Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach Fishing Charter
Inshore, snook and tarpon trips around Holmes Beach. Pickup at the Kingfish Boat Ramp can be arranged in advance.
From $425 for three hours · priced per boat, not per person · six anglers maximum
What we fish
Inshore, snook and tarpon.
Pickup
Kingfish Boat Ramp, Holmes Beach, by prior arrangement.
Where we launch
801 Riverside Dr E, Bradenton, FL 34208. Free parking on site.
The middle of the island
Holmes Beach sits between Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach, the largest of the island’s three cities and much of it residential. Canals run back off the bay side, and Grassy Point Preserve keeps a stretch of mangrove shoreline inside the city limits.
Bay side and Gulf side
Sarasota Bay and its grassflats lie behind the town, the Gulf beaches face west, and the Kingfish Boat Ramp sits at the mainland end of the Manatee Avenue bridge. Two very different sorts of water within a few minutes of each other.
Why it fishes
Sheltered flats and mangrove edges on the bay side when the wind is up, and open beach and pass water on the Gulf side when it lies down.
From Holmes Beach
Fishing Charters Near Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach is the middle of Anna Maria Island and the biggest of its three towns. Walk back from the Gulf beaches and you reach the bay side, where canals open onto grassflats and mangrove shoreline. That’s very good fishing to have this close to where you’re staying.
A Holmes Beach fishing charter with Nautical Native fishes both sides of the island, and pickup can be arranged so you never have to cross to the mainland.
Starting close to the rental
Pickup at the Kingfish Boat Ramp is the easy option for guests staying in town. Arrange it when you book and Captain Charlie will confirm the time. If you’d prefer, the boat also leaves from its home dock in Bradenton, with free parking.
Starting from the ramp means less time travelling. The flats behind the island are close, and the first cast often comes soon after you step aboard.
What’s biting behind the island
Snook, redfish and spotted seatrout are the everyday targets on the bay side. They feed over the grass, along the mangrove edges and around docks, and each has its better months. Sheepshead hang around pilings and rock, especially once the water cools.
Summer changes things. Tarpon move through the passes and along the beaches, and snook head out to the beaches too. On calm days the nearshore ledges off the island hold snapper and grouper.
Canals and docks
Much of Holmes Beach is residential, and the canals running back off the bay side are lined with docks. That structure holds fish. Snook sit in the shade under the decking, and redfish and trout move along the seawalls with the tide.
Grassy Point Preserve keeps a stretch of natural mangrove shoreline inside the town, and edges like that are worth a few casts on a high tide.
Fishing near docks means short, accurate casts. It’s a good place to learn, because you can see exactly where the bait needs to land.
Fishing with children
Holmes Beach is full of families on holiday, and the water behind the island suits kids well. It’s calm, the spots are close together and the bites come often enough to hold attention. There’s no minimum age, and kids’ rods are aboard. Our family fishing charters page has more on planning a trip with children, including a snorkel stop at Egmont Key.
Three or four hours is usually right for younger kids. Long enough for a few fish and a look at the island from the water. Short enough to be back for lunch.
Wind decides the day
Visitors tend to underestimate the wind. When it blows, the bay side of the island stays sheltered and fishable. When it drops, the Gulf side and the water beyond open up.
A private trip can follow those conditions. Charlie picks the water on the morning, and the plan bends to suit it.
Summer mornings are the popular slot. The water is calmer early, and the afternoon thunderstorms are still hours off.
On a breezy morning you might never leave the bay side and still have a good day.
Packing for a morning on the bay
Sunscreen, a hat and polarised sunglasses come first. A light long-sleeve shirt keeps the midday sun off. Flip-flops slide on a wet deck, so wear shoes with some grip. Ice and bottled water are aboard. Bring snacks, anything else you’d like to drink, and a charged phone for the photos.
A small dry bag keeps phones and car keys safe from spray.
Short trip or long day
For most Holmes Beach visitors a half day is plenty, especially with children. Because the spots are close, nearly all of it is fishing time.
Six or eight hours opens up more. You could run to the nearshore ledges on a calm day, put in a proper session for summer tarpon, or add a snorkel stop at Egmont Key. Not sure which suits? Call and talk it over before you book.
First time holding a rod?
No experience is needed. Rods are rigged before you leave, and Charlie shows everyone how to cast, how to tell a bite from the bottom and how to bring a fish in. Plenty of guests catch their first fish on a trip from Holmes Beach.
If you’d like to keep something for dinner, ask on the day. What can go home depends on the species, the season and the current rules, and cleaning is included.
In the price
What is Included on a Holmes Beach Fishing Charter
Rods, reels and tackle
Bait
Ice
Bottled water
Fish cleaning
Kids’ rods
Your fishing licence
The boat
The Boat - 25ft Parker Centre Console with Twin Yamahas
2021 Parker 25′ centre console
Twin Yamaha outboards
Power Pole Move trolling motor
EPIRB emergency beacon
Deep-V hull
Six anglers maximum
Book a trip
Book a Holmes Beach Fishing Charter
Check availability
Nautical Native Fishing Adventures
801 Riverside Dr E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Free parking on site
Charters we run here
