Last Updated on October 22, 2024 by Eric Bonneman
As we roll further into Fall, the fishing’s starting to get real good out here on Anna Maria Island. As the cooler air moves in, the water temps are finally settling into the low 70s, which is exactly where we want them. The storms hit hard, no doubt about it, and folks on AMI felt the impact. But as things settle and the cleanup continues, the water conditions are actually great for fishing. After storms like that pass, the inshore fish tend to become more active—the baitfish got stirred up and disoriented, and now the snook, redfish, and trout are making the most of it. That can make it easier for to target various game fish species on fishing charters because they’re more likely to be closer to shore and feeding aggressively right now.
November is traditionally a time of year when inshore fishing really starts to pick up, so there’s no shortage of action—if you know where to look. Now is when the snook are usually sliding out from their summer haunts and the reds are schooling up. There’s a lot more activity, a lot more strikes. You just have to know where to go and what to bring, and you’re in for a good day.
What’s great about this time of year is that you don’t have to go too far off Anna Maria to find some action. Whether you’re casting off from one of the piers, cruising the backwaters, or even heading out a couple miles on the Gulf, the opportunities are there. It’s not uncommon to hit a couple of different spots and be busy at each one. Doesn’t matter if you’re in a skiff or you’ve got a little more horsepower—there’s fish to be had.
What’s Biting in AMI Right Now?
The Inshore Slam: Snook, Redfish, and Trout
Snook are still hanging around in decent numbers, especially on the flats and backwaters, though they’re starting to move toward deeper channels as we head further into the season. If you hit the right spots—near mangroves or along oyster bars—you can find some solid 20- to 30-inch snook still feeding aggressively. Live shrimp and whitebait are your best bet right now but artificials can work too.
If you go Fall snook fishing in Anna Maria Island, it’s all about timing. These linesiders are moving with the tides, so focus on the incoming or outgoing tides to catch them at their most active. They’ll hang tight to structure, so casting under the mangroves or close to docks is a solid play.
Remember that snook like to hide out and pounce on bait, so work your bait or lure nice and slow. If you’re using live bait like shrimp or whitebait, cast close to the structure and let it drift naturally with the current, giving it the occasional twitch to get the snook’s attention. If you’re going artificial, topwater plugs at dawn are great when the water’s calm, but soft plastics like jerkbaits on jigheads can work too.
Cast near structure or along grassy flats and work your bait or lure in slow, erratic movements—just enough to mimic an unsuspecting fish in distress.
Tip: Snook often follow the bait for a few moments before committing, so resist the urge to retrieve too fast. You’ll want to pause between jerks, letting the bait sink naturally for a second or two. That’s when snook tend to strike—right in that moment when the bait looks most vulnerable.
Redfish are another story—they’re schooling up like crazy. You’ll see the big reds cruising the flats on high tides, especially on warmer days. They’ve been taking to cut bait and live pinfish without hesitation. If you’re patient and wait for the tide to get right, you could pull in a 30-inch bull without much trouble. AMI’s redfish fishing at the north end of the island has been especially hot, with Longboat Pass and Terra Ceia Bay holding good numbers.
When you’re after redfish, look for those big schools pushing water on the flats, especially when the tide’s high enough to flood into the grass.
Reds are not picky right now—cut mullet, pinfish, or even dead shrimp will get them to bite. They’ve got thick shoulders this time of year, so be ready for a good tug-of-war. If you see a tailing red, cast a little ahead of it and work your bait slow.
Terra Ceia Bay can be a great spot to find them in November—if you can sneak in quietly, you’re in for a good shot at a monster. Just don’t rush it—redfish like to put on a show, and you don’t want to lose them right at the boat.
Trout can be a hit or miss this time of year, but when you find them, they’re in decent size. Most are hanging out in deeper grass flats, usually in 3-6 feet of water. You’ll want to target these on low tides with live shrimp or soft plastics. Early morning and late afternoon seems to be when they feed the best in November.
If you’re fishing with live shrimp, cast out and let it sit just above the grass beds. You don’t want it sinking too far into the grass, or you’ll spend the day pulling up weeds. Just let it drift naturally with the current and give it the occasional twitch to make it look alive.
When it comes to spotted seatrout/speckled trout, it’s all finding the right depth and working the bait slow. Again, look for them in the deeper grass flats, especially when the water’s cooler in the mornings. You might have to drift over a few spots before you find a good group, but once you do, they’ll bite.
