palmetto fishing – Riviera Dunes Marina

What to Bring on Your Bradenton Fishing Trip

06/07/201806/07/2018 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

What to Bring on Your Bradenton Fishing TripSummer is right around the corner, which means there’s plenty of time to take a day or more out of your schedules for a good ol’ Bradenton fishing trip. Here’s a helpful checklist to assist you when you’re ready for a day fishing out on Bradenton waters.Your fishing license or permitWhether you are a local or a visitor during your Bradenton fishing trip, you’ll need a fishing license or permit, which you can get on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website. However, you might not need a fishing license or permit if you meet the exemptions listed here. Make sure to do your homework before embarking on your fishing trip.Rods and tackle boxWhat’s a Bradenton fishing trip without your rods and a stocked tackle box? Whether you have your single lucky rod that you always reach for or a few favorites, make sure to bring them on your trip! Then, check...

5 Safety Tips for Your Spring Fishing Trips

04/12/201804/12/2018 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

5 Safety Tips for Your Spring Fishing TripsDo you have a fishing trip on the horizon? Whether it’s a solo fishing trip or you’re taking the whole family, it’s always wise to refresh your safety knowledge for your upcoming spring fishing trips. In addition to always wearing your Coast Guard-approved life jackets, here are our safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones have an enjoyable and safe time on the water!1. Make sure your first aid kids are stocked with the essentials.The last thing you want during your spring fishing trips is to have an accident. However, the best thing you can do in advance is to have your first aid kits chock-full of gauze and bandages in a variety of sizes, safety pins for the bandages and antiseptic wipes. Also, make sure to have a pair of sturdy scissors in the event that you need to cut and remove a hook from your skin. 2. Obey the...

Tips for Wintertime Fishing in the Palmetto Area

01/26/201801/26/2018 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Tips for Wintertime Fishing in the Palmetto AreaDon’t let the recent colder weather discourage you from your wintertime fishing adventures! You might not think that fish will be biting when it’s cold out, but certain fish, such as sheepshead, black drum and redfish, actually thrive in the cooler temperatures. Here are a few tips for fishing during colder weather:Dress appropriately.First, make sure you have proper gear when wintertime fishing in Palmetto and the surrounding areas. The winter months can bring some rain, which can cause more spraying than usual when you're on your boat. Pack your raincoat and bring your rubber boots so that you’re guaranteed to stay warm during your excursion.Keep an eye on the cold fronts.Wintertime fishing also brings the cold fronts to the Palmetto area. Be patient and wait for the cold fronts and accompanying stormy weather and windy weather to pass through. After a few days, the water becomes more calm and warm. This is the best...

5 Fish Biting in December Near Sarasota

12/08/201712/08/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

5 Fish Biting in December Near SarasotaAmong all of the holiday parties and events, we hope that you’re still getting out on your boat to go fishing this month! The great thing about our area is that there are always fish biting, no matter what time of year it is. Here are five fish biting in December near Sarasota:TripletailWhen you spot a buoy, channel marker or other floating objects in Sarasota waters, you’re bound to find a tripletail! Known for gravitating toward floating objects, you can specifically find tripletail in brackish water bays and estuaries. They’re also known for camouflaging, so you might need to do a double take when you see weeds or debris in the water. Depending on their surroundings, they could be black to yellow to white and spotted brown! The key to catching them? Use live shrimp on minimal tackle.Speckled TroutFound in concentrated areas with vegetation, speckled trout—or spotted seatrout—can be seen wading in seagrass beds,...

5 Sportfish You’ll Find in Sarasota

11/16/201711/16/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

5 Sportfish You’ll Find in SarasotaWhen you’re not enjoying a leisurely ride through the waters of Sarasota and the surrounding areas, there are plenty of opportunities for you to go sportfishing here! Here are five of the predominant sportish you will find in our area. Flounder With its lighter brown to darker brown body and whiter underside, flounder is a popular sportfish you’ll discover here. You'll know you've found flounder when you see both of its eyes on the left side of its body. You can find these on sandy bottoms inshore on channel edges. However, males are typically found offshore. Live shrimp, sand fleas and pinfish are great bait to use for flounder. Look in City Island Flats, Big Pass and Tony Saprito Pier to start.Red DrumKnown for their copper-bronze bodies, large scales and spotted tails, red drum are another popular sportfish to you'll see during your afternoon on Sarasota waters. Look to City Island Flats, San Remo Basin and Roberts Bay to begin your search. Like flounder, red drum...

