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How to rent a boat at Anna Maria Island
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Find the perfect boatEnter your desired location and date to explore our fleet of boat, Anna Maria Island, FL, United States.
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Select a captainChoose to drive yourself or select a USCG licensed captain.
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Book with easeConnect with your boat owner and complete your booking online.
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Set sailEnjoy your day on the water with friends and family!
Rent a boat at Anna Maria IslandWith seven miles of sunny Florida beaches stretching along the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island is a favorite vacation spot for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. And since those barrier island beaches protect waterways like Tampa Bay, Anna Maria Sound, and Sarasota Bay, it won’t surprise anyone to learn that getting a boat rental in Anna Maria Island is an incredibly popular way to spend the day. Having unencumbered access to these waters opens up an opportunity for unlimited fun, whether you get excited by the idea of fishing, watersports, or just lazing in the sun.Part of the charm of coming here is enjoying the small-town vibe, which has been maintained thanks to ordinances against building the high-rises, massive condominium, and hotel buildings that crowd much of Florida’s coast. The jade-green water remains unspoiled, and wildlife abounds. In fact, whether you set out in search of nature or just happen to find yourself surrounded by it as you hit the water, you’ll likely spot jumping dolphins, lounging manatees, and fish-hunting herons. Sea turtles have a special place here, too, as giant loggerheads swim out of the ocean to nest here through the summer — on the very same beaches where they hatched 30-plus years ago. Thanks to concerted efforts like volunteer monitoring, turtle nest adoption programs, and beach lighting restrictions, these beaches remain one of the places you can commonly spot the nests of this endangered species as well as four other types of sea turtles.What to KnowThanks to the varied waters in this area including everything from well-protected bays to the open Gulf of Mexico, you’ll find all sorts of different boats for rent. While bowriders, center consoles, and pontoon boats may be the most popular, do some searching through the boats for rent on Boatsetter and you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.Safety RequirementsFor more information on safety requirements when boating in these waterways visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boating regulations webpage.Where to dock your boat or meet your rental:Weather ConditionsAverage High Temperature: 90 degrees at the height of summer.Average Low Temperature: 54 degrees in the depth of winter.Average Water Temperatures in and around Anna Maria Island:
Bowrider Boats in the 20’ to 26’ range are a top choice of families looking to zip around the bays, pull up to a beach, or enjoy basic watersports like wakeboarding or tube-towing. Some are even available with captains, so all you have to worry about is kicking back and relaxing.
Center Console Boats are a top pick for anglers, but these are great for kicking around with the family, too. If you’re unfamiliar with the fishing styles and baits used in the area, you may also want to consider booking a fishing charter and reaping the benefits of a local’s experience and knowledge.
Pontoon Boats are the ultimate when it comes to lazing about on the water, and you’ll discover that these are an incredibly popular option for use in the bays and sounds protected by the barrier islands.
Boater Education: Every boater will benefit from a safety education course, but in the state of Florida, any resident born after January 1988 is required by law to take one. They also have to carry their Boating Safety Education Identification Card whenever operating a boat with 10 horsepower or more. Visitors from out of state who go boating in Florida can carry proof of completion of any NASBLA-approved boater safety course, or the equivalency examination from another state, to fulfil these requirements.
Additional Regulations: Of course, USCG safety gear requirements must always be met. And in Florida children under six years of age must wear a USCG approved life jacket on boats under 26’ while underway.
Bradenton Beach Marina
Coquina Beach North Boat Ramp
Coquina Beach South Boat Ramp
Holmes Beach Boat Ramp
Kingfish Boat Ramp
Keyes Marina
72 degrees in the spring (March, April, May)
85 degrees in the summer (June, July, August)
80 degrees in the fall (September, October, November)
65 degrees in the winter (December, January, February)
Things to Do at Anna Maria Island by Boat
Go nature watchingBirdwatchers will be looking for species like roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets, and osprey. Out on the boat, keep your eyes peeled for porpoises and those amazing sea turtles. And, of course, everyone loves spotting manatees. Push off the dock and cover some distance and the creatures here are so numerous and diverse that it would be tough to avoid sights like these — and more — even if you tried.Pro Tip: Stay in the smaller bays and sounds where there are numerous channels and islands, as opposed to larger open waterways, to spot the most diverse mix of wildlife. Remember that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requires you keep boats at least 50 feet away from manatees and NOAA requires a 50-yard distance from dolphins.Location: Google Maps LinkClosest marina or docks: Kingfish Boat Ramp, Bradenton Beach MarinaLat/Long: 27°28'46.2"N 82°41'39.2"W
Try some fishingAll the waters around here hold potential for anglers, ranging from small snappers to big predators. To chase big game, many fishermen will head for Tampa Bay, the largest estuary in Florida, when kingfish move in. During the late spring and summer months, tarpon often gather right along the northern tip of Anna Maria Island. At just about any time of year, inshore species like redfish and speckled trout can be found in shallows and backwaters.Seasonality: The hot bite changes with the seasons, so do some advanced research before deciding what to target.Pro Tip: It may seem counterintuitive, but make it a point to go fishing here if you’ll be in town during the winter if you enjoy fishing for inshore species like speckled sea trout and redfish. Cooler temperatures can cause the fish to move deeper than usual and school up in channels or near drop-offs. Although it may be harder to tempt them into biting, it can be much easier to locate large concentrations of fish.Location: Google Maps LinkClosest marina or docks: Keyes MarinaLat/Long: 27°32'35.8"N 82°44'43.6"W
