Cabin fever? Head South! Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season...

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
.

A room with a view. My wife said "I could definitely get used to this!"

There is a little boy inside of every guy, and some of us still like to fly kites....

The surf rod brigade....waiting for a bite!

When the fish were running, the word got out in no time flat! Kind of reminded me of ice fishing in a subtle way...having a cart to tote your gear to the beach or pier.

As a school of fish would pass by the pier, the rearward "catch" piles would stack up quickly as waves of syncronized rods foisted flopping fish up and onto the boardwalk. Spanish mackerel and bonito in this case.

A freshly caught pompano taken from the surf by a husband and wife team posted next to us using live sand fleas as bait. They say these are some of the best eating saltwater fish around!

I had an awful lot of fun plying the edge of the surf and wave washes for sand fleas and small crabs. My personal best on the fleas was 6 in a single scoop.

These cute little crabs came in several varieties, and tended to be a bit deeper in the sand. I suppose they could be used for bait, but we let them all go.

A small sand flea. They sure can dig and disappear in a heartbeat once placed back onto some moist sand! Blink and they are gone!

Caught this needlefish stranded in a long linear tidal pool as the tide was receding. Instead of letting the shorebirds find it I decided to release it back into the ocean for a second chance at survival.

Bassmatter Loc: Rohnert Park Ca.

What a great post! Sounds like you had a great time! Hopefully next time you’ll be ready! Thanks for the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing your awesome vacation! Good luck and be safe!!

Up north Loc: Calumet, Michigan

Try a U.P. winter I was still ice fishing a couple of weeks ago. And it snowed again today April 18th🤬

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

fishyaker wrote:

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
.

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear ... (show quote)

Great post Yaker, and beautiful pictures. We used to do the Christmas holidays in St.Pete.
Definitely the best time of year to be in Florida. Flying back up north after New Year's was tough, and getting off the plane in the cold desolate weather was even rougher.
Thanks for sharing, and don't EVER leave without fishing gear AGAIN!

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Bassmatter wrote:

What a great post! Sounds like you had a great time! Hopefully next time you’ll be ready! Thanks for the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing your awesome vacation! Good luck and be safe!!

Thanks bassmatter. I wish I could clone myself and let the other half move to FL while I stay here in MI...that way I could experience salt and fresh water fishing all year long!

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Up north wrote:

Try a U.P. winter I was still ice fishing a couple of weeks ago. And it snowed again today April 18th🤬

I know what you mean...it's still pretty cold up in your region! Most of our local lakes are open now, with a few still frozen but dangerous in terms of being fishable. As soon as the air temps rise more on a consistent basis I'll start heading out in the kayak.

I heard that folks were snowmobiling a few days ago near Baraga! We put on about 3,000 miles this season and that was enough for me in terms of riding! I kind of wish I had ice fished a bit more, but my priorities got mixed up this year with getting numerous invitations to join in on sled trips with my riding buddies!

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Fredfish wrote:

Great post Yaker, and beautiful pictures. We used to do the Christmas holidays in St.Pete.
Definitely the best time of year to be in Florida. Flying back up north after New Year's was tough, and getting off the plane in the cold desolate weather was even rougher.
Thanks for sharing, and don't EVER leave without fishing gear AGAIN!

Thank you fredfish! Yeah...kind of a mistake about leaving gear home! I should have known better! I spent some time in a few tackle shops and it was very hard not to scoop up at least one rod. Next time I plan to bring 2 or 3 rigs.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

fishyaker wrote:

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
.

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear ... (show quote)

Well, yacker, you picked a beautiful area in which to go. A little pricey, but nice. You also picked the time when the fish are very active. Now you know! Don't make that mistake again, my friend.

greenfrog Loc: Central NJ

Enjoyed the story of your vacation. Nice pictures.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Great post Yaker. I truly enjoyed reading it and viewing the pictures. The last pic is a Ballyhoo. We drag them off shore for kings, wahoo and dolphin. Thanks for a awesome report.

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Beautiful photos Yacker, almost felt like I was there with you and your wife! Don’t know if I’d be able to manage your restraint in not participating with fishing.

FourchonLa. Loc: Fourchon Louisiana, South Louisiana

fishyaker wrote:

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
.

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear ... (show quote)

Great post FY. Don’t know how you managed to hold out. Must be some serious willpower or a short leash. 😁 Thanks for reminding us to take the time to enjoy this life we’ve been blessed with.

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

fishyaker wrote:

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear us thin on patience for warm weather to arrive as we passed the midpoint of March. After a spectacular season of snowmobiling and ice fishing it was time to hang up the sled keys as well as stowing away the cozy ice shanty, hole boring drills and assorted collection of dainty mini rods. My wife was anxious to hit the road and make tracks towards the Florida panhandle to soak up some much needed sunlight and rejuvenating fresh air.

The plan was to bring our bikes and beach gear...nothing else as far as sporting goods. That being said, I did end up bringing a duffel bag full of parafoil kites along...you never know when the breeze is going to be just perfect for putting a colorful piece of fabric aloft on a string! A vacation without fishing...hmmm...not sure if I would be able to resist temptation when the water and fish would be right there in front of me all day long! The bikes came in handy, and we managed to put on several miles each day via local neighborhoods and dedicated trail networks.

Spent about 6 hours on average at the beach everyday over a 3 week period and it sure was relaxing. I deliberately left my rods and tackle at home, and simply enjoyed watching other folks fish. My wife was very impressed with my resolve, but ended up encouraging me to purchase a small metal "net" contraption designed to scoop up seashells and fish bait from the surf. That turned out to be a blast, and I had nearly as much fun doing that as fishing. Ultimately, I ended up supplying sand fleas for nearby fisherman to use as bait. One fellow even allowed me to cast his rigs out to gain an extra 100 feet or so on the leveraged fling, which definitely put a smile on my face.

Although I have been to coastal regions from time to time over the years, this was the first time I really gave some thought towards getting into saltwater fishing. If I lived closer, I most certainly would! I can see why those of you on the forum that live near the oceans enjoy it so much. The prey can be surprisingly unknown, large, and challenging to catch. From the piers and surf settings, I observed pomano, redfish, cobia, spanish mackerel, bonito, sailcats, rays and small sharks being caught on a regular basis. At times, the fishing was as slow as molassas...but when the action was "hot", people were bringing fish onto shore like a boy canepoling bluegill from a stocked farm pond. I did end up purchasing a small amount of tackle, like pomano rigs and "Gotcha" lures. They might even work for some of the fish I pursue in Northern Michigan!

If I ever go back to this region, you can believe that I will arrive prepared to fish! Upon our recent return home, we have been welcomed by continued cold temperatures and snowy days. During lunch this afternoon, I told my wife that I was ready to leave again and go back to Destin, FL..."right now"! She knew I was kidding, but agreed that our recent vacation was among the best we have ever taken.
.

Our Northern Michigan Winter was starting to wear ... (show quote)

Great pics and I can feel your enthusiasm! Beach is my favorite place. So rejuvenating!

Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

Appears you had a great vacation. Thanks for the pictures

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

flyguy wrote:

Well, yacker, you picked a beautiful area in which to go. A little pricey, but nice. You also picked the time when the fish are very active. Now you know! Don't make that mistake again, my friend.

Thank you! Agreed on the cost of things in that region! Higher than what we were used to! You could feel the excitement of local fisherfolks because the "buzz" about the incoming fish runs were flowing like electricity. You could absorb the energy just by standing in proximity to somebody with a rod!