View Full Version : florida fishing ?
not walleye, but I am going through withdrawl! Does anyone know anything about fischig gulf side cannals in florida? I will be staying near Tampa-Clearwater in febuary. I plan on a head boat-grouper trip in the gulf, but an interested in information on fishing the cannals for snook or whatever may be there. The campground I an staying at borders a cannal. Additionaly, I would like to try my hand at fly fishing with my first flyrod that I got this christmas. Any help would be apreciated.
rodbuster
01-18-2001, 07:09 PM
Been there done that.If you get out on a head boat try to sit in the back.See if you can find live bait to take with you they only give frozen on the boat.There's a nice bait shop by the causway leading out to ClearWater thay can set you up on the Snook.Their like catching a spring steelhead in river up here.I mean hooking them is one thing landing them is another.If you can go up to Tarpen Springs you can wade out by hot water discharge and fish for sea trout .They use light line and float a shrimp out in a current.
Have fun hope you catch lots.
Doug Burns
01-18-2001, 08:41 PM
Excellent area you should enjoy it. I have fished with Hubbards Marina (www.hubbardsmarina.com) in that area. They are a great headboat operation. We took a half day trip and caught our own live bait which they kept for us and then took an overnight trip for the big boys. We caught snapper, my partner won the pool with a 12# mutton snapper and I did battle with a couple small amberjack in the 30# range. Nothing in freshwater will prepare you for that. We didn't get any grouper but quite a few were caught upto 30#s.
Contact Wayne Irwin at Dogfish Tackle for your inshore needs. He's a nice guy with is hand on the pulse. Also check out floridasportsman.com for fishing forecast.
good luck, Doug
"got to stop wishin', got to go fishin', down to rock bottom again." Jimmy Buffet
Tim Roberts
01-19-2001, 05:22 AM
Contact Captain Jeff Hegeman, out of Tarpon Springs, 813-920-6308, Capn Jeff will flat put you on fish. Captain Jeff is a real pro and a gentleman, tell him Hi for me if you pick him.
If the fishing is as good as the first three responders say it is, I'll take a week off and drop in at my brothers winter place. Of course that wierdo :D will be playing golf instead of fishing.
how was the half day trip? I am hoping to do their full day trip, but it dosen't run on the day I need it too. I think we are going to have to chose betwene half day with them or drive up to clearwater peir for trip with one of those big boats. from the info on the net, hubbards trips sounded better. unfortunatly, I will only be in that area for a couple of days. the first half of the week long trip is for business, then we are doing disney with my 2year old neice, then finaly a couple days that I can go fishing, see the aquarium, and play at the beach. A private charter would be nice, but the trip is already too expensive.
Ricker
01-19-2001, 06:49 AM
mmmmmmmmmm....fishing and spring break
The half day trip was mostly grunts, a small panfish, that we wanted for bait. In march it is possible some grouper will be up shallow, but if your expecting big fish you will probably be dissapointed. Beg and plead to change the disney day and try to get out to the deep water. By the way we did the overnight trip that goes out 100 miles, sleep on the way out fish hard for twelve ours and sleep like a baby on the way in.
Good luck, Doug
Didn't mean to scare you off the half day trip with my last post. I haven't been there in March so it may be better than when I was there. Go down to the dock when the boat comes in and see if what they catch looks worth it to you. It's still fishing and that is always worth it.
Doug
I was there a couple of years ago, and due to weather couldn't go out. but, when I was in clearwater (earlier in the trip)I saw several of the 1/2 day boats come in. all they had were grunts. good eating I am sure, but not exactly what I am hoping for. I will probably do a day trip from clearwater. I tried the begging bit, but unfortunatly the trade show and mickey mouse thing are carved in stone. I would love to do the long/overnight trip but there just isn't enough time. I love my family but they do ocasionaly get in the way! (ha ha)
Nah, beaches, sun, nice things to look at, cancun, cozumel, dos equis, jamaica, red stripes. Fish ok, but preceding also have a high degree of attraction at this time of the year. I want to go, wife says we got to stay home.
umpie
01-19-2001, 07:02 PM
been fishing salt water for 10 years now and i love it . i go out on the all day party boats and have a blast . besure and take pin fish with you .you can buy them at most bait shops . like someone said get a salt water fish on and then hang on .i have caught fish up to 150 lbs what a blast . i fish out of fort myers and go out on the get away charters . i am going down in 2 weeks . have not fished fresh water when i go down there .a10 lbs grouper makes a 30 muskie look easy ,a lot more power. good fishing
umpie
01-19-2001, 07:02 PM
been fishing salt water for 10 years now and i love it . i go out on the all day party boats and have a blast . besure and take pin fish with you .you can buy them at most bait shops . like someone said get a salt water fish on and then hang on .i have caught fish up to 150 lbs what a blast . i fish out of fort myers and go out on the get away charters . i am going down in 2 weeks . have not fished fresh water when i go down there .a10 lbs grouper makes a 30 muskie look easy ,a lot more power. good fishing
umpie
01-19-2001, 07:02 PM
been fishing salt water for 10 years now and i love it . i go out on the all day party boats and have a blast . besure and take pin fish with you .you can buy them at most bait shops . like someone said get a salt water fish on and then hang on .i have caught fish up to 150 lbs what a blast . i fish out of fort myers and go out on the get away charters . i am going down in 2 weeks . have not fished fresh water when i go down there .a10 lbs grouper makes a 30 muskie look easy ,a lot more power. good fishing
they are one ##### of a fish. and tastey too, grilled with fresh ground pepper and brushed with a touch of lemmon butter MMMMMM!
I have never cuaght one but have had several in my salt predator tanks over the years. they are vorocious predators. I have seen them eat a fish as long as they are. and even had a baby (1.5-2") destroy just about everything I had in a small reef tank, even a porcupine puffer! I have an awsome respect for this fish and can't wait for the thrill of tight lining with a nice one!