8-Hour Bradenton Beach Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eighthour inshore charter targeting multiple fish speciesExplores Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Anna Maria SoundAccommodates up to four guests with equipment provided
Fish AMI Fishing Charters knows how to show you the best fishing spots around Anna Maria Island. This full-day adventure takes you through some of Florida's most productive waters – Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Anna Maria Sound. You'll have eight solid hours to work these proven fishing grounds, targeting everything from hard-fighting redfish to table-fare grouper. With room for up to four anglers, this trip gives everyone plenty of space to fish comfortably without feeling crowded on deck.
Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on fish whether you're after that photo-worthy snook or filling the cooler with dinner. The beauty of an 8-hour charter is the variety – you're not stuck in one spot hoping the bite turns on. Instead, you'll move between inshore flats, deeper channels, and nearshore structure depending on conditions and what's biting. The crew provides all your tackle, bait, and bottled water, so you just need to bring your fishing license, sunscreen, and whatever snacks or drinks you prefer. Many anglers pack a cooler with sandwiches and their favorite beverages to keep energy up during the longer day on the water.
You'll fish multiple techniques depending on your target species and location. Live bait fishing works great for snook and redfish around the mangrove shorelines, while bottom fishing with cut bait produces grouper and snapper near structure. The captain carries a variety of tackle from light spinning gear for pompano to heavier conventional setups for bigger grouper. Artificial lures come into play when fish are actively feeding – nothing beats the strike of a snook crushing a topwater plug at dawn or a redfish inhaling a gold spoon over a grass flat. The crew will match your tackle to the conditions and help beginners get comfortable with different techniques throughout the day.
Redfish are the bread and butter of these waters, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters love the grass flats and oyster bars throughout Tampa and Sarasota Bays. They typically run 18-27 inches in these waters, with slot-size fish providing great table fare and the occasional overslot bull giving you a real workout. Spring through fall offers the most consistent action, though winter can produce some of the biggest fish when they school up in deeper water. What makes redfish special is their willingness to eat – they'll take live shrimp, cut bait, and artificials with equal enthusiasm.
African Pompano represent the premium catch on these trips. These deep-bodied fish are prized for their incredible fighting ability and excellent taste. Unlike their smaller cousins, African pompano can reach impressive sizes, often exceeding 20 pounds in these waters. They're typically found around structure and drop-offs where they ambush smaller fish. The best action usually happens during warmer months when baitfish are abundant. When you hook one, expect multiple runs and aerial displays that'll test your drag and your patience.
Southern Flounder provide excellent action for anglers who enjoy finesse fishing. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. The key is working your bait slowly along the bottom, feeling for that distinctive tap-tap bite. Most flounder in these waters run 14-20 inches, with the occasional doormat pushing 24 inches or better. Fall migration brings the best opportunities as fish move toward deeper water, often producing multiple keeper flounder per trip.
Gag Grouper are the reason many anglers book full-day charters. These bottom dwellers require specific techniques and locations, typically around hard structure in 15-40 feet of water. They're ambush predators that inhale bait and immediately head for cover, so a quick hookset and steady pressure are essential. The reward is worth the effort – gag grouper are widely considered among the best eating fish in the Gulf. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with fish ranging from just-legal 24-inchers to hefty 10-pound slabs.
Snook fishing around Anna Maria Island is legendary among local anglers. These silver-sided gamefish are structure-oriented, hanging around docks, bridges, and mangrove shorelines. They're particularly active during dawn and dusk, making them perfect targets for full-day trips. Snook are catch-and-release only during certain seasons, but their fighting ability and acrobatic jumps make them a favorite regardless. The best action typically occurs during warmer months when they're most active, though winter can produce trophy-sized fish for patient anglers.
This 8-hour charter gives you the time and flexibility to really experience what makes Bradenton Beach fishing special. You're not rushing between spots or cutting the day short just when the bite heats up. The combination of diverse fishing grounds, experienced crew, and quality equipment makes this a top-rated choice for both visiting anglers and locals looking to up their game. Whether you're planning a bachelor party fishing trip, celebrating a special occasion, or just want a serious day of fishing, Fish AMI Fishing Charters delivers the goods. Book now to secure your spot on the water – the best fishing days fill up fast, especially during peak season.
