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anyone here into fishing? (1 Viewer)

I have been fishing all my life, mainly Bass (Largemouth and Spotted) just because Smallies are few and far between here. Just about done for the year due to school and a baby on the way. But had a decent fishing year, won a few tournaments, but most importantly was able to fishing during the spawn :boxing:

Boat - 2005 XPRESS X18 115 Merc Four-Stroke(gas saving machine)

 
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Wingnut said:
My personal biggest Grouper caught at the pier (few months ago)

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4571/68catchgf4.jpg

2 nice gags

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5356/group4gl7.jpg

Not a fish pic but a nice view of the Skyway Bridge form the pier I fish from

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6444/615ssp3ss7.jpg
Click to expand...
Awesome pics. :lol: I just moved to southwest Florida and look to do some saltwater fishing from the beaches and piers.

What equipment do you use? Spinning rod? What pound test for your line? Rig for using cut/live bait? Would do I okay just by throwing out a Hopkins lure and reeling it back it in?

 
EoM

I use mostly spinning gear, but recently got a conventional for the bigger stuff (tarpon, sharks, etc). Still learning how to use that one. Itll be good for bottom fishing for grouper from a boat.

I catch pretty much everything on these 2 spinning setups:

Shimano baitrunner 4500 spooled with 50 pound braid on a 7' Medium-Heavy (20-50lb) ugly stick

Okuma Epixor 65 spooled with 25lb mono on an 8' abu garcia MH (10-25lb) rod

I also have a couple of wal-mart $40 shakespeare combos I bought when I first started saltwater fishing, and I still use em sometimes and they still catch fish. Ive brought in many a grouper with them on 20lb test.

I recently moved from using 20lb mono up to 25 for my all purpose rod(s), but only because theres alot to get snagged on where I fish and I lose less rigs with the heavier line. 20lb is pretty much the lightest line I use at my local pier. Its overkill on smaller fish, but Ive hooked into big stuff while fishing for smaller fish like snapper, so its good to have that extra line strength. Im mostly fishing for grouper, snapper, cobia, bonita, mackerel, and small sharks though. If I was gonna fish for trout, redfish, etc, Id lighten up my line a bit.

So far Im not a huge fan of the braided line. Hard to get used to (casts great but has ZERO stretch), and when fishing around a lot of structure like I do, its lack of abrasion resistance hurts its effectiveness. About the only thing I do with that reel is freeline for grouper, I try to avoid fishing near pilings because it always breaks when it gets scraped.

As far as rigs for catching fish, I almost always use a carolina rig when bottom fishing, be it live or cut bait (line > egg sinker > swivel > leader > hook). I also freeline live baits with no weight, just a leader. When freelining smaller baits sometimes I add a splitshot or 2 to keep them down in the water column a bit.

Lures are also effective, although I dont use em much so I cant tell you which ones. I see folks using them all the time though, and I do see them catching fish with em. I have caught a grouper from the pier on a rapala x-rap, and catch a lot of Spanish mackerel with a size 00 clark spoon. Docs goofy jigs are a popular local lure that is mostly used for pompano but catch a good variety of fish.

 
Wingnut said:
EoMI use mostly spinning gear, but recently got a conventional for the bigger stuff (tarpon, sharks, etc). Still learning how to use that one. Itll be good for bottom fishing for grouper from a boat.I catch pretty much everything on these 2 spinning setups:Shimano baitrunner 4500 spooled with 50 pound braid on a 7' Medium-Heavy (20-50lb) ugly stickOkuma Epixor 65 spooled with 25lb mono on an 8' abu garcia MH (10-25lb) rodI also have a couple of wal-mart $40 shakespeare combos I bought when I first started saltwater fishing, and I still use em sometimes and they still catch fish. Ive brought in many a grouper with them on 20lb test.I recently moved from using 20lb mono up to 25 for my all purpose rod(s), but only because theres alot to get snagged on where I fish and I lose less rigs with the heavier line. 20lb is pretty much the lightest line I use at my local pier. Its overkill on smaller fish, but Ive hooked into big stuff while fishing for smaller fish like snapper, so its good to have that extra line strength. Im mostly fishing for grouper, snapper, cobia, bonita, mackerel, and small sharks though. If I was gonna fish for trout, redfish, etc, Id lighten up my line a bit.So far Im not a huge fan of the braided line. Hard to get used to (casts great but has ZERO stretch), and when fishing around a lot of structure like I do, its lack of abrasion resistance hurts its effectiveness. About the only thing I do with that reel is freeline for grouper, I try to avoid fishing near pilings because it always breaks when it gets scraped.As far as rigs for catching fish, I almost always use a carolina rig when bottom fishing, be it live or cut bait (line > egg sinker > swivel > leader > hook). I also freeline live baits with no weight, just a leader. When freelining smaller baits sometimes I add a splitshot or 2 to keep them down in the water column a bit.Lures are also effective, although I dont use em much so I cant tell you which ones. I see folks using them all the time though, and I do see them catching fish with em. I have caught a grouper from the pier on a rapala x-rap, and catch a lot of Spanish mackerel with a size 00 clark spoon. Docs goofy jigs are a popular local lure that is mostly used for pompano but catch a good variety of fish.
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:( Thanks.One more question....I saw in the Publix the other day that they had grouper for $18.99/pound. Was this gag grouper or was this another kind of grouper? I ask because I would think that grouper would be fairly cheap so many caught in the local area.
 
