Hi guys, I moved to florida recently and am finally able to start fishing again. Moved from NH doing almost exclusively freshwater and want to get into saltwater, mostly casting from shore or off structures. Any tips to help a guy get started? I'm pretty light on proper saltwater gear, just a casting rod, a big popper, and a couple hooks.
I imagined throwing some squid on a weighted rig or something, but would love to hear what you guys suggest before I walk into a tackle shop and embarrass myself. If it helps, I'm near Clearwater/Tampa and have zero idea what fish are even here besides sheepshead.
Thanks again!
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by halfabagle
In Tampa, red fish are big contenders same with speckled trout for small reds a gold spoon with a shrimp tail with the fin clipped off, for big reds a half a blue crab on a circle hook, works for tarpon too. If you’re a fly fisherman, a pink shrimp fly sight casted to them always works. For speckled trout pink and neon green paddle tails work best for clear water, or a white and orange shrimp DOA, for dark water root beer paddle tails or black rubber. You can use live bait if you want but for trout I’ve always found artificial works best. For tarpon, a 12 wieght fly rod with large shrimp flys will be able to bring you in large ones, but be ready to fight it for 40 minutes then lose him as he gets next to the boat. Honestly fishing flats it’s always the move, but you can shore fish for snook, reds trout, snapper etc or charter out if you don’t have a big enough boat for Some bigger stuff
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by TrustyPatchesss
Gotta get a wire leader. Some of these fish have big teeth.
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by Motorcyclegrrl
You don’t need wire leader unless you’re specialty fishing, fluorocarbon with a strong braid is more then enough for most species
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by TrustyPatchesss
Common misconception. Unless you're specifically after sharks or barracuda, wire isn't necessary.
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by jswledhed
Barnicals around structure will cut your line. Had it happen.
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by Motorcyclegrrl
You'll notice I didn't say a leader was unnecessary. Just the wire. A length of hard fluorocarbon will handle most situations. And if a big snook or goliath takes you deep enough into the pilings, leader won't matter anyway.
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by jswledhed
Lol, that's the truth.
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by Motorcyclegrrl
Come summer next year, take that casting rod to the Rod & Reel pier on Anna Maria Island on a day when you have a strong outgoing tide in the evening. Buy some live shrimp on the way or from the pier itself. Keep them alive. Rig up with a 18" or so of 25lb fluorocarbon and a very sharp #1 hook. Be sure the hook is neither stainless nor cadmium-plated. You want it to be able to rust. Lead will be dependant on the tide; I've used everything from small splitshot clamped on above the leader to 1/8oz egg sinkers.
Hook a shrimp lightly through the head, avoiding the dark spot of the brain. You want it lively. Stand on the uptide side of the pier and drift that shrimp under the pier. Let it go a few feet and hold it. Let it go, hold, let it go, hold. Do this until you're several yards under the pier. If no hits, reel up and repeat.
More often than not, a snook will thump that shrimp and give you the chance to try to pull it out from under the pier. You'll lose as many fights as you win, hence the rustable hooks. But it's about as guaranteed a bite as there exists.
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by jswledhed
Joecat
Loc: Florida / Rhode Island
Nicely said all hooks should rust out, I have seen a small shark wrapped in stainless braided wire it could barely open its mouth took it thru the tuna door to cut it off it then release it now that should of been on video not a happy shark laying on the deck but all went well , off he went
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