Went out with my friend Bill on Wednesday for the first time this year.
We spent more time fishing than catching
It was great to be on the water.
Fish count for the day 2 large mouth Bass
1 puffer fish and 7 Small mangrove snapper.
Still a fun time.
Good evening BC that's all good information.
I'm down in southern Florida.
And yes shrimp catches everything.
My advice is to fish with small light hooks and weights with small pieces of shrimp.
Around bridge pilings sea walls and docks
Use the small baits with bigger tackle to
Catch some larger fish.
Another way I've learned an area is to take a day and hang out on the Pier.
Most fisherman will talk about a catch they've just made.
I learn more watching and listening.
Look like you have pretty much completed the exterior of the hull.
It looks fantastic.
Can't wait to see you making progress on on the top side.
I'm sure you will impress us.
You must have been fishing on Saturday that's only day with sunshine last week.
Did you get him on live bait or artificial?
We're you down by the harbor or Way up the creek?
Look for the bird's feeding.
You are right about the dolphins but the fish are there too.
The dolphins and the birds are there because the fish are there too.
In the morning I look for bird's.
After the bird's go I move to my regular spot's and work them until the dolphins get aggressive.
Then move to the next stop.
If the bird's and the dolphins are gone the are gone too neither one of them stay to far from an easy meal.
I've done very well down there this fall.
I'll get an update out around the 15th I'm out of town till Thursday and probably won't get out until the following week.
You need some tide for the fish to turn on
I prefer the out going tide for the jetty and the incoming tide for the Pier's
I would try the placida Pier the Boca Grande Pier or the Venice Jetty.
I would use half a live shrimp on a jig head tight to the pilings the sheep's Head are in.
If you fished the Pier on Beach Rd on the ICW go to the bait shop across the street from the Pier parking and he will get you set up for the fish you target.
I would fish the jetty with circle #2 circle hook and a half ounce egg sinker let it sit on the bottom just past the rip rap( Rock's)
On the outgoing tide. You need a bigger sinker to keep your bait for moving in the rocks.
There's a bait shop in placida on the road to Boca Grande just before the toll bridge Eldreds Marina if you fish down there they can get you set up.
Send pics of your catch.
We haven't seen any Red tide in over a year and a half .
The fishing in the South end of the harbor has been very good many many 100 plus fish in the boat days.
All on artificials.
Try a white swim bait.
Or a artificial shrimp ( DOA shrimp 1/2 oz clear with silver specs) under a poppin Cork over the grass.
Those are my favorite trout rigs.
Welcome to the stage.
I'm relatively new to Florida myself.
We could use a little more information on what specie's you want to target .
It's taking me 2+ years to get confident on catching fish here. Specie's tides and season all play a role in finding fish.
Love to help but need it narrowed down a bit.
Go to a old bait shop in the area that you want to fish and ask them if they know a guide that will go out with you on your boat.
And teach you what to use where to fish and how to work the bait.
You can find Red and snook in the same general places with cover and structure.
But the bait and presentation is different.
The trout will be in the grass.
Good luck.