eoMMan said:
:popcorn: Thanks.One more question....I saw in the Publix the other day that they had grouper for $18.99/pound. Was this gag grouper or was this another kind of grouper? I ask because I would think that grouper would be fairly cheap so many caught in the local area.
Click to expand...
Well, you might be buying black grouper or gag grouper, or maybe even red grouper...pretty much grouper sells as grouper for the most part. It is that expensive. They have recently lowered the limits on recreational (from 3 to 2 per person per day) and commercial gag harvest, and theres even a closed season on em now (feb and march) to ensure they survive spawning season. Theyre plentiful and easy to catch down here though, especially from a boat. Really great eating fish, no matter how you cook it. Nothin beats landing a keeper...well, except for landing something bigger. :popcorn:Where in SW FL did you move?
 
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Here is a pic of a brown trout I caught over the weekend. With all of the rivers being blown out (spring run-off), I did some stillwater fishing. The trout were cruising the real shallow water just off the water's edge. It was a lot of fun.

Gotta love it.

LINK

 
Nice fish S.K.A.!

Tried beach fishing for the first time this past weekend near Anna Maria Island, and ended up landing my first 2 snook. Live pinfish was the bait of choice. The only thing that sucks is that is closed season on snook, so they had to be released. Still fun though.

First one clocked in at 28 inches:

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4074/img00117o.jpg

A bit later, it was fish on again (camera phone doesnt take the best pics in low light)

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5278/img00120.jpg

This guy made some nice jumps and drag runs before he gave up. He was a FAT 30 inches.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8860/img00121h.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6875/img00122o.jpg

It just doesnt get any better than this. Catching slot sized snook less than 10 feet from shore. What a friggin blast!

 
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Wingnut said:
Nice fish S.K.A.!

Tried beach fishing for the first time this past weekend near Anna Maria Island, and ended up landing my first 2 snook. Live pinfish was the bait of choice. The only thing that sucks is that is closed season on snook, so they had to be released. Still fun though.

First one clocked in at 28 inches:

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4074/img00117o.jpg

A bit later, it was fish on again (camera phone doesnt take the best pics in low light)

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/5278/img00120.jpg

This guy made some nice jumps and drag runs before he gave up. He was a FAT 30 inches.

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/8860/img00121h.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6875/img00122o.jpg

It just doesnt get any better than this. Catching slot sized snook less than 10 feet from shore. What a friggin blast!
Click to expand...
Very nice job, Wingnut. :shrug: I went for the 1st time in Florida today and caught 2 MONSTERS:

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6994/danwithcatfish1.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4851/danwithlittlefish.jpg

:unsure:

 
eoMMan

Thats how it goes some days. What were you usin for bait?

The fish in the 2nd pic is a pinfish. They are one of the best live baits you can use down here. The one in the pic looks about an inch bigger than the ones I was usin when I got those snook. Ditch the weight, hook em just above the anal fin and send them out (they are strong swimmers, and hooking them that way makes them swim down near the bottom). Youd be surprised what will come along and devour those little buggers.

Im headin back to the beach early Sunday morning to try to catch some more snook, then over to the Skyway Pier to catch whatever gets on my hook.

Where in SW Florida are you?

 
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Wingnut said:
eoMMan

Thats how it goes some days. What were you usin for bait?

The fish in the 2nd pic is a pinfish. They are one of the best live baits you can use down here. The one in the pic looks about an inch bigger than the ones I was usin when I got those snook. Ditch the weight, hook em just above the anal fin and send them out (they are strong swimmers, and hooking them that way makes them swim down near the bottom). Youd be surprised what will come along and devour those little buggers.

Im headin back to the beach early Sunday morning to try to catch some more snook, then over to the Skyway Pier to catch whatever gets on my hook.

