Summer Highlights on Our Private Anna Maria Island Fishing Charter
I have had a super busy spring and summer fishing charter season down here on Anna Maria Island and haven’t been able to keep you guys in touch with the fishing like I have wanted to. So here’s a blog about how the last few months have been and some adventures we have had on my private Anna Maria Island Fishing Charters.
June Fishing Highlights
June: June was the month of the snook and the snapper. At the start of the summer months, the snook and the snapper group up very nicely, and we focused heavily on these two fish and had some amazing trips doing so. We caught a bunch of big snook this June and even had several go over the 40-inch mark, which always makes for a wonderful charter. June was a super busy month with a lot of returning clients in town and some amazing fishing.
July Fishing Highlights
July: July is very similar to June, but it starts to change a little bit, especially when we get some heavy rains like we did this year. The more that it rains, the faster that the redfish school up and start showing themselves like they do in the fall months. The beginning of July was very similar to June, as the water temps are identical and the snook and snapper still run the show, but as late July started to get closer, we started to get some amazing redfish rallies. We had multiple days where it looked like mid-fall out there, with big groups of redfish eating anything you throw at them. One of my favorite things to target on my Private Anna Maria Island Fishing Charters is big groups of hungry redfish, as we can have 4 fish at a time hooked up, and it is an adrenaline run like no other.
August Fishing Highlights
August: The beginning of August was absolutely killer. This year, all the rainfall that we had cooled the water down to the mid-80s instead of the low 90s, and what that does to the fish is incredible. We had some insane redfish bites with a couple of killer days of fishing a group of 200-plus fish that were super hungry and cooperative. We had days where we didn’t have to throw live bait, and we could catch them on little jigs and plugs, which is some serious fun. Redfish are one of the most fun fish to catch on an artificial lure, so it was awesome watching some of my clients experience that madness! We also had a lot of juvenile tarpon in the mix around the grass flats and deeper bridges. August was a great month, and we are starting to slow down as usual as kids go back to school and families are slowing down on vacation time.
What fish can we expect to catch on AMI Excursions’ fishing charters?
Some of the best fishing of the year is approaching, and I have a ton of availability. The months of September, October, and November are some of the most killer months of the year for both inshore and nearshore fishing. Starting with the inshore fishing, the local grass flats will be lit up with snook, giant schools of redfish, and more sea trout than you could imagine. The fall months are very similar to the spring months, except the fish have way less pressure on them due to it being the slow season, so these fish aren’t spooky at all, and they are much easier to catch and way more consistent. Last fall we had days where we could sit in the same spot the whole 4-hour trip and catch snook, redfish, seatrout, jack crevalle, and more in the same location. I expect it to be a very good fall fishing season with how much bait is around and how good early August was. On the nearshore side of the fishery, we will be catching kingfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, sharks, hogfish, and gag grouper during the next few months, so it is definitely a good time to have your trips scheduled. Another awesome thing about Anna Maria during the fall months is that the island is not very busy, so you have super short wait times at restaurants, Airbnbs can be cheaper, and the beaches aren’t jam-packed like the busy season. I am looking forward to seeing everyone this fall, and if you’re looking for a fishing charter, then you have found the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best months for inshore and nearshore fishing on Anna Maria Island?
The fall months—specifically September, October, and November—are considered some of the best times of the year for both inshore and nearshore fishing due to reduced pressure on the fish, making them more consistent and easier to catch.
What fish species can I expect to catch during the fall fishing season?
In the fall, you can expect to catch snook, redfish, sea trout, and jack crevalle on the local grass flats. Nearshore, the catch includes kingfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, sharks, hogfish, and gag grouper.
Why is fishing on Anna Maria Island often better in the fall than in the busy season?
During the fall “slow season,” there is significantly less fishing pressure, meaning the fish are less “spooky” and much easier to catch. Additionally, the island is less crowded, resulting in shorter wait times at restaurants and potentially lower accommodation costs.
What was special about the fishing conditions in August 2026?
Increased rainfall helped cool the water temperatures into the mid-80s rather than the low 90s, which made for an excellent bite. This allowed for intense redfish action, with schools of over 200 fish that were active enough to be caught on jigs and plugs instead of just live bait.
How long does a typical fishing trip last?
The report mentions 4-hour trips, noting that during the fall, you can often stay in one productive location for the entire duration of that trip and catch a variety of species like snook, redfish, and seatrout.
