Longboat Key weekend, any suggestions

[Nelly]

Going to be in Longboat Key for a long weekend this weekend. May have access to a kayak or possibly even a skiff, but will mostly be fishing light spinning gear from shore. Fished the area with limited success before, but wondering what my best bet would be to get into some snook/redsfish/trout? Any help is greatly appreaciated!

[titleguy]

Flat around bridge from Lido to Longboat ( by Mote Marine) Lido Park flat can also be good. Most of my fishing down there has been Siesta Key ( Point O' Rocks particularly on the South End of Crescent Beach) Passes should be holding jacks, ladyfish and pompano. Heard the water was coolish this pas tweek, so snook may not be on the beaches yet. Call Mr. CBs in Siesta Key ( cbsoutfittersdot com) for more info. Have fun- get a grouper sandwich at the Salty Dog.:-%

[Tom Kelly]

I just got back sun. from Ann Maria Island , which is the next island north of Longboat. Had good luck fishing the pass between the two islands on the Longboat side. Caught a couple of jacks sat. morn.(boy are they strong) and a bunch of ladyfish that evening(boy do they jump). All were caught on a small white deceiver with sinking line. To get there take your last left just before you cross over the bridge to Anna Maria Island. Drive to the end of the road where there is a public beach, go out on the beach and walk to your right. Hope this helps and good luck!

[Nelly]

Thanks for the tips guys. Fished by kayak with my brother on Saturday. Put in on the bay side, fished our way north to the pass between Longboat and Bradenton Beach, then paddled back on the gulf side to our place.

Took a lot of ladyfish on the bayside, they seemed to be everywhere! They were all schooled up and on the surface - fun to follow the schools around. We figured there would be some larger fish that would persue these schools of ladyfish but did find much bothering them aside from the pelicans.

Things got interesting when we got near the tip of the island. Spotted a school of jacks hanging near some docks, ambushing bait that was flushing out with the tide into the gulf. Got a bump on the first cast, then hooked up on the second with the reel screaming immediately. Finally a nice fish! Tide was pushing me into the docks, so I had to put the rod into a holder and reposition the kayak. Instead of swimming into the safety of the dock pilings, the jack went out for deep water. Getting some clearance from the dock pilings, I was able to take the rod back and work some line back. I was unable to really lift the fish on the light spinning gear, giving an indication that it was indeed a nice fish! Unfortunately, about 30 seconds later, despite the fact that there was never any slack in the line, this fish managed to spit the hook and swim off into the pass.

There was nothing on the gulf side for us but a steady SW wind and building afternoon chop to paddle into. Spent the rest of the week dreaming about what I would have done if I had been able to bring that jack to the boat.....

The next morning - paddled among big schools of bait off the beach in calmer conditions. Again, not much on them but the pelicans. The amount of bait in these waters is ridiculous!!!