Hi Pam and welcome. I joined retirement just last year. I'm still in the honeymoon phase where I'm pulled in every direction, fishing is one of them.
Bread balls and a cast net tells the story what the fish are eating. Sometimes ghost shrimp up in the estuaries. Finger mullet and manhaden in the canals. Whatever is running at the moment.
Lots of lilly pads and hyacinth. Large mouth heaven. I am truly envious.
See, I thought so. My brother in law was picking on me because he likes to filet everything including small fish. I like to bake whole trout, even drum and sheep's head bc they have such a bulging rib cage making them difficult, for me, to filet.
I've never tried this, but can they be fried whole? The ones around here are so small it seems like you loose a lot of meat. P.S. the leftover carcasses makes good fish stock. Don't like to waste a thing.
Use a sand flea rake, similar to a clam rake.
It's when a politician says he's going to fix the problem when he gets elected that gripes my soul. But at least I have CO2 to blame when I get skunked. I wear my mask when I go fishing just in case the one I'm after jumps up and kisses me on the lips. Don't want to come home to the wife with that on my conscience.
Is African pompano the same as a permit?
When I fished out of my brother's pontoon boat on lake Marion FL, I thought it was too high off th water. But that was ok for the wall-to-wall alligators. Bass boats are nice, but center console boats can handle ocean waves and currents well and you can walk about easy enough. I have a bad back as well and standing up from a sitting position is tough, so is getting in and out which makes a platform nicer. Your choice.
If you have shallow intercoastal waterways then waders are good for keeping you from stepping on stingrays. If you are fishing around the out islands, you'll probably drown. Sarasota is a must area for a small boat. I'm envious. Looking forward to hearing about your fish stories.
I have a couple of giant tackle boxes given to me by well meaning gift givers. I use the mainly to sort out all my accumulated stuff, like reel oil, sharpeners, terminal hardware, luers, hooks, line, tools, etc. I've got one for freshwater and one for salt. So, for whatever trip I'm heading off to, I pick out only what I need and put it in a small box. Planno makes a really nice backpack made for fisherman. Comes with flat plastic boxes. Room for water and lunch.
Are you sure you don't want to bring along a side kick to confirm your story?
Praying for your friends girlfriend. Get her well and take her fishing to celebrate.
See, I told you snuck was a word.