Fly Fishing Report for Anna Maria Island: September 2, 2024

Good morning, fly anglers! Today on Anna Maria Island, the conditions are set to be favorable for a productive day of fly fishing. Here’s your detailed report:

Weather and Conditions

• Temperature: The day will start comfortably at around 80°F in the early morning, climbing to a high of 87°F by the afternoon. Expect partly cloudy skies, which provide a balance of sun and shade, ideal for sight fishing.
• Wind: Light winds at around 6 mph will keep conditions calm, ensuring that your casting is smooth and accurate.
• Water Temperature: The Gulf of Mexico is a warm 84°F, which is perfect for keeping inshore species active and feeding.

Tides and Timing

• High Tide: 5:03 AM at 2.3 feet
• Low Tide: 12:51 PM at 0.4 feet
• High Tide: 8:12 PM at 2.6 feet

The best windows for fly fishing today will be during the morning high tide and the late afternoon to evening high tide. These times are when fish will be moving into the shallows, making them more accessible to anglers.

Top Fly Fishing Spots

• Sarasota Bay Grass Flats: This area is ideal during the early morning high tide, with redfish and sea trout likely to move into the flats. Use baitfish patterns to increase your chances.
• Bimini Bay: The calm waters here make it perfect for sight fishing snook and redfish. The late afternoon tide will bring fish closer to the shoreline, making this a great spot for evening fishing.
• Perico Bayou: Target snook along the mangroves during the rising tide. Casting shrimp or crab patterns near the structure should yield good results.

Fly Selection

• Shrimp Patterns: Excellent for redfish and snook.
• Clouser Minnows: Effective for targeting sea trout.
• Crab Patterns: Use these for working the grass flats, especially in the morning.