No Boat, No Problem! 4 Local Fishing Holes

10/12/201710/17/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

No Boat, No Problem! 4 Local Fishing HolesWho says you need a boat to visit some of the best local fishing holes in our area? While we are certainly boat lovers around here at Riviera Dunes Marina, sometimes it’s nice to walk up to a local pier or park along the shores or banks to drop a line and wait for the next big catch!Here are four local fishing holes for when you’re going boatless:South Lido ParkLocated on Big Pass shore, South Lido Park offers fun, fishing and more for the entire family. With ample parking, South Lido Park is also more secluded offering extra opportunities for fishing and quiet moments for you to relax. You will also discover pavilions, grills for picnicking and restrooms on-site.Point of RocksWhile there is less public parking at Point of Rocks in Sarasota, there are ample opportunities to cast a line . . . you just have to arrive a little earlier. Then, when you’ve had your...

Red Snapper Season Begins This Weekend

05/05/201705/05/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Red Snapper Season Begins This WeekendBradenton anglers, get ready for red snapper season kicking off this weekend!At the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s April meeting, they announced the beginning of a 78-day recreational red snapper season in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico waters.The parameters for red snapper fishing stretch from the shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf state waters.Here are some guidelines when fishing for red snapper in our Florida gulf waters:The 78-day red snapper season begins this Saturday, May 6.Snapper fishing will continue on Saturdays and Sundays through May 27, then it will be permitted daily through July 9.In September and October, anglers can fish for red snapper on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Labor Day.Sixteen inches is the minimum total length required in order to keep a red snapper.Two bags of red snappers are permitted per day, per person.Earlier this week, it was announced that recreational anglers from privately owned boats can participate in red snapper season within federal waters for three...

Top 3 Fishing Charters Near Bradenton, FL

02/10/201702/11/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Top 3 Fishing Charters Near Bradenton, FLWhether you’re a rookie fisherman or a well-versed angler, our local fishing charters are enjoyable for all skill levels! Here are our top three fishing charters near Bradenton.1. Tailing Tales Charters 941-812-6640 | 5800 Riverview Blvd, BradentonBook a fishing trip with Captain Kris Winkel of Tailing Tales Charters and you won’t be disappointed! Tailing Tales Charters offers fishing trips inshore and nearshore at the best fishing spots in the area. Climb aboard the custom 1972 222 Aquasport to begin the journey to your fresh catch. No need to worry about ice or cleaning your catches. Capt. Kris takes care of that for you. Since their charters are focused on the inshore and nearshore fishing areas, it’s an ideal setting for anglers ranging all levels of experience. However, offshore trips are offered in the Tampa Bay, Sarasota and Bradenton areas.RatesHalf-day (4 hours): Starting at $400Three-fourths day (6 hours): Starting at $550Full day (8 hours): Starting at $7002. Bass N' Bay Charters941-722-2033 | Tampa, Palmetto, Sarasota Also...

Anglers, Download this App and Help Track Invasive Fish

01/04/201701/04/2017 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Anglers, Download this App and Help Track Invasive FishFlorida recently partnered with the Swedish app, Fishbrain. Fishbrain allows fishermen to connect and share the best fishing spots, tide changes and any other fishing-related news that interest anglers.Though, the partnership between the state and the app stems from Florida's interest in locating invasive fish using the app's data. With approximately 250,000 Floridians using the app already, the data will assist the state and wildlife officials to track down freshwater exotic fish.Local fisherman, if you’re interested in joining the state in their research for invasive fish or simply connecting with fellow anglers, here’s how the free app works. You can follow another angler, a type of fishing or fish species as well as view other helpful tidbits of information including the local weather report. Users can view and post photos as well as leave comments. The map feature also provides accurate locations of where fish are being caught, which is where you can help, local anglers!In the...

Live Shrimp: The Best Bait During a Florida Winter

12/16/201612/16/2016 by Scott Le Roy Comment Closed

Live Shrimp: The Best Bait During a Florida WinterWith the changing seasons, the appetite also changes for the fish in our Florida waters. Have you not been having much luck catching fish lately? Try baiting your hooks with live shrimp.You'll find that you'll have great luck using live shrimp to catch redfish, black drum, sheepshead and other species depending on where you're fishing.If you happen to be traveling in the back country areas this holiday season, you'll be pleasantly surprised to see what this seasonal bait will catch you. Look out for catches of flounder and mangrove snapper in these areas.Perhaps this is your first time using live shrimp as bait. Here's how to bait a live shrimp depending on your fishing method:DriftingHook your live shrimp through the carapace, avoiding the stomach and pancreas. Your hook should be just under the shell and crosswise through the carapace.Longer distance castingFor this fishing method, you'll want to place the hook under the chin and through the carapace's...