Where in SW Florida are you?
Click to expand...
Regarding the bait, I was using previously frozen cut bat that I picked up in a hurry from WalMart. :bag: . I know, I know, live fresh bait if always better but this was my first time out and I didn't want to complicate things by having to keep live bait alive (although it does seem pretty easy with the bait bucket that sits in the water).I'm in Fort Myers.

 
I need a fishin fix!!!

I havent fished in over a month, Im holding out for Snook season which opens here in Florida September 1st.

 
Wingnut said:
I need a fishin fix!!!I havent fished in over a month, Im holding out for Snook season which opens here in Florida September 1st.
Click to expand...
Do you need a license in FL for pier or beach fishing? A friend of mine told me that you didn't have to... but a law was passed and now you do... but I have no idea if it is true or not... what say you?I've been bass fishing a few times in the past month... didn't catch a thing... FL bass in the summer are tough...
 
Certain piers, like the Skyway, have licenses covered. Im not sure about other piers in the area. Someone told me that if you pay to fish, youre covered, but I dont know how accurate that is.

As far as shore/beach/bridge fishing, you definitely DO NEED a license.

Water temps are ridiculously high right now, which makes fishing tough. Around the Skyway, water temps have steadily been near 90, so a lot of fish move to deeper, cooler water. I imagine in lakes its even worse, cuz they have nowhere else to go.

 
I am late into this thread but I live in Florida and go fishing about every weekend from March through October and every other weekend in the other months.

FL law just changed - you need a license to fish from shore/pier/bridge regular fishing license will be fine. If you don't have a boat they have a special shore fishing license you can buy.

Went offshore this weekend from Cape San Blas and caught some decent kings/cobia/mahi. Never found the right bait for the big kings so we wound up being 'dead money' in the local kingfish tourney. Had a good time though. Comsumed numerous beers.

Mostly I fish the flats in 4' or less. I have a 16ft Hewes Redfisher. I am in the slow process of switching my inshore gear (mainly spinning) from Shimano to Diawa. Topwater in the morning; soft plastics after 10:00AM.

This Red Drum (Redfish) was caught in July near Carrabelle, Florida:

http://www.imagehostplus.com/v2/usr/293/001.jpg

 
Anyone into fly fishing in (or near) Denver?

I have a drift boat and make a few trips a year. Went to Bozeman in July to fish the Yellowstone, Madison and Gallatin. Also fish the Green in UT, Gray Reef and the N Platte (near Saratoga) in WY, and the Snake in ID.

Hit me up if you're interested. I provide the boat, you buy lunch and adult beverages. :jawdrop:

But you've got to spend some time on the oars/sticks. Cuz I'm not a pro guide, and I want to catch some myself.

 
Huey_P_Long said:
I am late into this thread but I live in Florida and go fishing about every weekend from March through October and every other weekend in the other months.

FL law just changed - you need a license to fish from shore/pier/bridge regular fishing license will be fine. If you don't have a boat they have a special shore fishing license you can buy.

Went offshore this weekend from Cape San Blas and caught some decent kings/cobia/mahi. Never found the right bait for the big kings so we wound up being 'dead money' in the local kingfish tourney. Had a good time though. Comsumed numerous beers.

Mostly I fish the flats in 4' or less. I have a 16ft Hewes Redfisher. I am in the slow process of switching my inshore gear (mainly spinning) from Shimano to Diawa. Topwater in the morning; soft plastics after 10:00AM.

This Red Drum (Redfish) was caught in July near Carrabelle, Florida:

http://www.imagehostplus.com/v2/usr/293/001.jpg
Click to expand...
no live bait?
 
The striper fishing has been great all season at the beach I fish during the summer, just across the street from my wife's family's summer house in Humarock, MA. Check out this monster my neighbor caugt two weekends ago - the biggest I've ever seen taken from the surf.

 
QUEZILLA said:
Anyone use bait caster reels?
Click to expand...
Sure, went thru a couple of cheap models, lots of frustration with the backlashing/birds nests, before finally laying out a little extra for a decent one. Lots to learn if you already own one, but if you're considering buying one, plan on spending minimum $100 for something for ordinary lake fishing. If you're looking at something for saltwater or heavier line, probably will need to spend more.
 
thecardiackid said:
Anyone into fly fishing in (or near) Denver?I have a drift boat and make a few trips a year. Went to Bozeman in July to fish the Yellowstone, Madison and Gallatin. Also fish the Green in UT, Gray Reef and the N Platte (near Saratoga) in WY, and the Snake in ID.Hit me up if you're interested. I provide the boat, you buy lunch and adult beverages. :shrug: But you've got to spend some time on the oars/sticks. Cuz I'm not a pro guide, and I want to catch some myself.
Click to expand...
If you are ever around northwest Wyoming, or southwest Montana, I'd be interested.
 
