Anna Maria Island

I know this isn't a crappie question but I've gotten no replies on other Florida boards. We will be vacationing on Anna Maria last week of June and me and my 5 1/2 yr old grandson love to fish but have been unable to get any info/advice. We normally fish from shore or at jetties while on Casey Key but know nothing about Anna Maria. I'm not sure he could handle a 4 hr charter or me the $450 it costs. In the past we've been able to catch a few mangrove snappers at jetties or whiting in the surf. Any info/suggestions/advice would go a long way to prevent granpa from looking bad with his little buddy. I don't care if I don't catch a thing but the look on his face when he nails one is what it's all about. thanks Rick

There's​ a fishing pier on the North end of the island.... always plenty of activity.... Also plenty of isolated Beach areas for surf fishing.... The causeways too

Been years since. But prolly still the same. Are you on the gulf side? If so in the surf there what we called sand fleas.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...leas&FORM=IGRE

You can catch these in the shallow surf where the water flows back from the waves. You have to dig for them but not deep. Get someone to show you how. These are great bait every thing eats them. The gulf shore has a trough walking out it gets deeper then shallow again. In that first trough is where fish move about their business. Whiting, trout, flounder and snook are in there. Flounder will get unbelievably shallow next to shore. Mornings and evenings are better. Snook should be along the beaches then. You can also get Gulp Sand Fleas. Hope this helps.

^^^^^THIS! Watch the waves retreating real close and you can see the V in the sand where their antennae stick out picking off the plankton as the waves receed.

Here ya go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MepfjDUrcDA

good video

Plenty of action to be had on the pier and beach, fishing has been good according to the folks I know that fish over that way.

Thanks guys you can always depend on the crappie community for help!

You also may want to try the old Skyway Bridge. The South and North ends are fishing piers now. You can drive right up to the spot you want to fish and set up. I have not been there in a long time but that's the situation I remember. In any case, it's good you're taking a kid fishing! Bring him back during the Christmas holidays and take him crappie fishing.

If you could catch some sand fleas and go to skyway, whew!! look out!!

another video catching them by hand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xdt3oqNqUY

I used to go to Anna Maria Island every month many years ago. Use sand fleas off the beach. On the pier on the north end we always had good luck too with Shrimp. Used to wear out the Spanish macks with popping cork and spoon

Many thanks to all of you I'm convinced I can catch sand fleas for me and my little buddy but how do keep them alive? If I catch them at the beach but go to the skyway bridge I'm sure they'll be out of the water awhile. Would my aerator bucket be of any use?

Put about 3" of beach sand in bottom of 5 gallon bucket and barely cover with water. Keep a wet towel over the sand to keep em cooler. Dont really need aerator. Or you can keep em clean in just a touch of water in a small container inside a cooler. The later is what I usually do.

Let us know how you did, with pics! Good catchin!

Many thanks to all! Will post pictures of a proud granpa and his little buddy when we return July4