Other Species to Target Right Now
With the cooling temps, sheepshead are starting to show up around docks, bridges, and nearshore structure. They’re not in full force yet, but you can still get a good head start on them in November. They’ll only get thicker as we get closer to the end of the year.
Sheepshead are known for being picky biters. Fiddler crabs and shrimp are some of the best baits for catching sheepshead.
When you’re targeting them around docks or pilings, use a small, sharp hook—these guys have teeth that can snip off your bait without you feeling much. They like to hang around structure because they feed on barnacles and crustaceans, so get your bait right up close to those pilings. You’ll want to stay light on the drag and be ready to set the hook quickly—once they bite, it’s usually just a nibble or two before they steal your bait. As we get closer to December, the sheepshead bite really heats up, so consider November your warm-up round.
Spanish mackerel are thick just off the beach and around the passes. These fish are fast and aggressive, so if you’re trolling spoons or tossing jigs, you’re bound to hook up quickly. Keep an eye out for birds diving near the passes—usually a good sign that mackerel are working the bait schools underneath.
Spanish macks will hit just about anything shiny, so silver spoons or Gotcha plugs are perfect for the job. Troll along the edge of the bait schools or cast into the chaos, and it won’t take long to feel that sharp, unmistakable hit. These fish have sharp teeth, so make sure you’re using a wire leader if you don’t want to lose your rig. They’re not monsters, but pound for pound, they’re one of the hardest fighting fish you can catch inshore.
Flounder are still hanging around the sandy bottoms, especially around deeper channels and drop-offs. It’s a good idea to fish the edges of those flats where the sand meets seagrass. They’re hitting live shrimp and small jigs dragged slowly along the bottom. They’re not huge, but there are plenty of keepers out there right now.
Flounder are sneaky—they like to bury themselves in the sand and wait for an easy meal to swim by. That means slow and steady is the name of the game. Use a light jig head with a soft plastic or a live shrimp, and drag it just along the bottom. When you feel that little tug, give it a second before setting the hook.
Our local flounder aren’t going to give you the fight of a snook or red, but they’ve got some weight to them. Right now, the bite isn’t red hot, but if you work the right ares around the drop-offs and channel edges where they like to hide, you can still find some without too much trouble. As we get later into Fall they’ll start moving a little more, but right now is a good time to get out on the water and catch a few.
Shark Fishing in AMI
November’s a great time to go shark fishing around Anna Maria Island, and you don’t need to head out deep to find them. They’re right in the bays, passes, and around the bridges. Blacktip sharks and bonnethead sharks are the usual suspects this time of year, and they’re still hanging around inshore in decent numbers. Both these sharks are built for speed, and they’ll put a serious bend in your rod if you’re up for the fight.
Good spots to target them are around the deeper channels and drop-offs near the passes. Bean Point, Longboat Pass, and even around some of the mangrove islands can get good results. Just make sure you’ve got some heavier gear. A good chunk of cut bait, ladyfish or mullet, is usually enough to bring them sniffing around. They’ve got a strong nose for it, so get that bait soaking and wait for the drag to scream.
Hook into a blacktip, and you’re in for a show—they’ll go airborne, tearing off across the flats. Bonnetheads are a little less intense, but they’ll still give you a run for your money with that stubborn pull. If you’re lucky, you might get a shot at a bigger one that’ll have you moving around the boat trying not to get spooled.
What’s Biting Next?
As we move further into late Fall, the cooler water brings in some different seasonal game fish and keeps things exciting on AMI fishing charters. Here are some of the fish you should be keeping an eye out for in the coming weeks:
- Pompano are going to start making more appearances as the water temps continue to dip. These little fighters love hanging around sandy bottoms near passes like Longboat Pass and Bean Point, and they’ll hit on small jigs or sand fleas.
- Permit are another species to keep on your radar. Late fall can be a bit hit or miss for them, but on warmer days, they’ll still move into shallower waters, especially near sandbars or wrecks. They like to hang around reefs and wrecks, especially areas like the artificial reefs off Egmont Key and the passes around Longboat Key. They’re attracted to deeper water structure as the water cools down. Crabs are your best bait—live pass crabs, in particular, tend to draw Permit in. If you’re patient and can locate a school, they’ll give you one of the best fights you’ll get inshore.
- Black drum are another species that’s going to be more active as we head into late fall. They’re hanging around bridges, docks, and deeper mangrove shorelines, especially around areas like the Manatee River mouth and Terra Ceia Bay. Use shrimp or cut crabs on the bottom, and be ready for a solid fight—these drum are known for their stubborn pulls.
