Connor Merritt

As Anna Maria Island fishing Captain Todd Romine took to the waters, he was struck by an almost eerie sense of solitude, one that he hadn’t felt since his early guiding days in the 1980s.  

According to Romine, whose years on the water date back to a time when boat traffic was minimal, the typically bustling bay now feels oddly quiet. Romine told the Bradenton Herald, “The bay has been empty of boats.”  

How the Hurricanes Impacted Anna Maria Island Fishing 

With shorelines still showing storm scars from the past year’s hurricanes, and mangroves peeled back and brown, the lack of usual boat pressure has allowed Romine to fish with a rare freedom that seems a throwback to decades past. 

As Romine moves through these clear waters, he’s seen an unusual consistency in the bite, with hungry redfish, snook, and trout congregating in large numbers. The unusual calm has produced phenomenal fishing. 

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The Effect on Tourism 

But alongside these banner days on the water, Romine is confronts a harsh reality: a plummeting tourism scene that’s left his calendar mostly empty. Despite his decades of experience, Romine’s business took a hit during the storms, with many trips canceled and his boat pulled out of the water multiple times due to recent hurricanes Milton and Helene. 

It’s bittersweet: While Romine has found a sense of peace on these emptied waters, he feels the weight of an uncertain future.  

Romine said to the Bradenton Herald, “I feel for these young guys with families who rely almost 100% on tourism,” noting that Anna Maria Island, once a global vacation hotspot, now faces a steep recovery.  

The longtime captain worries that the recovery could mirror that of Sanibel Island post-Hurricane Ian, which has yet to regain its former visitor numbers. 

For now, Romine finds a silver lining in the situation, embracing these quiet moments on the water; while he acknowledges the challenges ahead, he remains hopeful that when things settle, fantastic fishing days will draw anglers back to Anna Maria’s stunning waters. 

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