Florida

[sabretooth]

Hi all, has enyone got any points on fishing in florida.
cheers
dave

[Dan-arneil]

Im going to florida at xmas(daytona) and i will be fishing and apprently prawn is the bait to use

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sabretooth
In fairness it's akin to asking the question - 'How long is a piece of string?'.

I've done quite a lot of fishing in Florida over the past 25 years or so and will willingly advise, but first some basic questions.

Which month are you planning to go? In general terms, where - the 'Keys, Everglades, Gulf Coast or Atlantic above Miami? Any idea of the type of fishing - offshore trolling, bottom fishing on a large party boat, light tackle or fly fishing in either shallow or 'Bluewater', or fishing off bridges. Now here I've presumed saltwater, but there's also excellent freshwater fishing for Largemouth Bass or loads of exotics that the locals 'tip' into the canals.

Then do you intend to use guides or self-guide?
Kindest regards
Dave

[sabretooth]

Hi Panamajack, going in april to kissimee. as to the type of fishing, not sure whats there.
cheers
dave

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sabretooth
That whole area around Kissimee/Orlando is full of lakes where the key target species, beloved of Americans, is the Largemouth Bass. There're aggressive fish, usually found around cover and run up to, in that area, around 14lbs - although a double is always a notable fish.

Whilst you can hire boats on many of the lakes and waterways, here's one such operator - http://www.airboatrentals.com/ - I'd suggest that, at least for one day, you use a guide to xeperience the fishing and techniques used. I've never freshwater fished there, but here's one such guide - http://www.cflfishing.com/index.htm. He charges 300$US for a full day, or 200 for a half day. But as you'll find the custom is always to tip for good service, and the 'going' rate tends to be nearer to 15% than 10.

As well you're just over 30 minutes from the coastal area around Cape Canaveral, well worth a visit in its own right, and there the primary fishing in the waterways and lagoons would be for something they call Redfish, or Red Drum. In April you should be able to target the really big fish, 30 and 40 pounders, in 2' of water. Most of it would be sight casting to tailing fish with artificials or bait light spin gear, although if you feel comfortable then try fly gear.

All of the boats will have quality gear on board, so there's no need to take your own unless you want to self-guide. Then, if you self guide, you'd need a fishing licence for fresh or salt.

As well as the Redfish they also target Snook, Sea Trout (not the ones you might be familiar with, but they're spotted) Jack Crevalle and a range of other species. Also in April you'd expect to find Tarpon around - now they really are a sporting fish! You'll never see LSDs in the same light again.

The key areas they fish are the Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon (on my list of places to try) and Banana River. Guided rates, on a powerful 18' skiff, work out to 400$US for a full day, 300 for a half. Although I have found one guide, Tom Carver, prepared to take individuals as part of a group. From memory he charges just under 200$US for a full day, but I suspect, and it would be worth checking, that he may take up to 3 anglers at a time.

Any rate here's Tom's web site - http://www.flataddicted.com/. Another couple you may also wish to look at are - http://www.irl-fishing.com/index.html and http://www.spottedtail.com/. You will find there're many more guides and they're likely to have details of their operations in hotel foyers or the local Tourist Board's offices.

Any number of guides, including 'spotted tail' will also run offshore from places like Sebastian. And, in April, you'd be likely to encounter things like Tripletail, Cobia, Tarpon, Spanish and King Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Blacktip sharks, and Little Tunny and several others. If you want details of further operations just key something like - 'Fishing, Sebastian, Florida' into one of the search engines.

Very, very occasionally there might be a run of Sailfish at that time of year offshore. But in terms of Blue Marlin you'd probably need to get a boat to run out to the Bahamas, and that would be a multi day trip.

I'm sure there would be opportunities to shore fish around the inlets or bridges over the IC Waterway but I've no experience of that whatsoever.

Hope that's been of some use.
Dave

[PanamaJack]

Just a couple of further thoughts.

Going all that way I suspect you might want to visit a tackle store. One of the biggest chains, and their stores are unbelievably large, is BassPro - http://www.basspro.com. The closest one to Kissimee is on International Drive in Orlando. Most of their stores also have restaurants attached - the Islamorado Fish Factory.

In that earlier post I mentioned about the Americans passion for Largemouth Bass. There's a comprehensive web site devoted to their pursuit, which includes reports on the lakes around Kissimee - http://www.probass.net/fishrpt/florida.php.

Finally just a word of warning. Whilst its years since I've driven in Central Florida it's possible that the local police cars, some certainly are on the 'Keys, are now fitted with forward facing radars. So beware about speeding, especially towards the end of the month, when individual officers are looking to achieve their targets for tickets issued.
Dave

[sabretooth]

PanamaJack
wow what can i say. what a detailed and helpfull reply. it will take me a while to digest that lot.
My sister in law is used to driving out there as she lived and worked over there for three years.
many thanks indeed
dave

[PanamaJack]

Hi Sabretooth
I recall that Dan-arneil in this post referred to using shrimp off Daytona Beach. Evidentially there are some purpose built fishing piers along that coastline, as well as opportunities for surf casting although I suspect that they'd tend to use slightly light tackle than our beach fishing gear. Picked up this reference to fishing for Pompano, a smallish species of Jack - http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=418157.

There are a range of localised US magazines, some with reasonable on line articles on techniques, but all with appropriate forums that you may find of use in gaining further knowledge:

http://www.floridasportsman.com/
http://www.shallowwaterangler.com/
http://www.southfloridasportfishing.com/
http://www.sportfishingmag.com/

Then, although some of the postings can be a tad inane, you should also be able to pick up some help on this one's forums - http://www.boldwater.com/.

And there're some very good articles on techniques for Largemouth Bass on this one - http://www.trophybassonly.com/.

That should, at least, give you a start
Dave
PS I'm planning to go to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in March with a group of friends where the target quarries will be Sailfish and Roosterfish, hopefully on the fly. But I must admit having found out a little about Mosquito Lagoon (near where you're going) again I have a hankering to spend a couple of days fishing for those big Red Drum. It seems a shame to go that far and miss out on the opportunity!

[TeamBigBobberz]

As an avid redfisherman, I HIGHLY recommend you follow Panama Jack's suggestions and try to hook a couple! April is a wonderful time to wet a line here! There is no telling what you might reel in.

Another magazine that you might check out is www.gaffmag.net - fun and fishing, you'll see!

There are quite a few fishing piers along the coast, one of the best being the new Jacksonville Beach Pier. They are catching deep water fish like king mackerels, (kingfish) right off the pier...50 pounds plus!!!

There was some mention of pompano...Mmmmmm, yummy! They make a spring run from the south to the north. One of the best eating fish around and found right in the surf! Well, the trough just beyond the surf,

Enjoy Florida!

[Fisher_Nick]

i read somewhere you can catch snook aswell of the piers.

these are a barbel like fish up around 20lbs, not sure about their time of year.