The first artificial lure that I like to use is called the Mirrolure Mirrodine. This lure is a subsurface (6"-3ft) and mimics a pilchard or "whitebait" perfectly which is a primary food source for all 4 top gamefish species in Tampa bay. the lure can be found at walmart or any tackle shop in our area that carries artificial lures. The best colors to purchase are the silver side with green, lighter yellow, or blue back. you can slow retreive and twitch it (sinks more) or pick up the pace of the retreive also twitching occasoinally (doesn't sink as much). Different situations call for slower or faster retreive. Around Emerson Point you can go by foot and wade or by boat, there is lots of snook and redfish. The mirrodine is a perfect lure to use in this area over the grassflats and around the mangroves. 

Another favorite artificial lure to use is the doa baitbuster swimming mullet. The trolling style is best, because it will sink and you can work the water column down to the bottom just by slowing the retrieve. Just like the mirrolure this is readily available at most tackle shops like discount tackle outlet in Bradenton, FL. Casting this along the beach at the north end of Anna Maria Island known as bean point during the summer can bring some large snook and the occasional tarpon. The snook can be seen cruising the beach during the summer and also dwell in the pass as they spawn and eventually lay their eggs. large breeder fish will be enticed with a larger bait like the baitbuster. By casting in front of the fish and pulling it away from it along at a stready pace on the beach in the shallows or casting uptide along the dropoff in the pass and slowly reeling along the bottom rolling it in with the tide. If you can get a cast in front of a tarpon these fish will readily take the baitbuster as it is the perfect mullet imatation.

Hopefully this helps someone catch a couple nice fish and get hooked on saltwater fishing. I offer clients the opportunity to use artificial lures on my fishing charters and personally use artificial lures to fish for snook, trout, redfish, and tarpon year round. 

If you are vacationing in the Bradenton or Sarasota area and want to go fishing, whether your party has never fished before or you are looking for a trophy fish give me a call or text 813-220-8725 and we will get out there and have some fun!