Going to South FL

[donaldastwood]

Hey People, Im taking a trip down to S. Florida, not sure where yet, but I am planning on renting a car and exploring the canals and lakes as i hear the fishing can be amazing.... Does anyone have suggestions for locations (Easily accessible by foot) where i can catch some P-Bass and any salties (Tarpon, Trevallie, etc)
Also any suggestions on what are the better artificial lures for casting and catching P-Bass and tarpon specifically as i have never caught these species? Poppers, plugs, gigs, etc.
Im gonna be using a mid-weight spinning gear with probably 40lb-60lb Braid. Will i need wire leader also? I may take some anyway incase of Barracudas... But any suggestions to minimize guess work would be appreciated..

 

[Tequila]

I love fishing first and foremost Top water, and nothing beat a weedless top water Frog. The largest Bass I have ever nailed in Fla. was on a top water lure, dragged all 12.2lbs of through about 15~20 ft of weeds on 30lbs power pro. While I rarely get over to the East coast of Fla where you find most of the P-Bass, I hear that they hit mainly Top water lures also. The most Bass I ever caught in Fla in one day was 97 Bass between me and a buddy.

Good luck on your on the fishing part of your trip.

 

[lizardfishman]

broward and miami dade counties, east of the big cyprus swamp/everglades, any minnow imitation lures will work. smallish rattletrap (~1.5-2"), find a canal, cast around and eventually you should get some pbass/ lmb. sight fishing is great so bring polarized glasses. have fun

 

[donaldastwood]

Thanks guys, so weedless frogs, minnow immatations and small rattletraps and any lakes and canals east of the glades... Nice one!!
Just so im sure though, P-Bass are like regular bass and hang around cover and structures, and deep ledges and stuff like that because of their predatory nature right.... I immagine them to be like member of the grouper family...big mouth=Big Appetite&Attitude.

 

[lizardfishman]

well youll find the south FL fishing completely different from anywhere else because the water is rarely over 10' where the fish are. plus, in the canals, the fish are always moving from place to place looking for more food. so just walk up and down the shore looking for fish to cast to. pbass rarely stop moving unless they are tracking something or spawning. have fun i miss it a lot.

 

[donaldastwood]

Mann i am so damn excited about this trip!!! I neeeeed to get away from New York and i think that this may just be the cure for the NYC Blues...LOL..
Hey on another note... what about Gators?!?!? Cause if i am gonna be sneeking along canal banks i know im gonna have to keep an eye out for gators, any advice there? or is it just a case of staying alert and keeping an eye on the water edge at all times?
I know that you are supposed to keep an eye open for bubbles as they "walk" along the bottom, but that is as far as my knowledge goes.

 

[Tequila]

Mann i am so damn excited about this trip!!! I neeeeed to get away from New York and i think that this may just be the cure for the NYC Blues...LOL..
Hey on another note... what about Gators?!?!? Cause if i am gonna be sneeking along canal banks i know im gonna have to keep an eye out for gators, any advice there? or is it just a case of staying alert and keeping an eye on the water edge at all times?
I know that you are supposed to keep an eye open for bubbles as they "walk" along the bottom, but that is as far as my knowledge goes.

Don't worry about the gators in most cases you don't bother them and they won't eat you. Plus most of the gators you'll see are smaller than most NYC Rats. I've gone Fishing & Herp collecting in Fla for the past 15+ yrs. And while people will always tell you some great stories about this and that happening to someone or seeing something outragous, it always seems to happen when I'm not around. Though I did get to see the famed 8'ft gator strolling across a golf course about 10 feet behind were I was standing fishing. I Whipped out my fishing camera dropped too one knee and started snapping a few shots.

A good rule to live by though is whenever fish especially in freshwater lakes and canals in Florida just place this thought in your mind: That there are gators and in some cases croc's in every body of water in the state at one time or another, just because you don't see them doesn't mean their not there.

Have a great time!

 

[kafiltafiisch]

just dont splash much and the big guys wont bother you if any even do
good luck

 

[Dr Joe]

Mann i am so damn excited about this trip!!! I neeeeed to get away from New York and i think that this may just be the cure for the NYC Blues...LOL..
Hey on another note... what about Gators?!?!? Cause if i am gonna be sneeking along canal banks i know im gonna have to keep an eye out for gators, any advice there? or is it just a case of staying alert and keeping an eye on the water edge at all times?
I know that you are supposed to keep an eye open for bubbles as they "walk" along the bottom, but that is as far as my knowledge goes.

Stay with your ideas, anyone that believes 'live and let live' with a gator..won't! These are very dangerous animals and the small ones just as much so (they're hungrier). I've had alot of 'personal' experiences with gators (more than I'd like). Try and fish with a buddy if at all possible. In some areas stupid people have been feeding these things and they're not afraid of people anymore!

As a reminder we are still in a drought condition, even tho we have had some recent rains.

Just take care and enjoy your trip.

Oh, you'll need a fishing license which you can get on line or at most all Walmarts here. Same Wardens what for this closely and the fine is way more than the license (and they will fine you since if they just warn you they know your just going to keep fishing (and they can confiscate your equipment)

http://myfwc.com/Fishing/forecast/sor.html

http://myfwc.com/fishing/docum/E-4south.html click link at bottom.

And if you ever want to come back to MFK you HAVE to have pix! We all know how fishermen lie .

Best of luck,

Dr Joe

.

 

[donaldastwood]

Thanks for all the advice guys!!!
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I have cancelled my trip. :-( BUT!!!!! I am gonna be going to the Turks and Caicos for a week!!!!!!!! and a friend of mine down there has found a creek with an untouched mangrove system that he says is poppin with all sorts!!! So me a friend a couple of canoes and a few plugs are goin for the salties!!! Woo hooo!! Now this is gonna be a real Holiday!!