Restaurant on North Shore Drive in Anna Maria, says the best thing about the place is that you always meet someone interesting there.

A sampling of the Sunday crowd turned up, in this order, a treasure hunter with an eBay account, an opera singer who is also a paranormal investigator and a super serious fisherman from Lakeland. Not a bad haul and well below the legal limit.

But the 300-foot pier, said to be one of only several privately owned piers in Florida, seems to attract those accomplished in the much ignored art of doing little to relax from doing much.

It has always been not much more than it was when built in 1947 — a bunch of boards strung together out over Tampa Bay with quaint bar, bait shop and restaurant at the tip.

But there, with a fishing pole in her hand, was Brenda Delhotal, a soprano in the Elgin Opera in Illinois and a member of the Elgin Paranormal Investigators.

Wearing a neon pink top and a yellow hat, Delhotal said she trekked to Anna Maria from Illinois with her sister and friend Lydia Hanson all because of her husband, Augie.

Tarpon Cruising Waters Around Anna Maria Island

Tarpon Fishing off the Coast of Anna Maria Island

By Captain Mark Howard – SumoTime Fishing Charters

With the onset of Summer ,fishing is turning hot just like the weather. The legendary Silver King Tarpon will be off the beaches and in the passes.

Fish from 30 pounds to 200 pounds will be cruising the waters around Anna Maria Island.

Pass Crabs, Jumbo Shrimp, Pinfish, Threadfins, Pilchards, and Mullet are some of the baits of choice to catch this majestic Linesider.

Redfish are heating up with schools in the potholes and up in the Mangroves of Tampa Bay.

Greenbacks and Pinfish will entice these crimson beauties to chew. Speckled trout are on the flats and will eagerly take a greenback or artificial bait.

Early mornings and afternoon trips are best to beat the heat.

Capt. Mark Howard
SumoTime Fishing Charters
www.sumotimefishing.com
941-704-6763 cell

With the onset of Summer ,fishing is turning hot just like the weather. The legendary Silver King , Tarpon will be off the beaches and in the passes. Fish from 30lb to 200lbs will be cruising the waters around Anna Maria Island. Pass Crabs , Jumbo Shrimp , Pinfish , Threadfins, Pilchards , and Mullet are some of the baits of choice to catch this majestic Linesider.

Redfish are heating up with schools in the potholes and up in the Mangroves of Tampa bay. Greenbacks and Pinfish will entice these crimson beauties to chew. Speckled trout are on the flats and will eagerly take a greenback or artificial bait.

Early mornings and afternoon trips are best to beat the heat.

Fishing (and Temperatures) Heating Up

John Touchton lands an Amberjack

By Nick Walter Islander Reporter

White bait is creeping back into the area, and it could mean the transition from cut bait to live bait for fishers.

With the bait will come more Spanish and king mackerel, as well as bluefish. There are reports of kingfish being caught from both Sunshine Skyway Bridge fishing piers and some anglers are reporting they’ve been spooled by king smokers.

Calm, warm weather also was timely for grouper fishermen, who took advantage of the opening of grouper season on April 1. Quality catches of grouper can be had in 60 feet of water, and the fish tend to favor live bait. April 1 also saw the open harvest of tarpon and bonefish.

y Nick Walter

Islander Reporter

White bait is creeping back into the area, and it could mean the transition from cut bait to live bait for fishers.

Small pinfish already are invading bays from offshore where there are reports of clouds of pinfish. Already there are glass minnows in the bays, so it shouldn’t be long before they’re followed by shiners. With the bait will come more Spanish and king mackerel, as well as bluefish. There are reports of kingfish being caught from both Sunshine Skyway Bridge fishing piers and some anglers are reporting they’ve been spooled by king smokers.