Bradenton
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $600
Captain
Bradenton Fishing Charters
Bradenton, United States
Veteran owned
Federal waters
10+ reviews
Captain Russ Schnering and his son, Captain Jon Schnering, have over 40 years experience fishing the waters of Tampa Bay. Raised in Bradenton, Florida, they have intimate knowledge of the area's waterways and are fluent in the best techniques for catching anything from a Kingfish to a Tarpon. Both captains have proven their skills by competing successfully in several fishing tournaments. They welcome all skill levels aboard, from novice to professional, treating each and every guest with politeness and patience.
Jonathan S.
Captain
Charters
- BradentonInstant ConfirmationTrips fromUS $1,500
Rating
4.6
16 reviews
4.5
Boat & Equipment
4.7
Captain & Crew
4.7
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (16)
All reviews (16)
Showing 1 – 5 of 16 reviews
Michael NormandinRepeat angler
New Hampshire, US•Member since 2025•2 trips5.0VerifiedGreat Captain. great day fishing!
Full Day • 6 adultsCapt John provided a fantastic trip for our group of four. We caught tons of fish. filled our cooler early and got the chance to chase a variety of species. Capt John is a great guide, putting us on fish and teaching the methods. He was very arrentive to lost bait, deflating shorts and keeping the bite alive. Highly recommend a trip with Bradenton Fishing.
Response from CaptainGlad you had a great time!
George GrossRepeat anglerOrlando, FL, US•Member since 2024•2 trips5.0VerifiedGreat trip
6 Hour Trip • 6 adultsThere were six of us and we had a great time. The crew was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and nice. Would definitely recommend them and will definitely go with them again.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainYou’re the man George. It was pleasure fishing with y’all.
Michelle PikeGeorgia, US•Member since 20245.0VerifiedBradenton Fishing Charters is THE BEST!
Half Day Trip • 2 adultsOur 2nd time inshore fishing with Bradenton Fishing Charters, and we can hardly wait to go again! A family owned business of Bradenton locals, and they know these waters well! Captain Jon is knowledgeable, hard-working, and goes above & beyond the make your trip the best it can be!
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainThank you Michelle, we look forward to next time!
Shawn DickersonOhio, US•Member since 20215.0VerifiedDid a 6 hour trip with captain Jon
3/4Day Trip • 2 adultsGreat experience and caught a lot of fish
Response from CaptainWe are glad you enjoyed it.
Ryan O'connorRepeat anglerIllinois, US•Member since 2019•2 trips5.0VerifiedAugust fishing trip
Half Day Trip • 2 adults • 1 childResponse from CaptainThanks Ryan.
Real catches shared by our community
- Bradenton Fishing ChartersBradenton, FL
- Bradenton Fishing ChartersBradenton, FL
- Bradenton Fishing ChartersBradenton, FL
- Bradenton Fishing ChartersBradenton, FL
- Bradenton Fishing ChartersBradenton, FL
Our Fishing Locations
What's biting with Bradenton Fishing Charters in Bradenton
In September, head to the Bradenton rivers, because the freshwater action is too good to miss. Crappie, Bass, Catfish, and Bream are the most common catches. Offshore, you can get Wahoo, Amberjack, and of course, King Mackerel.
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
Grouper & Permit
May 29, 2026 • Bradenton
Our offshore trips have targeted red grouper in 90-100 feet of water. Some permit have been caught around the deep wrecks and blackfin tuna are showing up as well. The mangrove snapper bite was productive during the past full moon and kingfish are still around eager to take a free-lined shiner on the flat line. American Red Snapper season starts June 1st and will be open through October. We still have a few dates available in June so let us know if you want to get on the schedule.
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Spring/Summer Bite
May 29, 2026 • Bradenton
The inshore fishing around Tampa Bay continues to be on fire. Our four and six-hour trips have produced catch and release snook, trout and redfish in good numbers. Tarpon have shown up in the passes and along the beach as well. Fishing live bait under a float has proven to be the best technique.
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Warmer Temperatures
Apr 20, 2026 • Bradenton
The past couple of weeks we were able to fish a few trips offshore and several inshore. A late cold front passed through bringing high winds which required some schedule adjustments. Even with the wind, the fish were biting.
Inshore
The inshore bite has been typical for this time of year. Snook, trout and redfish continue to be plentiful while fishing in two to four feet of water. Live shiners have been our bait of choice and we have been fishing them under a float. On the higher tides we target snook close to the mangroves and during low water we look for them in depressions or "potholes" away from the shoreline. The trout and redfish have been following schools of mullet throughout the bay area.
Offshore
While we wait for Red Snapper season to open in June, red grouper have been our targeted species. These grouper have been biting live pinfish and pilchards in eighty to one hundred and fifty feet of water. While moving from one location to another, a few cobia and permit have been caught from some of the various reefs we have in the Gulf.
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2024 so far
Feb 1, 2024 • Bradenton
So far this winter has been exceptionally good this year for our hogfishing. Not only are we catching limits of these delicious hogs but we also are getting tons of gag grouper, grunts, porgies and snappers as well. With spring around the corner lets talk about whats to come. The flats fishing for our snook, trout, and redfish had been getting better as the water temps rise. We havent quite seen the full on spring bite yet but its coming in hot! We predict a wide open inshore bite coming in the next few weeks. Also the offshore has been very good for red grouper the last few weeks. If your looking for some fish that really pull back and are great table fair that is always a great option. We should have plenty of tuna and kingfish showing up any day out there as well. So give us a call to get out there and do some fishing this year.
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Fishing Report
Aug 8, 2021 • Bradenton
It’s mid summer here at Bradenton Fishing Charters and the fishing has been very good. Capt. Jon has been putting his customers on redfish, snook and a few grouper on our four and six hour trips. Despite a Red Tide bloom in Tampa Bay, he is still finding pockets of good water and healthy fish. The off-shore bite has been excellent. Permit, cobia, red grouper and even a few mahi mahi have been filling the cooler on our six and eight hour trips. Having Federal Reef Permits enables us to take customers beyond nine miles. The Gulf of Mexico is beautiful, less crowded, and this is where the magic happens!
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Spring Fishing
Apr 6, 2020 • Bradenton
This is by far the strangest spring we have ever experienced here at Bradenton Fishing Charters. We truly hope everyone is doing OK and this COVID-19 pandemic will pass in the near future. As far as the fishing is concerned, the trips we are running are full of action. The flats have been loaded with hungry snook, trout and redfish. The near reefs are producing cobia, kingfish and permit, and big grouper are being caught further out. The weather has been ideal, and we hope it continues through this summer.
Many of our trips have been cancelled with not as many people coming in from out of town, but we are still open for business. Give us a call, and let us take you out for a few hours to get some fresh air and bend a rod.
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