FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I BOOK BATEMAN’S?

We work exclusively with Once Upon a Beach, and recommend you book directly with them. You’re in excellent hands with the owners, Nikki & Mike - they provide a very personal, responsive and friendly service - living and working locally on the island.

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See pictures of the home, availability and nightly rates here.

DO I NEED TO BRING MY OWN FISHING GEAR?

You are obviously very welcome to bring your own fishing gear, but Bateman’s provides everything needed for fishing at our dock - except for bait. And if there’s anything extra you need then local tackle shops have a wide selection of items, plus the piers rent rods for a small fee and sell bait.

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We appreciate guests leaving the Bateman’s fishing gear in the condition they found it, for the enjoyment of the next guest. If you notice anything damaged, lost or not working please let us know so that we can replace or repair it. Thank you! 

WHERE CAN I GET BAIT?

By far the best bait for fishing from our dock is live shrimp. The new bait & tackle store on Pine Ave is just a short walk, and Island Discount Tackle a short drive in Holmes Beach. Holmes beach is our go-to place for bait, now selling both regular and ‘select’ size shrimp - but they can sell out by lunchtime. Cost $5-$8 per dozen.

Annie’s, across the Cortez Bridge immediately on your left, is a longer drive but is open earlier (6.30am), almost never runs out of bait and the bait is always of excellent quality. They sell regular, select and jumbo live shrimp. Regular is perfect for the dock. They are open late.

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For fishing from beaches and piers, dead bait and artificial baits also work well. These are readily available in all the above shops. All three piers (Rod & Reel, City Pier, and Bradenton Beach) sell live shrimp too.

If you’re an experienced angler then feel free to use the casting nets we provide to catch fresh bait (shiners) off the beach - which is usually plentiful. Or visit You Tube for how to cast-net. It’s great fun and provides some of the best bait that fish love to eat! We usually get ours from the area around the piers. 

HOW LONG DOES LIVE SHRIMP LAST?

We provide aerators - both mobile and fixed (inside the garage). Using these, shrimp you buy in the morning can last all day. If you do not use an aerator they will die.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SPECIES OF FISH I’VE CAUGHT?

With the fishing gear in the garage we’ve left a fish identification book. Also, the FWC have an excellent online fish identification website, see here.

DO I NEED A FISHING LICENSE?

The rules change often and it is worth checking myfwc.com for the latest. You usually do not need a licence for the piers or a charter as they buy a license that covers everyone fishing there. There are also special rules if you are fishing for specific species, like sharks.

ARE ANY OF THE FISH DANGEROUS?

Some of the fish have teeth - you want to avoid those! We supply fishing forceps for unhooking. Also catfish,  leather/skip  jacks and rays have nasty spines that can pierce the skin with toxins - be careful with those. They are not species we’ve seen at the dock, more a watch out for beaches and piers.

CAN WE SEND YOU PHOTOS OF ANYTHING WE CATCH FROM THE DOCK?

Yes! We’d love that, as well as any other information on tactics or bait that other guests would find useful.  We’ll publish it on this website and in our guest book at the home.

CAN WE EAT THE FISH WE CATCH?

There’s nothing like eating fish that were caught just a few hours ago. Our favorite is wrapping the filets in foil with some oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, some onion, garlic, a squeeze of lemon and maybe some herbs like dill or basil - baked at about 350f for 30 minutes or so. Washed down with a glass of rose. Perfect! A few points to consider :

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• We always catch and release fish we catch from our dock at Bateman’s.

• Fish caught from the piers and beaches are good for eating. Mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel are good eating.

• Remember that there are regulations on what fish you are allowed to kill, along with specific sizes and daily bag limits. See here for details.

• Not all fish are good eating - do your research !

• If you go on a charter fishing trip they will always filet the fish for you at the end of the trip.

CAN WE BRING OUR BOAT?

Yes, you can launch your own boat at a local Manatee County boat ramp and navigate to Bateman’s. The entrance to our waterway is just to the north side of the City of Anna Maria Pier. The only thing to be aware of is that the journey to Bateman’s on our waterway involves navigating two low bridges, which are not passable by anything with a tower. Your marine navigation chart will give you the height details at appropriate tide levels. Please check suitability before arriving.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY RESTAURANTS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT?

Yes, there are many fantastic restaurants accessible by boat in the immediate area.

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All of the following have plenty of space for mooring boats, and have excellent food and drink options that we have personally tried : Mar Vista, Shore, Swordfish Grill, Tide Tables, Seafood Shack, AMOB and Floridays.