Fishing & Boating

9 stories of Gulf fishing adventures shared by Bradenton-area anglers

Stories by Bradenton Herald contributor, with AI summarization

Tales from local anglers highlight the diversity and allure of Gulf fishing adventures. Hurricanes have played a significant role in reshaping fishing landscapes, as storms alter shorelines, submerge islands and shift underwater structures, challenging anglers to rediscover their favorite spots.

Anglers frequently encounter both the bounty and challenges of Gulf waters, from “nonstop” red snapper bites during seasonal runs to the increasing presence of sharks intercepting catches before they reach the surface.

Stories of remarkable perseverance also emerge, such as a captain jumping into deep waters to free a line caught on mangroves and eventually landing a giant snook. Whether chasing pelagic kingfish, battling for deepwater grouper, or navigating cold-weather snapper seasons, these narratives capture the resilience and adaptability of Gulf anglers, while celebrating the ever-changing and dynamic marine environment that shapes these fishing traditions.

Local anglers pose with a hogfish triple-header caught in 50 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

NO. 1: BRADENTON FISHERMEN USE WEATHER TO THEIR ADVANTAGE FOR AN IMPRESSIVE HOGFISH CATCH

Sometimes the best chance to catch fish is right ahead of a cold front. | Published January 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Captain Jason Sherrill caught a Warsaw grouper in the Gulf of Mexico while on a fishing trip headed to Key West.

NO. 2: LOCAL CHARTER CAPTAIN REELS IN A ‘GIANT’ CATCH WHILE FISHING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

The captain came home with a full fish box. | Published February 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Travis Redder, Robert Bryant, Lawson Bryant and Raymond Bryant pose with kingfish and a blackfin tuna caught fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

NO. 3: HOW LOCAL FISHERMEN FOUND A GROUP OF BLACKFIN TUNA WHILE FISHING IN GULF OF MEXICO

The time is right to find blackfin tuna out in the Gulf. | Published April 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Patrick Diercks poses with a red snapper caught fishing this past week on a slow-pitch jig in the Gulf of Mexico.

NO. 4: LOCAL FISHERMEN FIND ‘NONSTOP’ RED SNAPPER BITE IN GULF OF MEXICO AS SEASON BEGINS

Red snapper season began on June 1. | Published June 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Jon Chapman and Rob Chapman III pose with a carbo grouper caught fishing in 200 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024.

NO. 5: LOCAL ANGLER REELS IN CARBO GROUPER AND MORE WITH DAD ON FATHER’S DAY IN GULF OF MEXICO

This father-son duo spent a successful Father’s Day on the water. | Published June 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

A shark ate the red snapper that a fisherman caught in the Gulf of Mexico before it could be brought onto the boat. Local anglers say more and more sharks are stealing fish from their lines.

NO. 6: ‘AS BAD AS I’VE EVER SEEN THEM.’ ANGLERS SAY MORE SHARKS ARE STEALING FISH IN THE GULF

On one recent trip in the Gulf, this fisherman encountered sharks at nine of 10 fishing spots. | Published July 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Lilla Chapman fishes along the Rod & Reel Pier on Anna Maria Island. The famous pier took significant damage from Hurricane Helene before Hurricane Milton completely destroyed the Manatee County landmark. By Rob Chapman

NO. 7: HOW HURRICANE HELENE, MILTON WILL CHANGE THE FISHING LANDSCAPE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

With the Rod & Reel Pier gone and sand shifted all around local waterways, what will anglers find as they begin to start fishing again? | Published October 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Anglers Chuck Holbrook, Logan Houston, Nico Ferry, Rebecca Ferry and Mike Joyce showcase a large snook that fishing Captain Griffin Deans swam in the water to catch. By Provided photo

NO. 8: ‘LET’S GO AFTER THIS THING.’ PALMETTO FISHING CAPTAIN HOPS IN WATER TO REEL IN SNOOK

“It was deeper than I thought. It wouldn’t surprise me if there might be a goliath or bull shark around there,” the Palmetto-based captain said. | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

Cody Harrelson poses with a mangrove snapper caught fishing in 110 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico with a threadfin for bait. By Provided photo

NO. 9: COLD GULF WEATHER PROVIDES GREAT SNAPPER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES, MANATEE ANGLER SAYS

Social media feeds have filled up with pictures of offshore catches. | Published December 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jon Chapman

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists or contributing writers.