Anna Maria Island and Surrounding Waters Fishing Update
Fishing Charters Anna Maria Island – Fall is here and so are the Mackerel, Snook, Redfish, and Speckled Trout!
It’s a great time to book a fishing charter in Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, or anywhere in Tampa Bay. Falling temperatures are bringing bait fish into shallow water and the big fish are following.
Falling temperatures have the white bait moving to the flats and large thread-fins are staying in deep waters around Tampa bay.
The high winds of the changing season will keep most anglers fishing in the mangroves for cover or surrounding grass flats. Snook, reds and trout are gorging on the fry bait found in the backwaters.
Look for the micro bait dimpling the surface and cast your baits around these schools.
If you find lighter wind days you can head out to open water, Spanish mackerel are holding up on the local reefs. Using free line baits on an extra long shank hook will bring more mackerel to the boat without breaking off. Snapper and grouper are lower in water column so you’ll fish a ball jig or a weighted jig head with live or cut bait on the bottom.
What is Biting This Fall Near Anna Maria Island
Fall has arrived on Anna Maria Island, and with it comes some of the best inshore and nearshore fishing of the year. As the air cools and the water temperatures drop, baitfish move into the shallows—and the big predators follow. Whether you’re booking a fishing charter in Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, or Palmetto, FL, this is one of the most exciting times to hit the water.
When the temperatures start to fall, white bait floods the grass flats, while larger threadfin herring stay suspended over deeper water around Tampa Bay. These bait migrations bring in a wide variety of gamefish, including:
Snook: Active along mangroves and shorelines, especially during moving tides.
Redfish: Found schooling on the flats or hiding under mangrove roots looking for baitfish and crabs.
Speckled Trout: Holding over sandy potholes and grassy patches where small baitfish gather.
Spanish Mackerel: Staging around local reefs and channel edges when the wind drops.
Whether you prefer throwing artificials, drifting live bait, or sight-casting to cruising fish, there’s plenty of action to be had in the fall.
Where the Bite Is Happening
The changing winds of autumn can make open waters choppy, so many anglers find success fishing sheltered mangrove shorelines, backwaters, and grass flats where bait and predators gather. Look for micro bait dimpling the surface—that’s a sure sign fish are feeding nearby.
On calmer days, heading offshore can be rewarding. Spanish mackerel are thick on the Tampa Bay reefs, and if you use a free-lined live bait on a long-shank hook, you’ll minimize break-offs from their sharp teeth and land more fish. Beneath the surface, snapper and grouper are feeding near the bottom—try a weighted jig head or ball jig tipped with cut bait for best results.
Fall is one of the most productive and scenic times to fish around Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, and Palmetto, Florida. Whether you’re chasing inshore favorites like snook and redfish or heading offshore for mackerel and grouper, Captain Rachel’s fishing charters offer a fun, personalized experience for anglers of all skill levels.
Spots fill quickly this time of year, so book early to catch the action while it’s hot!
Book a Fall Fishing Charter with Captain Rachel
Fall is one of the most productive and scenic times to fish around Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, and Palmetto, Florida. Whether you’re chasing inshore favorites like snook and redfish or heading offshore for mackerel and grouper, Captain Rachel’s fishing charters offer a fun, personalized experience for anglers of all skill levels.
Spots fill quickly this time of year, so book early to catch the action while it’s hot!