Hey everyone. I am heading to Orlando from June 22 - July 2 for vacay with my girlfriend and family. Everytime we go to Florida me and my dad like to do some pier and beach fishing on both the gulf and atlantic sides. I have never been what any fisher would call hardcore (get up at 5 to be on the lake before sun rise, spend $$$$$ on gear, fish every day as long as possible), just someone who like to go out once in a while to the lake/pond and try to just catch some bass or sunfish. However ever since I started watching the first season of River Monsters when it first came out I have been itching to get into some more technical and hardcore fishing. I will be becoming a nurse within the next 2 years and will have a lot more money for traveling to catch some monsters (first stop is Costa Rica for some monster Dovii in Lake Arenal as I have been there twice before).
Now here is where my actualy question begins.
Everytime in the past that I have gone down I have caught relatively nothing, except a few puffers and a 1.5' jack in Key West. I have it set in my mind that I want to catch something of size, but it has to be from dock/pier/beach as I don't have the money for a charter or have friends with a boat down there.
So here are my questions
#1) I know there are smaller species of shark and would be on cloud 9 if I caught something of the shark variety (would love to hook on a small Bull, but that could get sketchy), what would I need for bait and is there any good spots in closer reltation to Orlando where I might catch such a beast?
#2) I want to get a new rod and reel to handle the situation, but still be able to use it in my northern home territory. Something that won't break the bank, will hold up to a big fish, and as I just can can be altered to work fresh as well (mainly the rod....I can always get a freshwater reel) - I've read what Jeremy Wade uses on his big fish adventures, but as though his stuff is just out of my budget right now....well reel wise anyways. I did email Jeremy though is hopes he could shed some advice on a new comer to big fish fishing.
#3) what kind of tackle would be good for catching a larger toothy preditor? I expect steel leaders and some 50#+ mono?
I hope some of these questions can be answered, but be warned I am NOT fluent in rod/reel/gear terms..so be gentle.
Thanks,
Kevin
Now here is where my actualy question begins.
Everytime in the past that I have gone down I have caught relatively nothing, except a few puffers and a 1.5' jack in Key West. I have it set in my mind that I want to catch something of size, but it has to be from dock/pier/beach as I don't have the money for a charter or have friends with a boat down there.
So here are my questions
#1) I know there are smaller species of shark and would be on cloud 9 if I caught something of the shark variety (would love to hook on a small Bull, but that could get sketchy), what would I need for bait and is there any good spots in closer reltation to Orlando where I might catch such a beast?
#2) I want to get a new rod and reel to handle the situation, but still be able to use it in my northern home territory. Something that won't break the bank, will hold up to a big fish, and as I just can can be altered to work fresh as well (mainly the rod....I can always get a freshwater reel) - I've read what Jeremy Wade uses on his big fish adventures, but as though his stuff is just out of my budget right now....well reel wise anyways. I did email Jeremy though is hopes he could shed some advice on a new comer to big fish fishing.
#3) what kind of tackle would be good for catching a larger toothy preditor? I expect steel leaders and some 50#+ mono?
I hope some of these questions can be answered, but be warned I am NOT fluent in rod/reel/gear terms..so be gentle.
Thanks,
Kevin