Nigel said:
The striper fishing has been great all season at the beach I fish during the summer, just across the street from my wife's family's summer house in Humarock, MA. Check out this monster my neighbor caugt two weekends ago - the biggest I've ever seen taken from the surf.
Click to expand...
Oops! You don't have permission to view this photo.
 
Fished pool 4 of the Mississippi a few weeks ago and caught a bunch of big walleye and northerns in a slough gorging on shad from the feeder creeks aafter a hard rain. Got my best ever, a 27.5 in that was about 7.5 lbs and we put 7 in the boat over 5 lbs. August isn't really known for walleyes but man that was a great day!

 
Pisgah Flying Pigmen said:
QUEZILLA said:
Anyone use bait caster reels?
Click to expand...
Sure, went thru a couple of cheap models, lots of frustration with the backlashing/birds nests, before finally laying out a little extra for a decent one. Lots to learn if you already own one, but if you're considering buying one, plan on spending minimum $100 for something for ordinary lake fishing. If you're looking at something for saltwater or heavier line, probably will need to spend more.
Click to expand...
I also went thru a cheapo, but finally ended up with a Shimano Curado 101D. I don't fish as much as I used to, but it cast like a dream. Forget it on a windy day though. I use it on a Jimmy Houston pistol grip rod. I generally hold a pole with my left hand, and reel with my right (I'm right handed). However, I decided to make the switch when I bought this reel because I can leave the rod in my hand after I cast it. If you don't mind it will increase the amount of hooks you set, especially when they strike right when the bait hits the water.
 
eoMMan said:
Wingnut said:
Did some fishing at the Skyway pier Wednesday night, caught some short grouper up to 18 inches, an acrobatic ladyfish, and these five tasty Mangrove Snapper. Just cleaned em up and got em ready to fry tonight!

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4476/9909.jpg
Click to expand...
Wingnut, are you catching anything this time of the year? When does fishing heat up again here in FL?
Click to expand...
Man, I havent been fishing since December...when the cold arrived here in FL, the fishing (at least where I usually fish) got reeeaaal slow, and with grouper season closing in Feb and March, I havent had any itch to get out there. A buddy of mine who lives in the Sarasota area has been keeping me posted whenever he fishes his usual spots, and he hasnt had much luck except for the occasional trout or redfish here or there...And the Skyway Piers (my favorite place for shore fishing) have been DEAD - the water temps have just been too cold....Its got so bad out there, we are starting to wonder if they will remain open much longer...They havent been getting much business, and if that keeps up much longer, I wouldnt be surprised if they pull the plug. Now that grouper season is going to be opening back up in a couple of weeks, and with warmer weather on the way, Im gonna head back out later this month, and hopefully regularly again after that. Ill keep ya posted in this thread on my luck (good or bad).

 
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E-Z Glider said:
Great opening day of trout fishing this weekend. Finally had some nice weather. My buddy landed a beautiful 20" Palomino Trout.
Click to expand...
Where at? DE just opened this weekend too. Granted it's just a stocking program and nothing like the stuff you see out west, but I still love trout.

I never go opening day because of the crowds. I'll wait a week before I head out.

 
Ned said:
E-Z Glider said:
Great opening day of trout fishing this weekend. Finally had some nice weather. My buddy landed a beautiful 20" Palomino Trout.
Click to expand...
Where at? DE just opened this weekend too. Granted it's just a stocking program and nothing like the stuff you see out west, but I still love trout.

I never go opening day because of the crowds. I'll wait a week before I head out.
Click to expand...
Central PA. Yep, everything we caught was stocked, but its still boatloads of fun. The palomino will wind up on the wall. The rest (about 20 or so) wound up on the smoker (yum!).

Yeah, there were tons of people on the stream, but this particular section is my buddy's back yard, so we didnt have to worry about it. Breakfast, campfire, gorgeous day, cooler full of beer. Good times indeed. :lol:

 
E-Z Glider said:
Ned said:
E-Z Glider said:
Great opening day of trout fishing this weekend. Finally had some nice weather. My buddy landed a beautiful 20" Palomino Trout.
Click to expand...
Where at? DE just opened this weekend too. Granted it's just a stocking program and nothing like the stuff you see out west, but I still love trout.

I never go opening day because of the crowds. I'll wait a week before I head out.
Click to expand...
Central PA. Yep, everything we caught was stocked, but its still boatloads of fun. The palomino will wind up on the wall. The rest (about 20 or so) wound up on the smoker (yum!).