Keep your gear ready, because late fall’s lineup is strong—and as the water cools even further, we’ll have fish feeding harder to fatten up for winter.
A Few More Tips for Fishing Anna Maria Island in Fall
- Use the Tides to Your Advantage
Fishing AMI in late Fall is even more influenced by the tides than the rest of the year. (In warmer months, fish are more consistently aggressive, but this time of year, their activity is more affected by the currents caused by strong tides.) Plan your fishing trips around strong tidal movements if you can—especially during the new and full moons, when tides are more pronounced. The increased current stirs up baitfish and brings greater numbers of predatory fish like snook and redfish into shallow areas. - “Match the Hatch”
Bait selection is always important, but especially in November and moving on toward winter. With the cooler temps, the baitfish population begins to thin out, but shrimp, pinfish, and small mullet are still out there. Using these for live bait will improve your chances, because predators are used to seeing them in the water this time of year. If you’re using artificials, try to mimic the size and color of the local baitfish. While nothing beats live bait, silver soft plastics or shrimp-patterned lures can be effective this time of year. - Target Drop-offs & Channels on Low Tides
As water temperatures drop, fish tend to seek out warmer, deeper areas during low tides. Focus your efforts on fishing the drop-offs and channels where flats meet deeper water. These areas provide shelter for species like redfish and trout, especially when the shallows become too cold. Use slow presentations with jigs or live bait to entice fish that are holding near the bottom in these areas. - Don’t Forget about Mud Flats
Mud flats might not be as popular as grass flats, but they can be excellent for holding heat and attracting fish in the cooler months. When the water cools, fish like trout and redfish seek out the warmth provided by these darker, muddier bottoms. Fishing a mud flat during a rising tide can be very productive as the fish move in to warm up and feed. - Fish Near Structure in the Afternoons
As the sun warms the water throughout the day, fish will often move closer to structure like docks and the Rod & Reel Pier, mangroves like the ones around Robinson Preserve, or oyster bars around Egmont Key, Passage Key, and the Manatee River mouth in search of baitfish. That means the afternoons can be a great time to target spots with similar manmade or natural structure. Cast live shrimp or cut bait close to the structure and be prepared for snook and redfish to hit hard as the water heats up. (Keep an eye on Longboat Pass Bridge and Cortez Bridge pilings too—snook love to lurk around those waiting to ambush an easy meal.) - Use Fluorocarbon Leaders for Clear Water
With the cooler weather, the water around Anna Maria Island can get clearer than in the summer months. This means that fish will be more leader-shy. Using a fluorocarbon leader in the 20-30 lb. range will help you avoid spooking fish like snook and trout while still providing enough strength to handle their aggressive runs. A lighter, stealthier presentation can be the key to success when fishing clear water. - Work the Passes
The passes around Anna Maria Island—like Longboat Pass and Bean Point—are excellent spots to target a variety of species in late fall. These areas are full of fish moving in and out of the bay, and you can catch anything from redfish and snook to Spanish mackerel and even sharks. Drifting live bait through the passes or casting jigs along the edges can result in a mixed bag of catches, especially on an outgoing tide when the current is strongest.
Final Thoughts
Overall, November is a great month for fishing Anna Maria Island. The cooler weather is making the fish more active, and the variety of species around to target is impressive. Whether you’re working the flats for snook and reds or targeting Spanish Mackerel or sheepshead, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Just watch the tides and be ready to move if you’re not getting bites—there’s always something happening somewhere around the island.
AMI Fishing Charters
Looking for inshore fishing charters? Anna Maria Island—including the rich waters of Bradenton, Holmes Beach, and Tampa Bay—has some of the best shallow water fishing action you’ll find in Fall. Whether you’re after redfish, snook, trout, sheepshead, flounder, Spanish mackerel, or even sharks, AMI has them all.
When you book a trip with Captain Nate Weissman, you’ll be on the fish in no time—no long boat trips needed. He’s been fishing these waters since 1985 and knows exactly where to take you for a successful trip. Most of the action happens in less than 3 feet of water, just minutes from the dock. And don’t worry about rods, reels, tackle, or bait—Capt. Nate’s got you covered before you even step on board, so you can start fishing right away.
Whether you’re experienced or fishing for the first time, Captain Nate will make sure you and your family and friends all have a great day on the water.
Ready to experience the best inshore fishing Florida’s Gulf Coast has to offer? Book your charter with Captain Nate today!