OUTDOORS

20 THE SUN OUTDOORS OCTOBER 20, 2021

Get ready for fabulous fall fishing

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

As I write these words, the first front of the fall season has begun to clear the humidity, a harbinger of cooler temperatures and hot offshore action.

Just last week I scouted the Gulf waters from Big Pass to mid-Longboat Key with Captain Rick Grassett. Although we managed to land four tripletail and a 16-pound cobia in a morning outing, signs pointed to a change we eagerly await after a long, hot summer season. We’ll still probably have to close our windows and doors and turn the AC on again, but the light and the cool mornings will be teasing us with the change to come. When the water cools into the 70s and we hope for the passing of the red tide, we can look forward to some of the season’s best fishing. When it all comes together, schools of bait, already starting to mass off area beaches, should continue to migrate inshore with pelagic species like kingfish, Spanish mackerel, false albacore, cobia and tripletail hot on their trail.

Now is a great time to prepare for the fall season, getting tackle in order and keeping an eye to the sky for diving birds and breaking fish. Fortunately, all of these species can be found right off our Gulf beaches and some even enter the bays. All will take live bait, lures or flies and can be caught on spinning, bait casting or fly tackle. With the possible exception of king mackerel and cobia, most are able to be landed with light (8-10 pound test) tackle, adding to the excitement.

Depending on the species you’re targeting, you’ll want to rig accordingly. Since it’s possible to encounter such a plethora of fish in a single outing, multiply outfits are a good idea. One of the main considerations should be rigging. After a long, hot summer, tackle can fall into disrepair and need to be replaced. However you fish, make sure your knots are properly tied. To assure you’ll never lose a good fish to poor preparation and inferior knots, moisten and tighten all knots, sharpen hooks and rig outfits with the appropriate bite tippet and leader. Options include wire, monofilament, long shanked hooks or a combination of these. It’s possible to catch a kingfish without wire but your odds aren’t good. The same applies with certain exceptions to Spanish mackerel. Mackerel can sometimes shy from wire. That’s the time to switch to a long shank hook or a heavy (60-pound) monofilament leader. Even then it’s possible to get cut off, but you’ll be guaranteed more action if the fish are feeding. When using wire, an 8- to 12-inch trace can be tied to monofilament using an Albright Special knot (best) or a swivel. If you use a swivel, use a black one as opposed to silver to prevent fish from mistaking it for forage. American Fishing Wire makes a product called Surflon Micro Supreme that is extremely flexible and kink resistant. This wire can be knotted to your lure, hook or fly like monofilament; it also provides greater flexibility and less stretch than monofilament. Umpqua makes a product that’s ideal for fly anglers. Their Re-Twistable Haywire Twist wire is reusable and will allow you to change flies in a snap. This is the quickest and most painless system to rig wire for toothy fish. Wire is less likely to deter a bite under low light conditions like early morning, overcast days and late in the day.

One of the most effective ways to find schooling fish in the fall is to look for surface action and diving birds in the inshore Gulf waters. Predators can also be present without revealing themselves around structure, reefs and wrecks. When you find baitfish schools and feeding fish, you can approach them by trolling, drifting or with the use of a trolling motor. Whatever method you employ, never let your boat pass through or get too close to the action. With more and more boats and anglers pursuing feeding fish, they are likely to sound and move away. The best bet is to stay outside the action but within casting distance. If trolling, make wide turns so only your lures pass through the action.

Live bait anglers target schooling fish in a number of ways. By anchoring up-

RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN Captain Rick Grassett with a 16-pound cobia caught on a morning scouting expedition.

SEE REEL TIME, PAGE 21

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED Tiffany Magnus, of Oklahoma City, shows off a beautiful redfish caught with Captain David White of Anna Maria Charters.

Redfish everywhere inshore

CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE

I want to apologize for my lack of reports for the last month or so. I was fly fishing various parts of Montana in our annual family getaway. Great trip, but back to business!

American red snapper opened up again for federally permitted charter vessels. The window is from Oct. 15 to Nov. 6. The closure of red grouper and lane snapper definitely puts a dent in a client’s take home. So, this little bonus helps. A bit.

Inshore, redfish are seemingly everywhere. With big schools of over-slot fish not uncommon, you can’t help but notice the difference since the closure. Snook fishing is still great as well. For those wanting meat, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel are pretty prevalent, making it easy to achieve this goal. Although snook, redfish and trout recently reopened north of Manatee Avenue, we here at Anna Maria Charters still prefer to release them with the ongoing effects of red tide still looming. We’ll see what this bout of weather brings us! Good luck out there!

REEL TIME: Get ready for fall fishing

FROM PAGE 20 current from a likely area, they may deploy a chum bag and then toss wounded live baits to draw fish into casting range. This can be an extremely effective method. Those who prefer artificial lures find spoons particularly effective as well as jigs like the DOA CAL or the Berkley Gulp. One of the most exciting and effective types of lures are top water models like the MirroLure Top Dog, the Heddon Zara Spook or Rapala Saltwater Skitter Pop. Not only is the strike visual and often explosive, but their action can attract target species.

Fly fishing is also an effective and exciting way to target fall species from cobia to tripletail, Spanish mackerel and even kingfish. The same rigging applies and top water flies like the Crease fly or Garthside Gurgler can produce some memorable strikes. Clouser Deep Minnows are also a great choice for Spanish mackerel and false albacore. This would be a good time of the year to have a 10- or 11-weight rod rigged with a big black fly should a cobia or late-season tarpon make an appearance.