Yeah, there were tons of people on the stream, but this particular section is my buddy's back yard, so we didnt have to worry about it. Breakfast, campfire, gorgeous day, cooler full of beer. Good times indeed. :lol:
Click to expand...
Nice! It doesn't get much better than that.
 
Wingnut said:
eoMMan said:
Wingnut said:
Did some fishing at the Skyway pier Wednesday night, caught some short grouper up to 18 inches, an acrobatic ladyfish, and these five tasty Mangrove Snapper. Just cleaned em up and got em ready to fry tonight!

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4476/9909.jpg
Click to expand...
Wingnut, are you catching anything this time of the year? When does fishing heat up again here in FL?
Click to expand...
Man, I havent been fishing since December...when the cold arrived here in FL, the fishing (at least where I usually fish) got reeeaaal slow, and with grouper season closing in Feb and March, I havent had any itch to get out there. A buddy of mine who lives in the Sarasota area has been keeping me posted whenever he fishes his usual spots, and he hasnt had much luck except for the occasional trout or redfish here or there...And the Skyway Piers (my favorite place for shore fishing) have been DEAD - the water temps have just been too cold....Its got so bad out there, we are starting to wonder if they will remain open much longer...They havent been getting much business, and if that keeps up much longer, I wouldnt be surprised if they pull the plug. Now that grouper season is going to be opening back up in a couple of weeks, and with warmer weather on the way, Im gonna head back out later this month, and hopefully regularly again after that. Ill keep ya posted in this thread on my luck (good or bad).
Click to expand...
Yeah, this cold spell sucked. I went once about a month back at the Sanibel causeway and it was too windy of a day.....didn't stay long.For the grouper, do you need a special permit like you do for the snook or is the regular shore fishing license okay? What do you use for bait for the grouper?

 
The fishing this Spring has been good so far.

The picture below was of a rainbow I caught two weekends ago. The truck belonged to some other people that were camping nearby. You can't tell from the picture, but it was very windy that day. The hen was about 18 inches and pretty fat. She was sitting on the bottom of a 8' deep hole. I caught her boyfriend two casts later. He was about 16 inches.

LINK 1

Snapped this picture on the way up the canyon to go fishing. We seen some elk, deer and buffalo as well. Good times.

LINK 2

 
EEO

I use live pinfish or greenbacks (scaled sardines, threadfins, etc)...Also cut greenbacks if they arent biting the live ones. No permit needed for grouper...Im goin out this Sunday to the Skyway Pier, theres been lots of keepers coming over the rails the last week or so...

I went offshore on a private boat Easter Sunday to look for some grouper...we went 35 miles out to 120 feet of water, which in hindsight was a bit too far...we ran into a mess of Red Snapper and couldnt get our baits past them to the grouper for the most part...Snapper season is only open June 1st - Aug 15th, so we had to toss em all back. We must have caught 20-30 of these badboys, and man do they wear you out, especially cranking them up from 100+ feet of water...I was sore for 3 days. My buddy did manage a 28 inch Gag grouper, and I brought home an 18 inch Mangrove Snapper and a decent Key West grunt. Ive already booked a spot on a charter for opening weekend on Snapper season (June 5th).

Buddy with the first Snapper of the day <-- check out the color on that fish

My 1st Red Snapper ever

Me with another ARS

Buddy's grouper

My best of the day

Dinner that night

 
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Had my best ever day fishing in public waters for Largemouth Bass last week while pre-fishing for a tournament.

Had 7 fish 5 lbs or better including a 7.5 and a 9.2

Couldn't believe it.

 
QUEZILLA said:
I caught a couple Spanish Mackerel today.
Click to expand...
Where do you fish? I brought home some macks Sunday...theyre great fried fresh...a recipe Ive discovered for ANY gulf fish lately is flour > egg wash > instant potato flakes w/parmesan cheese and everglades seasoning > then deep friedFriggin outstanding!
 
eoMMan said:
Nice catches, Wingnut, even if you did have to throw them back.

I was wondering how well Hopkin lures would work down here in Florida. They were awesome in the Northeast for bluefish and all types of kinds of fish. Simple to fish too.....just cast and reel it in. The lures I'm talking about are:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...1004000_151-4-3
Click to expand...
Kinda looks like a spoon with a treble hook...I bet it would work down here for mackerel...Im heading offshore again this Sunday to go for some grouper....Im not coming home without my limit this time. We're not going as far out as we did last week, I think we're hittin a hole at about 12 miles out...that should weed out the Red Snapper...Gonna take some big corn fed pinfish this time...lol

Man, Id go on a charter every weekend if I could afford it....nothin better!

 
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