Anna Maria Island

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Fishing Requirements, Charters, Boat rental,
 Anna Maria Island

How popular is fishing in Florida? The lure of catching "the limit" attracts many anglers to the Sunshine State. miles of coastline prompts many residents to take up the sport. Whether you are lured by the tranquillity of freshwater lakes or the excitement of saltwater pursuits, you'll find what you're looking near Anna Maria Island Florida.
Angling Florida's sea waters can be highly productive throughout the year whether fishing from the beach, piers or bridges, or by boat in the flats or far offshore. Snook can be taken with cigar minnows. Redfish and trout are found in the flats, off piers and around bridges using bait and live shrimp and gold spoons. Fishing enthusiasts can also reel in black drum using fiddler crabs or shrimp, as bait.
Anglers fishing in Tampa Bay area's late summer and early fall with will find Spanish mackerel along the Gulf of Mexico beaches. Amberjack and Tarpon our also caught in the blue waters of the Gulf. All the species feed on minnows, shrimp and pinfish.
Emerald waters in the northern part of the state are perfect for catching blue marlin and tuna, and in the deep waters you'll spy cobia, king mackerel and a few different types of sharks. Oyster beds of the Gulf coast will net kingfish and pompano, while further south, the dark blue ocean off the coast of Sarasota south to Naples are home some of the largest Tarpon in the hemisphere. Some of these silver giants weigh up to 200 pounds!
The warm tropical waters of Southwest Florida host snapper, jewfish, grouper, cobia, tripletail, bluegill and bass.
Don't forget our "inland" saltwater fishing while you're here, either. The back bays and canals are low key fishing spots, but they always yield a good catch. Patrol along the mangroves and docks to hook snook, trout and maybe even a tarpon in the winter months.
They manage the river provides fishing for catching largemouth bass as well as the brain and catfish. Lake Manatee is eight 2500 acre reservoir created by damning a portion the Manatee River. Nearly all Florida fresh or species can be found in this Lake, was Sunshine bass being critically plentiful near flooding creek beds.
Florida fishing license.
Florida fishing license is required for all residents between the ages 16 and 64, unless the person is fishing from land or a structure fixed to the Land. Persons age 65 or over may obtain a season at senior citizen, hunting and fishing certificate free of charge. The certificates in Florida fishing license can be purchased at the tax collector's office fishing license are also can be purchased at sporting-goods store's fishing can't tackle shops hardware stores. However, tax collectors offer are the only location, where lifetime fishing licenses can be purchased licenses are also available on the Internet at www.myFlorida.com/FWC and or by calling (888) Fish-Florida .

 

Saltwater Licenses

Anglers must buy a saltwater fishing license when fishing in the coastal waters of the state or taking marine species. The license is required for finfish, shellfish and shells.
Separate permit stamps costing $2 each are required for taking snook and crawfish. A special $50 stamp is needed to take and possess a single tarpon. No stamp is needed to catch and release snook or tarpon. Florida residents pay $13.50 per year or $11.50 for 10 days. Nonresidents pay $31.50 per year, $16.50 for seven days and $6.50 for three days.
The following persons are exempt:

• Children younger than 16 and Florida residents older than 65.
• Florida residents fishing in saltwater from land or a structure fixed to land.
• Persons fishing with a licensed operator of a boat charging fees for fishing.
• Florida residents who are members of the United States Armed Forces, stationed out of state and home on leave.
• Handicapped residents and residents certified totally and permanently disabled.
• Non-Florida residents fishing from a pier that has paid a license fee

A good rule of thumb is that if you have to pay to fish, you don't need a license, but ALWAYS make sure.

Current legal lengths for fishing

Amber Jack 28 inches
bill fish sailfish 57 inches
blue Marlin 86 inches
White Marlin 62 inches
Bluefish 12 inches

FISHING PIERS

Anna Maria Island Historic City
101 Bay Blvd.
The pier is at the end of Pine Avenue. Stretching 710' into Tampa Bay, this is the perfect spot to drop in a line and catch a wide variety of saltwater fish. The pier was first built in 1910. Located at the end of the pier is the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, a perfect place to enjoy a gulf island sunset.

