Anna Maria Island Fishing Report July 23, 2025
Opportunity for fishing from beaches as linesiders head out to spawn
Anna Maria Island anglers are pleased to get in some catch-and-release snook fishing as these fish migrate towards the Gulf in anticipation of their spawn.
July and August present excellence snook fishing especially for anglers who wish to fish from shore. As snook prepared to spawn they gather in schools along the beaches and in the passes of Longboat and Bean Point and all points in between.
Typically you’ll see one or more large female fish being followed by several smaller male snook, which presents great sight-casting opportunities and the potential to hook into your “personal best” sized fish.
Spinning gear or fly tackle can be utilized when targeting the beach snook which opens it to many techniques or ways to catch them. Medium-light to medium spinning gear is ideal as this lighter gear makes casting easier and more accurate, which help the angler when sight-casting to fish in shallow water.
And although the potential to hook into a large snook is good, you’ll see the light spinning gear is sufficient as long as no structure such as rocks or mangroves or docks are present, which is typical of beach fishing. This means the fish have plenty of room to run without finding something to cut the line on. Fly fishing follows suit in this instance, making it ideal in the beach fishing scenarios.
Both live baits and artificials work for targeting snook on the beaches. Live bait such as shiners, pinfish, mojarras and small whiting are great offerings to present to fish cruising the shorelines. If no pinfish are present in the area, a jumbo shrimp will do the job, too.
As far as artificials go, crank baits such as lipped plugs are great. Yo-Zuri, Rapala and MirrOlure make some great options and soft plastics like the D.O.A. TerrorEyz or CAL jig are deadly on beach snook.
And don’t forget if you’re using artificials, color is a factor so try to choose accordingly. Match what the snook are eating. If all else fails, there’s always the old standby like a bucktail jig.
A straight white bucktail jig can be most effective while fishing in the surf. The additional of some red to this lure is considered to make it deadly.
Now to finish the recipe for success on your snook fishing excursion, you’re going to need to plan your fishing around tides and water conditions. Additionally, since you’re fishing along the beaches with swimmers and waders are frequently in the way you’ll need to fish hours with the least amount of traffic.
That’s the hardest one, especially with the popularity of Anna Maria Island nowadays. Early morning just before sunrise can be good, but you really want that sun up in the sky if you’re going to sight-cast to fish. Afternoons could be good too, you just have to do your homework to find a stretch of beach that isn’t too congested with people.
And if you’re up for fishing at night can be great try looking in areas where structure exists or the passes to find the fish.
On a final note, don’t forget these fish are out of season so that means not only do you have to release them but you have to handle them with care so they survive the ordeal and move on after release.
Don’t let a local catch you mistreating a snook unless you’re ready to catch an earful. We love our snook fishery here and demand respect of it.
On my Just Reel charters spotted seatrout are dominating the bite for another week although they are starting to get some competition from mangrove snapper. Greater numbers of snapper are moving into Tampa Bay and south to Sarasota Bay. Nearshore and inshore structure yield mangrove snapper and the bite should improve over the next few weeks.
Catch-and-release snook fishing is getting good with targetable fish along the beaches and passes.
Migratory species, such as mackerel, ladyfish and jacks are present around bait schools and structure which provides good catch-and-release action on medium spinning gear.
I’m also seeing flounder while bottom fishing around wrecks and reefs.
