Love Bradenton beach, Anna Maria island. Stubbled across this place on the gulf coast when I was about 15 I’m now 40 I have been to the USA 24 times. But out of them 14 times in a row I have only been back to this place. Travelled all over and stayed in florida all over to Miami to florida keys. This is my go to place and will always will be. White Sandy beaches, clear warm seas. Very quiet and private not far from Sarasota great place with lots of things off the island. Not far from ellenton shopping place. Omg the manatees and dolphins. Oh and the food. I’m from UK and this is and will always be my 1st top place out of USA and Europe. If you go once you cannot ever stop. Just beautiful.

Bradenton Beach is a beautiful beach. You can walk for miles. They have a fishing pier. Beach restaurants and rentals. There are multiple beaches all connected. Ample parking for miles from Cortez Beach down towards Siesta Beach. Tons to do in walking distance. There are bars, restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream shops, shopping, gift shops, rentals for het skis, boats, and more. Sunset cruises, dolphin cruises, and more. A great place to relax or get a group of people and have your beach party. Absolute paradise! Always small shells on the beach, at times bigger ones, and for the first time in a while, sand dollars. They seem to not be common on the gulf side.

Bradenton beaches are beautiful and Anna Maria Island is a great place to visit. I went to the beach with my fishing pole and cast out into the surf hoping for whiting, redfish, or flounder. Imagine my surprise when one of the life guards came up and said you are not allowed to fish off the beach. I grabbed my gear and left. On the way out several of the sunbathers asked if the life guard had asked me to stop fishing. I said yes. They thought that odd. Even the Pro Angler App recommended by the FWC suggests fishing is permitted on the beaches. I researched the city ordinances and it does say no fishing in areas where bathing is permitted. I have to admit this is the first beach in Florida I have been to where fishing is not allowed. I have been to the Atlantic beaches, the Fort Myers area, and the panhandle and all of those beaches permit fishing. Beware, if you want to fish on the beach. I was told I could fish from the beaches on the north end of Anna Maria Island, so, I went there and fished. There were people swimming, but, there were no life guards.