Anna Maria Island Fishing | fishing information

Fishing on Anna Maria

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The Anna Maria City Pier (above) was originally built in 1910. It is a focal point for living the life of leisure on the bay side of the island. Fishing, cast netting, strolling, taking pictures, passing the time, meeting friends, buying bait, eating at the restaurant, are all activities that keep people coming back to the pier. I've been coming to the pier for more than 40 years. And I just keep getting younger!

Go Fishing on Anna Maria Island

The Rod and Reel Fishing pier is privately owned and is not as long as the City pier. It doesn't have to be as long because deep water is closer to shore at this pier. Both piers are within sight of each other. The Rod and Reel is very close to the north end of the island. There is a restaurant on the second floor of the pier. The Rod and Reel Motel is right next to the pier. All kinds of fish are caught from the piers: trout, redfish, jacks, sheepshead, snapper, grouper, flounder, snook, mackerel and kingfish, shark, etc. Below is another view of the Rod and Reel Pier. Even if you don't catch any fish, it's great just being out on the pier. You can always have a beer and a bite to eat in the restaurant on the second level, or take a walk around the beautiful neighborhood, or just stroll on the beach.

The pier at the Manatee County Public Beach in Holmes Beach was an island landmark for most of my life, but was torn down in 2010 because it had become unsafe. My family stayed on the beach here for a week one summer and I caught my first mackerel off this pier. Took it right home and had it for lunch! As you can see from the photo, the pier was popular with fishermen. It is uncertain if or when a new pier will be built.

Fishing in Longboat Pass

This is a view of Longboat Pass taken from atop the jetty at Coquina Beach. The water is deep and swift moving and the fishing here can be very good. If you come here on the weekend you will share the pier with quite a few other fishermen and sightseers. The jetty is a very popular place to watch the sun set. If you come during the week, especially early in the morning, you may find some time to yourself. Some serious fishermen come here. You may even see a Manatee swim by, and you will almost always see a dolphin or two.

This boat is anchored in Longboat Pass, on the south end of Anna Maria Island. A few minutes after I snapped this photo, one of the fishermen reeled in a 3 foot shark.

Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay provide excellent grass flats fishing as well as fishing up under the overhanging mangroves. Spotted trout and sugar trout are abundant, as are small grouper, snapper, and large redfish and snook.

Tide information - Find out what the tides will be at any Gulf Coast location, for any date, now or in the future. Very useful.

	The Rod and Reel Fishing pier is privately owned and is not as long as the City pier. It doesn't have to be as long because deep water is closer to shore at this pier. Both piers are within sight of each other. The Rod and Reel is very close to the north end of the island. There is a restaurant on the second floor of the pier. The Rod and Reel Motel is right next to the pier. All kinds of fish are caught from the piers: trout, redfish, jacks, sheepshead, snapper, grouper, flounder, snook, mackerel and kingfish, shark, etc. Below is another view of the Rod and Reel Pier. Even if you don't catch any fish, it's great just being out on the pier. You can always have a beer and a bite to eat in the restaurant on the second level, or take a walk around the beautiful neighborhood, or just stroll on the beach.

	The pier at the Manatee County Public Beach in Holmes Beach was an island landmark for most of my life, but was torn down in 2010 because it had become unsafe. My family stayed on the beach here for a week one summer and I caught my first mackerel off this pier. Took it right home and had it for lunch! As you can see from the photo, the pier was popular with fishermen. It is uncertain if or when a new pier will be built.
Fishing in Longboat Pass This is a view of Longboat Pass taken from atop the jetty at Coquina Beach. The water is deep and swift moving and the fishing here can be very good. If you come here on the weekend you will share the pier with quite a few other fishermen and sightseers. The jetty is a very popular place to watch the sun set. If you come during the week, especially early in the morning, you may find some time to yourself. Some serious fishermen come here. You may even see a Manatee swim by, and you will almost always see a dolphin or two.
	This boat is anchored in Longboat Pass, on the south end of Anna Maria Island. A few minutes after I snapped this photo, one of the fishermen reeled in a 3 foot shark.
Anna Maria Sound and Sarasota Bay provide excellent grass flats fishing as well as fishing up under the overhanging mangroves. Spotted trout and sugar trout are abundant, as are small grouper, snapper, and large redfish and snook.	Tide information - Find out what the tides will be at any Gulf Coast location, for any date, now or in the future. Very useful.