Bradenton Beach Historical Bridge Street Pier
200 Bridge Street, Bradenton, FL (941) 779-1706
Located on the bay side. This is a great spot to fish for grouper, flounder, mullet, bluefish, ladyfish. A restaurant is located on the first part of the pier. Pier is open 24-hours a day.
Anglers flock to this popular spot, which is at the end of historic — and newly refurbished — Bridge Street.

BRADENTON MEMORIAL PIER
Downtown, north end of 12th St. West.

GREEN BRIDGE PIER BAIT & TACKLE
101 8th Avenue West, Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 722-5700
Rents rods and reels, sells bait for fishing. No alcohol allowed. A family-oriented fishing spot. Fishing classes for kids; rents rod and reel offers bait for $1.25 per kid. Good wholesome fun for the whole family.

JIGG'S LANDING
6106 Braden River Road, Bradenton, FL
(941) 756-6745 Open daily from 6:30 am.
Enjoy fresh water fishing and boating on the pastoral Braden River. Fishing, tackle and bait shop.
Longboat Pass Bridge
There always seems to be someone casting a line from the bridge that connects Bradenton Beach to the north end of Longboat Key.

ROD AND REEL PIER
875 North shore Drive, Anna Maria, FL,
(941) 778-1885
Open from 7:00 am - 10:00 PM.
website:
Here’s a nice spot to cast a line — and maybe swap some fish tales.
Pier stretches 350' into Tampa Bay. Back in 1979 a whopping 17 ft, 1,386 pound Hammerhead Shark was caught off the Rod & Reel Pier, the world record Hammerhead Shark. It is the largest shark ever caught off a fishing pier. Good place to drop a line in for Tarpon, Snook, Red fish, Trout or Flounder. Even if you don't get a 1,300 pound fish off the Pier you can still catch a plentiful variety of Jacks, Mackerel, Snappers, Drums, Snook, Cobia, Barracuda, King Fish, Ladyfish, Tarpon, Sand Perch, Sheepshead, Trout, Red Fish, Grouper and a variety of Sharks. Perfect for fishing, manatee watching or dining at the Rod and Reel Restaurant.


Sunshine Skyway State Fishing Pier
One 1/2 mile long pier is open 24-hours a day.This is the world's longest fishing pier.
4901 US 19 South Palmetto, FL 34221 Phone: 941/729-0117Fax: 727/906-8085 
Park and fish on the world's longest fishing pier. A unique fishing location, directly off I-275 between St. Petersburg and Bradenton on Tampa Bay. View of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. No fishing license required. Complete bait shop. Rod rental available. 
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pier provides a home to a zillion hungry sheepshead, Key West grunts, mangrove snapper, red and gag grouper, cobia, black seabass, Spanish mackerel, spot-tailed bream, sandperch, snook, redfish, black drum and other tasty species.

Fishing Boat

Cortez X of the Cortez Fleet
12507 Cortez Rd. 794-1223
Take a fishing trip out into the Gulf of Mexico aboard the 65-foot Cortez X of the Cortez Fleet, with 4-, 6- and 9-hour deep-sea fishing trips offered. No license is required, and rod, bait, tackle and stringers are included in the price, with children, senior and non-fishing rates available. For the 4-hour trip, the basic fishing rate is $22.50, while seniors pay $20.50, and children are charged $12. The 4-hour, non-fishing rate is $12, while children pay $6.75. There is no special senior rate for the non-fishing 4-hour trip. Reservations are recommended.
A snack bar on board serves prepackaged sandwiches, chips, sodas, beer and candy. People may bring their own coolers (and make sure you pack along a supply of sunscreen). The boat can carry up to 60 people.

CHARTER FISHING BOAT

ANNIE'S OF CORTEZ
(941) 794-3580
4334 127th St. W., Cortez, FL

CANE PATCH
Capt. Calvin Brannen
15408 Waterline Road,
(941) 748-8274
Backwater fishing

CANNONS MARINA
6040 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL,
(941) 383-1311 Call for charter information.