Meet the T-Craft, your ticket to prime fishing waters around Anna Maria Island. This restored 2018 center console packs serious power with its 250HP Mercury engine, cruising at 43 knots to get you to the hotspots fast. Built for serious anglers, she's loaded with everything you need - GPS to navigate Tampa Bay's best fishing grounds, fish finder to locate those trophy Snapper and Grouper, plus a wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches when the fish are finicky. The spacious layout comfortably handles up to 4 anglers with plenty of room to fight fish, while the onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long 8-hour adventures. Whether you're working the flats for Pompano and Flounder or heading to deeper water for Grouper, this reliable fishing machine delivers the performance and features to make your day on the water productive and comfortable.
Alectis CiliarisAfrican Pompano are one of our most exciting nearshore catches, typically running 10-30 pounds with that classic silver, diamond-shaped body. We find them in 30-250 feet around structure like wrecks and reefs, though juveniles sometimes show up closer to shore. Spring through fall offers the best action when they're chasing baitfish. These jacks are serious fighters - they'll make long, powerful runs that'll test your drag and endurance. The meat's excellent too, firm and mild when prepared right. They're suckers for anything shiny and moving, so vertical jigs work great. Here's the trick: when you hook one, keep steady pressure but don't horse them - they've got soft mouths and you'll pull the hook if you get too aggressive.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag Grouper are the ultimate structure fish, averaging 20 inches but capable of hitting 50+ pounds. We target them around rocky bottoms, ledges, and artificial reefs in 15-60 feet of water. They're most active during cooler months when the bite really turns on. What makes gags special is that bone-jarring initial strike followed by their bulldogging fight straight back to the rocks. Plus, they're hard to beat on the dinner table - firm, white meat that's perfect for grilling. These fish are smart and structure-oriented, so live pinfish or big shrimp work best. Pro tip: once you hook one, lock that drag down and keep them away from structure immediately. They'll try to cut you off on anything sharp they can find, so muscle them up fast.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are perfect for our shallow water fishing around Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. These copper-colored fish with distinctive black spots near their tails typically run 18-28 inches and love hanging in 1-4 feet of water around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangroves. They're year-round targets here, but fall and winter months are prime time when they school up. What makes them special is that explosive topwater strike - nothing beats watching a red blow up on a spoon or popper in skinny water. They're also fantastic table fare with that mild, sweet flavor. My tip: look for wakes or tailing fish on the flats during moving tides, and keep your presentations quiet - these fish spook easily in shallow water.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are Florida's premier gamefish, with that distinctive black lateral stripe and golden color. Most run 18-30 inches, but big females can push 40+ inches. They love ambush spots around mangroves, docks, and creek mouths in shallow water, especially during moving tides. Spring through fall is peak season, with the spawn happening around full moons. These fish are pure adrenaline - they'll explode on topwater baits and make blistering runs toward cover. Unfortunately, they're catch-and-release only, but the fight alone is worth it. They're extremely structure-oriented and temperature sensitive. My go-to technique is working live shrimp or pilchards around dock lights at dawn or dusk. Keep your drag loose initially - they'll jump and throw hooks if you pressure them too hard right off the bat.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are masters of disguise living right on the bottom of our bays and flats. These flat fish typically run 15-18 inches, though we catch some pushing 5+ pounds. They love sandy and muddy bottoms in 2-15 feet of water, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs. Fall and winter are prime time when they're fattening up before their offshore spawn. What's fun about flounder is the hunt - you're basically sight fishing for shadows on the bottom. They're also some of the best eating fish we catch, with sweet, flaky white meat. The key is using a slow, bouncing retrieve with live shrimp or bull minnows on a jig head. Keep your bait moving just above the bottom - they'll ambush it from below.
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