Fishing Charter in Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island's inshore waters are pure gold for anglers looking to hook into some serious action. Captain Andrew and the Chasing Limits Charters crew know these shallow waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you on fish that'll make your day. We're talking about pristine mangrove shorelines, grass flats that stretch for miles, and backcountry spots where the fish stack up thick. Whether you're bringing the family for their first fishing adventure or you're a seasoned angler wanting to dial in your technique, this trip delivers the goods every single time.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts with Captain Andrew rigging up the perfect setup for whatever's biting that morning. We fish the shallow inshore waters around Anna Maria Island, targeting everything from the iconic redfish cruising the grass flats to snook hanging tight to the mangrove edges. The boat holds up to 5 anglers comfortably, so you'll have plenty of room to cast and fight fish without getting tangled up. These waters are protected, so even when it's breezy offshore, we're usually fishing in calm conditions perfect for sight casting and working the shallows. Captain Andrew's got the local knowledge dialed in – he knows which tides work best at each spot, what baits the fish are keying on, and how to read the water to put you on the bite.
Techniques & Tackle
We fish these inshore waters using a mix of live bait and artificials, depending on what's working that day. You'll be casting to structure – think dock pilings, mangrove overhangs, and oyster bars where fish love to ambush baitfish. The captain provides all the tackle you'll need, from spinning reels spooled with the right line weight to a selection of jigs, soft plastics, and live shrimp that'll get the job done. We're fishing in water anywhere from 2 to 15 feet deep, so you'll be sight fishing a lot of the time, watching fish eat your bait right in front of you. The grass flats hold trout and reds, while the deeper edges and structure are where you'll find snapper, grouper, and other bottom dwellers. Captain Andrew will coach you through different techniques – from popping cork rigs for trout to free-lining live bait for snook.
Customer Stories
"Capt Andrew is my go to guide. He knows the water and is a tremendous boater. Always have a great time. Never a guarantee to catch fish but we almost always limit out. He's a fun dude and plays great music. I strongly recommend him." - Law For
"We booked three Charters for our group of 14. We were a few minutes late arriving, and the other two groups had chosen their boats. We also learned the ad hoc rules for our groups fishing tournament; most fish by weight. Our group of five had the good fortune to be hooked up with Capt. Andrew. Like the charter says Chasing Limits - we limited for trout and redfish before 10:30 AM. That didn't stop Capt. Andrew from taking us to his favorite mangrove snapper and snook spots. All of us caught many multiples of every species. It was an epic day of fishing. Oh… no weigh in necessary. We won with over 40 fish caught and over 25 coming home with us. The next closest boat had maybe 12 fish. Don't even consider another guy, Captain Andrew is an absolute fishing machine lol" - Brian
"If you are wanting to have an unforgettable time this trip is for you! I've been on a countless number of chartered fishing trips but none quite like his. There was never a dull moment on the entire trip. He is a knowledgeable, hardworking young guy who absolutely loves what he does and I think he knows he is one of the best in the area. Everyone else on the water knows it too...his boat has some great speakers and when he hooked me up on a monster tarpon he had those speakers bumping! I could go on and on with stories but just DO NOT make the mistake of NOT booking this trip with Captain Andrew." - Hayden
Species You'll Want to Hook
Gag Grouper are the heavy hitters of the inshore scene around Anna Maria Island. These bruisers love hanging around hard bottom, rocky areas, and deeper grass flats where they can ambush passing baitfish. Gags are known for their aggressive strikes and bulldogging fights – once hooked, they'll try to get back to their hole and break you off. The best fishing for gag grouper happens during the cooler months when they move into shallower water. What makes them special is their incredible table fare – sweet, flaky white meat that's perfect for the grill or fryer. Plus, landing a 20-pound gag grouper on light tackle will definitely get your heart pumping.
Grey Snapper, or mangrove snapper as we call them locally, are one of the most fun fish to target in these waters. They're smart, finicky, and will test your skills as an angler. You'll find them around any kind of structure – docks, mangrove roots, rock piles, and oyster bars. These fish are active year-round but really turn on during the warmer months when baitfish are thick. What makes mangrove snapper so popular is their combination of fight and flavor. They'll make multiple runs and try every trick in the book to throw the hook. On the table, they're hard to beat with firm, mild white meat that's perfect for just about any recipe.
Sheepshead are the trickiest fish you'll target on this trip, and that's exactly why anglers love them. These black-and-white striped fish hang around structure with their powerful jaws, using their human-like teeth to crush barnacles and crabs. Sheepshea