CAPTAIN C's CHARTERS
Palmetto, FL,
(941) 722-7080

CAPTAIN CRUNCH
(941) 758-5953
Deep sea / offshore fishing

CAPTAIN "DOC" LEE GUIDE SERVICE
(941) 758-7670
Fly fishing, freshwater fishing

CAPTAINS MARINA
5501 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 778-1977
Call for Full and Half-day rates.
Enjoy an Around-the-Sound Cruise and see the world from a different angle! Take a sunset Cruise, famous for dolphin watch potential or choose our Midnight Shark Expedition, monster fishing at night when the sharks bite.

CAPT'N JL DAVIS
(941) 729-4005
Flats, backwater fishing

CAPTAIN MIKES CHARTERS
Capt. Heifend Anna Maria Island,
(941) 778-1404
Deep sea fishing

CAPTAIN THOM SMITH
(941) 776-1187
saltwater and backcountry fishing charters.

CORTEZ CAT CHARTERS
The Cortez Fishing Center
12507 Cortez Road West, Bradenton, FL 34215,
(941) 795-6969
We offer deep-sea, backwater, fly-fishing, diving, snorkeling trips for individuals or groups. Or if you feel like relaxing, come aboard for dolphin and manatee watching with your favorite picnic. Or for you history buffs, come enjoy a scenic trip to Egmont Key. Call for rates and reservations.

CORTEZ FLEET Party Boat
4330 127th St. W., Cortez, FL 34215,
(941) 794-1223
1/2 day & full day trips.

CORTEZ X
4330 127th St. W., Cortez, FL 34215,
(941) 794-1223
Party boat trips. 65 ft. vessel for 4-, 6- & 9-hour trips

Dee Jay II
Capt. Zak Zacharias
Annies Bait & Tackle
4334 127th St. W., Cortez, FL,
(941) 778-1725 or795-5026
Day, near shore, flats and backwater fishing.
Cast a line for snook, trout, redfish, tarpon and more with Capt. J.A. “Zach” Zacharias aboard the 22-foot center-console boat Dee Jay II. Zacharias takes parties of up to three people out for light tackle, bay and beach fishing trips that go everywhere from Sarasota Bay to the Sunshine Skyway. Half-day , three-quarter-day ,and full-day trips . Included in the price are bait, tackle, ice and license, so just bring along something to eat and drink

DOLPHIN DREAM CHARTERS
306-A 58th Street, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 748-4498 Anna Maria Island
Capt. Tom Chaya takes parties of one to four people out on his 25-foot boat for gulf and inshore sport fishing. Bait, tackle and license are included in the price, with half-day and full-day trips . Plan to bring your own food and drink, and also a good supply of sunscreen, as you cast a line for everything from snook to redfish to sharks.

FANDANGO
(941) 966-1737

FISH HOOK
Capt. Mitch Cockrell
(941) 745-1361
Tampa Bay flats fishing, 1/2 day, full day, night fishing.

FISHY BUSINESS II
Capt. Rick Gross
(941) 794-3308
Backwater and flats fishing.

FLATS LADY CHARTER
Capt. Tom Smith
(941) 795-7637 or 776-1187
Backwater, flats fishing.

Capt. Dave Pinkham
7809 San Juan Ave., Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 794-0652
Offshore, deep sea fishing.

Magic Charters
  10125 Manatee Ave. W.
  Apt E-5
  Bradenton, FL 34209       795-8299

Manatee Airboat Tours, Inc.
  12310 Manatee Ave W
  Bradenton 34209       795-5353

The Mystic Dolphin Sight-Seeing Water-Taxi
  5325 Marina Dr
  Holmes Beach 34217    778-2761

NEVA-MISS
12507 Cortez Rd., Bradenton, FL 34209
(941) 792-5835
31-ft. fishing charter boat, up to 6 people.

Reef Reacher
PO Box 594
Anna Maria 34216      778-2727
Galati Yacht Basin
Bay Blvd. S., Anna Maria 778-2727
When Capt. Phil Shields takes people out on deep-sea fishing and sightseeing trips, it’s with this in mind: “It’s like we’re going out and just taking some friends along.” Shields, who lives in Anna Maria, offers half-day ($300) and full-day ($525) trips on his 31-foot custom sports fishing boat, with six people maximum. Ice, bait, tackle and fishing license are included in the price. And don’t worry if you don’t have six people to share the expense: Shields said he will “split” charters and try to find others to share a charter with you.

