CAPTAIN MIKE ANDERSON
There’s a calm confidence which comes from spending a lifetime reading tides, watching weather roll across an open bay and feeling every bump of a fish through light tackle. For expert Florida charter captain Mike Anderson, who also hosts the nationally syndicated Reel Animals Fishing TV and radio shows, that confidence has been earned one cast at a time across the shallow flats and winding shorelines of Tampa Bay.
“I have been guiding saltwater fishing trips for 26 years,” Anderson said. “I’m located in Tampa Bay, Fla. and my boat stays in South St. Pete.”
That simple statement carries the weight of decades on the water. Anderson isn’t just familiar with Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas. He’s immersed in it all. From dawn patrols to last-light drifts, his career has been shaped by one of the most pressured and dynamic estuaries in the country.
“Inshore guiding has always been my specialty and passion. I’m an outfitter as well and I also fish about 13 tournaments per year.”
Anderson has always leaned into the technical side of saltwater fishing. Shallow water. Light line. Long casts. Fish that see everything and forgive nothing.
“I have offshore guides I use a lot but light tackle fishing is my favorite thing in the world. Whether I’m targeting redfish or permit, my two favorite saltwater species, I just love the chase of it all.”
That love of the chase was forged early. What started as curiosity quickly became an obsession.
“I cut my teeth in the industry since about 1999. That was the first-ever professional redfish tournament held in Jacksonville, Fla. and I went with another captain buddy of mine. I started tournament fishing for redfish pretty hard after that because it was such a fun time. I’m also incredibly competitive which makes it even better.”
That competitive fire still burns today, whether Anderson is guiding clients to their first redfish or lining up against the best anglers in the region. But what truly sets him apart is his consistency. Tournament days and charter trips demand gear that performs without question and that’s where Vicious Fishing comes in.
“I’ve been with Vicious Fishing for a long time; probably five or six years now consecutively but 10 years total.”
That kind of longevity isn’t about contracts or logos. It’s simply about trust. Anderson doesn’t gamble when it comes to the connection between angler and fish, especially in an environment as pressured as Tampa Bay.
“Family values and Christian values are incredibly important to me. I have to trust my partners and when I get up in the morning, I have to go to work with people who care about other anglers. It carries a lot of weight with me. And not to mention, when the gear is made in America, here at home, that’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
On the technical side, Anderson knows exactly what works. While using Vicious Fishing line all year long, he uses 10-pound blue braid the most. In a fishery surrounded by millions of people, precision is everything.
“There are 3 million people living in this estuary so the fish are crazy spooky. If you can’t make long casts, you’re at a major disadvantage. The castability of this particular line is absolutely crazy.”
For Mike Anderson, guiding isn’t just a profession. It’s a calling shaped by competition, faith, family and an unwavering respect for the fish and the water they call home. As long as there’s a tide moving across Tampa Bay, he’ll be there with a fishing rod in hand and ready for the next chase.