Dive in and try snorkelingMuch of the water surrounding Anna Maria Island is crystal-clear and emerald-colored, with excellent visibility for exploring the world beneath the surface. You’ll see all kinds of creatures, from fish to crabs to sand dollars, and the aquatic environment will keep both kids and adults entertained for hours on end.Pro Tip: When you spot sand dollars underwater, remember that unlike the skeletons found up on the beach these are living creatures. Don’t remove them from the water or they may die and only take home the ones you’ve found washed up on dry land.Location: Google Maps LinkClosest marina or docks: Keyes Marine on the north end, Coquina Beach South Boat Ramp on the south end.Lat/Long: 27°28'59.8"N 82°42'33.6"W
Where to Go Boating in Anna Maria Island
Egmont KeyWith nearly 100 acres of wildlife refuge accessible only by boat, Egmont Key is a great place to enjoy multiple adventures all on the same day. The wildlife and bird watching here is spectacular. But there’s also the remains of historic Fort Dade, which was an internment camp during the Seminole War before being fortified to protect the entrance of Tampa Bay during the Spanish-American war. Today much of the ruins are submerged, and exploring them underwater is a favorite for snorkelers.Seasonality: All seasons; there’s no time of year you can’t visit Egmont Key and swim in the surrounding waters.Pro Tip: Be careful and avoid anchoring around the northwest tip of the island, where currents collide and can be quite strong.Location: Google Maps LinkAnchoring Up: The Key can become quite crowded on nice summer weekends, so most people who anchor off Egmont Key bring a second anchor for the stern to prevent the boat from wide swings. After setting the bow anchor, toss or walk the stern anchor away from the boat then pull it tight.Lat/Long: 27°35'16.8"N 82°45'46.8"W
Jewfish KeyJust inside Longboat Pass, which separates the southern end of Anna Maria Island from Longboat Key, you’ll find Jewfish Key. On the western side of the island there’s a large sand bar which is a popular spot for sandbar parties. If you’re looking for a place to anchor up and relax, this is likely to be a top pick.Seasonality: You can visit here anytime, though it’s most popular in the heat of summer when taking a dip is the most tempting.Getting There: If you run down the beach in the Gulf and enter the bay via Longboat Cut, Jewfish Key will be directly ahead. Or you can make your way down the channel behind Anna Maria Island. If you choose this path take the west fork one mile south of Cortez Bridge for the most direct route to the sandbar, or stay in the east channel and loop around behind the island to take the scenic cruise.Location: Google Maps LinkPro Tip: It can get quite crowded here at times, but if the sandbar is too jam-packed to pick a spot, just cross the channel off Jewfish Key’s northern tip, and you’ll find another sandy spit to anchor at. This one’s not attached to an island, but it still offers clean white sand and wadable turquoise waters.Lat/Long: 27°26'35.0"N 82°40'48.1"W
Sunshine Skyway BridgeThe famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge, about 7.5 miles up Tampa Bay from Anna Maria Island, is a boating destination for both sight-seers and anglers. Many people want to drive their boat underneath the twin spans of the bridge and it’s particularly attractive to sight-seers from dusk to dawn, when it glows with a dynamic LED illumination system. Anglers, on the other hand, are drawn like moths to a light thanks to the structure provided by the bridge. Species ranging from mackerel to mutton snapper can be caught around its pilings.Seasonality: This is an all-season venue, but if you plan to fish here be sure to research which types of fish are around during your visit as many (such as those mackerel) are only around at specific times of the year.Getting There: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a straight shot through open water from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway channel running behind Anna Maria Island. However, this is a large water body subject to strong winds and very large waves. Be sure to check the weather reports and only set out on this journey if conditions are favorable.Location: Google Maps LinkPro Tip: When fishing around the bridge structure be sure to upsize your leaders, because they’ll be subject to a lot of chaffing from the concrete, shells, and rocks.Lat/Long: 27°37'09.6"N 82°39'17.2"W
Dock-and-Dine at Anna Maria Island Waterfront Restaurants
Rod & ReelStar FishSwordfish GrillCheck out additional information Anna Maria Island
Address: 875 N Shore Drive, Anna Maria FL, 34216
Hours: Mon – Sun, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Reservations: No
Type of Food: Local Florida seafood, traditional American
Dockage Available: Yes, but with open exposure to Tampa Bay so docking may be difficult in windy conditions.
Address: 12306 46th Ave W, Cortez, FL, 34215
Hours: Tues – Sat, 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sun and Mon, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Reservations: No
Type of Food: Florida seafood harvested by Florida commercial fishermen.
Dockage Available: Yes, instructions are to “tie up to whatever’s free.”
Address: 4628 119th St W., Cortez, FL, 34215
Hours: Sun – Thurs, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Fri and Sat, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Reservations: Yes, booking online available
Type of Food: Fresh Florida seafood
Dockage Available: Yes
Top boat rental reviews in Anna Maria Island
209,284Customer Reviews
4.95Average Rating
NEW Luxury Regal...Had a great time on the water with captain Jon! Boat was in great condition and Jon was extremely knowledgeable
MichaelApr, 2024
Large Pontoon...The pontoon was great, tons of room and storage. We had five adults and five kids and everyone was able to spread out...
ChrisApr, 2024
Beautiful NEW...I love the boat. We got stuck on a sandbox and Meghan had her guys come help us. I really appreciate them. The trip...
LatreseApr, 2024
Fishing & Island...Jay was quick to respond and easy to deal with. He does all the work to get set up for a great day on the water.
StevenApr, 2024
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