REEL ADVENTURE
(941) 747-7328

REGATTA POINTE MARINA
985 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 729-6021

Ripe Tide Charter 
(941)778-0662    http://www.riptidefishing.com/
Docked at Captain's Marina ,5501 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, Florida 34217
6hr - 9hr - 11hr  Nights & Custom Trips
Fish For :Grouper - Snapper - Tuna - Spanish & King Mackerel Bonita - Cobia - Amberjack - Barracuda - Shark - Mahi Mahi
USCG Licensed Master, USCG Approved Safety Equipment, License, Bait, Tackle & Ice Provided, Courteous Crew - Full Electronics, Free Filleting

SNOOK-FIN-ADDICT II
Capt. Rick Grasset
(941) 923-7799
Flats, backwater fishing

Spice Sailing Charters
  902 Bay Blvd S
  PO Box 4101
  Anna Maria 34216      778-3240

SUNSAIL YACHT CHARTERS
1015 Riverside Drive
Palmetto, FL 34221
Phone - 941-723-1610 Fax - 941-729-7520
e-mail: yachtit@aol.com 
If you ever dreamed of a tropical sailing vacation, your dream can come true at Sunsail Yacht Charters. Go bareboating for a weekend or a week, lots of places to cruise on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

BOAT RENTALS, SALES & SERVICE


Anna Maria Boat Club
5322 Marina Dr.
Holmes Beach, FL 34217 /778-7990

Bradenton Beach Marina
402 Church Ave.
Bradenton Beach 34217    778-2288

Cannons Marina
6040 Gulf of Mexico Dr.
Longboat Key, FL 34228 / 383-1311

Captain's Marina
5501 Marina Drive
Holmes Beach, 34217     778-1977

Cortez Parasail, Inc.
12507 Cortez Road West
PO Box 581
Cortez 34215           795-2700

Galati's Marine
900 South Bay Blvd
PO Box 862
Anna Maria 34216        778-0755

Mahinola La Catamaran
402 Church Street
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217 / 713-8000

Stem To Stern Boat Care
5807 Imperiore Ave.
Holmes Beach FL 34217 / 778-0436

Water & Bridge

BRADEN RIVER
Off SR 64 bridge.


COQUINA BEACH
Bay side of Coquina.

EMERSON POINT
Redfish, sheepshead and spotted seatrout are available. During spring and summer, a good concentration of sharks can be found.

FROG CREEK
US 41 north of Palmetto - fish from bridge.

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY EDGES
Southward from markers 45 and 46 at Longboat Pass to marker 15. Sheepshead, black drum and spotted seatrout in the winter, mangrove snapper, redfish, flounder and some surprisingly big gag grouper in the summer.

JIGG'S LANDING
6101 Braden River Rd., off SR 70 about 4 miles east of Oneco.
Boat ramp.

LAKE MANATEE RECREATION AREA
SR 64.
Fish off of the boat dock and below the dam

LAKE PARRISH
4000-acre cooling pond open to public fishing.
Largemouth bass, bluegill.

LONGBOAT PASS
Anna Maria Island south end. Coquina Beach.

MANATEE AVENUE BRIDGES AND CAUSEWAYS
Three bridges: Palma Sola Bay, Perico Bayou and Anna Maria Sound and Palma Sola Bay.

MANATEE RIVER SWASH CHANNELS AND DOCKS
Snook, redfish spotted seatrout

MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK
SR 72 SE Freshwater fishing.

PORT MANATEE
Snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, silvertrout, jewfish, grouper, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, cobia, flounder, sharks and Spanish mackerel.

THE OLD GREEN BRIDGE
Riverside Park, 8th Ave. West, over the Manatee River, Palmetto.

TIDY ISLAND - SISTER KEYS FLATS
Snook, redfish and spotted sea trout. The area is roughly three square miles and consists of shallow grass flats, some potholes and the vestiges of the old Sarasota Bay Channel.

UPPER MANATEE RIVER
9 miles east of SR 64, Bream, Bass, Catfish in summer, sometimes Snook in winter.

WHITNEY BEACH
Sheepshead, black drum and spotted Sea trout in cold weather, snook, redfish, and mangrove snapper on warmer days.

Bradenton
CVB