Whatever your fishing style, take advantage of the great action you’ll find in area waters this fall. If you’re new to the game, consider hiring a guide. This is a great way to learn the ropes and a great value when shared with a friend. Good fishing!

Bridge Tender Inn serves Florida style

If you’re looking for someplace with history, you’ll appreciate Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, and the best location for original Florida food with a view is the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, located at 135 Bridge Street.

Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar has been around for decades and under the same ownership for 30 years. It’s a landmark in an historic part of Anna Maria Island.

The dining room holds up to 130 people and is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or other gathering. You can reserve the dining room and tailor the Bridge Tender’s menu, featuring fresh seafood and other local dishes, to as casual or as formal as you would like.

For smaller parties, you can reserve a section of the dining room with views of Sarasota Bay, the Bridge Street Pier and Bridge Street. They have also added another area, Doc B’s front porch. The Bridge Tender and Dockside Bar is also accessible by water at Marker 49 and has two docks available for customers.

For more information on the Bridge Tender Inn and Dockside Bar, go to wwwbridgetenderinn.rocks or contact Shannon Dunnan, events coordinator, at tenderinn@aol.com or 941-778-4849. The Bridge Tender Inn for the taste of real Florida.

DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG Happy 1st anniversary to Michelle Woodson and Mark Anderson! They were married on October 31, 2020 in a beautiful bayside ceremony on Anna Maria Island. Martha Wright officiated the ceremony. Chuck Caudill provided music for the ceremony and reception. Michelle and Mark spent their honeymoon night at the Vinoy Hotel in St Petersburg, Florida, before returning home to Holmes Beach, Florida.

MAYOR: Candidates discuss mayoral race and city issues

FROM PAGE 5 Transient Public Lodging Establishment (vacation rental) ordinance. The tourists often bring the trash cans out to the street on their own and they end up sitting by the road for several days and the residents have to look at them. We’re cracking down on that. Our code enforcement officer has sent out letters and he’s putting people on notice. We had a meeting with WastePro management and we’re still having issues.”

Galuszka: “When it comes to comes to affordable housing, I’d like to meet with the developers and see if they’d be willing to provide a single unit out of the four or six units they have and rent that out at the current market rate for an annual rental – especially for the service workers and others who work out here.”

Why should the people of Bradenton Beach vote for you?

Galuszka: “I’ve been a public servant most of my life. I’ve not held an elected office, but in my career with military and the federal government as an air traffic controller there were a lot of responsibilities I had as an air traffic manager that parallel what the city government does. I was involved in seeking requests for proposals and labor negotiations with the union. I developed memorandums of understanding and letters of agreement. I dealt with red tape and bureaucracy. I would foster good working relationships with county commissioners and state legislators and I’d spend time getting a better grasp on how those governments work. I want to keep Bradenton Beach great and I envision opportunities to make it even better. I would bring a fresh voice and some new perspective to the city commission. I’m open to cooperation and listening to the ideas of others. I thrive on challenges and I’m willing to do the work. I’m retired and I have the time, energy and capacity to put 100% effort into being the mayor.”

Chappie: “I hope people will consider voting for me. I have been here basically all of my adult life. I know the community. I’ve been continuously active in the community for the past 37-38 years. I’ve been on numerous boards, committees and agencies. I’ve been an elected official at the city level as a commissioner, mayor and as a CRA board member and chairman. One third of our city is county-owned property, including the public beaches and boat ramps. I’ve been a county commissioner and that gives me an understanding of working with the county and the county staff. That benefits our community, our residents and the rest of the Island community. I’ve made a lot of government contacts which have been extremely beneficial in knowing who to call and who to talk to to get things done for Bradenton Beach.”

POST OFFICE: Goes dark in Cortez

FROM PAGE 1

Other residents suggest home delivery in the historic commercial fishing village on the south side of Cortez Road. The north side of the road already has home delivery. Residents posted a sign asking neighbors to call U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R - Manatee) for help and asked Manatee County Commissioners last week to write him for assistance, which they voted to do. Buchanan’s office did not respond to phone calls on the subject last week.

The post office closure began with an accident when the post office flagpole fell and hit a man who was injured and sued landlord John Banyas, who rents the space at 12112 44th Ave. W. to the Postal Service. Banyas also owns Cortez Bait and Seafood and two restaurants in the village.

Banyas told The Sun that he asked the Postal Service to add him to its insurance policy, but the agency refused, so when the lease ended on the small office in the strip center he decided not to renew it.

Banyas sued the Postal Service on Sept. 21 for eviction in Manatee County Court. On Oct. 6, the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa.

A flyer distributed to residents claims that the post office violated federal regulations by not providing adequate notice, a feasibility study, public comment and the right of appeal before announcing the closure.

U.S. Postal Service District Manager Stephen Hardin could not be reached for comment. The postal service does not comment on lease negotiations, corporate communications officer David Walton said.

RED TIDE: Level remains 'high'

FROM PAGE 1

Red tide began appearing in mid-April after 215 million gallons of contaminated water was discharged into Tampa Bay from Piney Point, a former phosphate plant. The water contained the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which act as fertilizer for red tide. The discharge was approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to prevent contaminated water in a holding pond on top of a compromised gypsum stack from flooding the area. Piney Point is the subject of three pending lawsuits and is in receivership.

Fish kills and respiratory irritation related to red tide were reported in Manatee County and Pinellas and Sarasota counties, among others.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space with closed windows and a clean A/C filter. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of red tide. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Updated red tide forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos. org and at visitbeaches.org.

RED TIDE REPORT

High

(respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)

Very low

(possible respiratory irritation)

Medium

(probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Low

(possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)

Background

(no effects)

None

(no red tide present)

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission