Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    Yea.  The ba\est thing to fish for from Shore is Snook.  Without a
    doubt.  Snook get big and fight like Stripers.......no stripers dream
    about fighting like snook.  
    
    Check and see if the season is open.  Why not call Fla dept of fish and
    wildlife and see?  
    
    It sems to me that Snook season closed in February and opened again in
    March.  I can't remember if it had to do with spawning or that the fish
    were more lethargic and easy to catch in March.  The cold water drives
    them to the surface where they just sort of hang out and then fisherman
    can irritate them with plugs since they are too easy to find and the
    fish bite as a response.....
    
    Good eating fish.
    
    I'd use a bomber...about 9" ...in red and white, black or puke
    yellow/green.  Best thing is between tides changes near an inlet. 
    Locals will be able to give you hints about that area.
    
    Flounder, whiting, Pomano, Spots etc should be readily available from
    shore.
    
    /brett

    re: .0
    
    Hey Mark! I'll be wetting a line on the east coast of FLA the same
    week.
    
    In addition to the fish listed in .1, look for spotted seatrout and
    bluefish. A license for the week will cost you around $17 bucks.
    
    Be prepared to use some heavy gear if you go for snook - they are
    brutes!
    
    Sanibel is supposed to be beautiful - sound's like a fun place to be.
    
    				Robert.

    RE: .0
    	I spend a week EVERY spring about 50 mi. north of Sanibel in
    Venice.  The bad news is that with tighter restrictions on Snook you
    will most likely miss the season.  Last year Feb. and March were closed
    seasons.  The good news is that Redfish will be legal that month and 
    are great fighters on light to medium tackle!  They can be taken on
    lures or bait and are known for LONG strong runs.  As was mentioned 
    in .1 there is a great variety of other fish to chase there in the
    spring, and what you go after depends on whether you want to keep it
    and eat it or just catch and release.
    	You WILL need a non-resident salt water license and IF the Snook
    season is open you'll also need a Snook Stamp.  Almost everything in
    the ocean down there has season, size, and bag limits and the Marine
    Patrol is very serious about their job.
    	I usually go down the 1st week in April but this year we'll be
    there on the Easter week.  It'll be hotter, and there'll probably be
    more people because of school vacation, but the fishing should be
    GREAT!!!  I caught 18 Snook last year and would love to beat it this
    year!
    	I think I have a copy of last years laws at home, if you want a
    copy, or more info send me mail.
    
    	Impatiently awaiting my 15th trip down there,
    
    							B.C.

Rumor has it that I will be forced into making a trip down there this year 
as well. In march, probably Friday the 13th. Not sure of the dates, but it 
will cover that weekend. Interesting that I never considered fishing from 
shore in Florida. If I end up in Boca Raton, is there anyplace I should 
check out? I'll have to figure out how to get my gear down there, as well. 
Never made a trip like this where I brought my fishing gear. Any tips/ 
info/ suggestions. etc will be greatly appreciated.

leo

    re: .last
    
    I've only taken small two-piece rods down. Took them as carryon with
    no problems. This year, I'll be taking down some light saltwater stuff
    and will probably invest in a rod case. I plan on checking the rod
    case, and carrying my reels on the plane. (tackle goes into a
    suitcase).
    
    			Robert.

< I will be traveling to Florida's Sanibel Island for a week at the end of
<March. Of course I will be taking my fishing pole. :-)
<
< I will without a doubt be stuck fishing from shore, using a surf rod or a
<freshwater spinning rod.

   You'll need a saltwater license for fishing in the bays, coastal rivers
and other salt/brackish water and a freshwater license for BASS and other
freshwater fish.  Figure about $17 each for a 7 day license.  From Sanibel
you can hit Lake Trafford in Immokolee (about an hour east of Ft Myers on
Rt 80 I believe). You can also get some BASS action out of the canals off
most of the roads that run East of Rt 41.  You can rent a boat for about
$50 for the day at Lake Trafford.  You also are only a couple hours from
Okachobee if you want to go big-time.  Getting a guide on short notice this 
time of year can be a challenge.

  Good luck...

Al

I HIGHLY recommend that if you use a rod case, wrap all your rods in towels
or rags or something.  Make sure they can't bounce around.  I had a tip broken
on one trip and I believe Keith Dillsworth has too.

Tim

    Ditto on Tim's comments - I think Keith's broken rod was an All-$tar!
    
    I've never had a problem.  I've always stuffed a small handtowel in
    the case around the rod handles to make it real tight - you don't want
    the rods moving around in there.  I think the baggage handlers like to
    play spear chucker with rod cases...  
    
    -donmac 

  Another tip is to bundle your rods together with rubber bands to keep them 
from bouncing around.  Definitely use a towel or wads of newspaper or some
other mechanism to keep the rod tips from getting abused.  It doesn't seem to
matter how I put the rods in the case, the first clown at the airport is going
to stand the rods on the tips instead of the butts.  Plan on it.

Al

    
    	We have been down there a couple of times fishing.  It was great.
    snook, whiting, drum, etc.  There is a little fishing pier that we did
    pretty good on, you just have to get there early to get a good spot
    but most of the time it doesn't matter where on the pier you fish.
    To get there, when you cross the main bridge and get on the island
    you come to a main intersection. Take a left on this intersection and
    go down about 2 miles.  There is  a sign for a lighthouse or some
    other kind of landmark on your left. (Just ask some of the locals, they
    will be glad to help).  When you take that left at the intersection 
    you will hit a bait and tackle shop.  They will give you exact
    directions as well.  Pick up a couple of dozen shrimps, not to eat, but
    for bait. They work good for just about everything down there. 
    
    	If you take a right at that intersection you can go down about
    4-5 miles (best guess).  There is a little channel that splits the
    island in two there.  There is a place to park on the left before you 
    cross the bridge and you can fish the channel or the Gulf from there.
    I would recommend the channel.  Once again the best live bait is
    shrimps.  We were catching whitting and snook (all undersize but fun to 
    catch).  The best results were on incoming tides, cast out and slowly
    bounce and retrieve in. If you let the bait just sit there you will get
    picked clean so try keep retreiving slowly, use 1/2 to 1 oz weights. 
    
    	Also you can rent 18 footers there as well in Fort Meyers and motor
    over to Sanibel. Takes about 45 minutes to get there.  Cost about $75
    per day which isn't so bad if there are a few of you to split the cost.
    This will allow you to fish the mangroves and the channels as well.
    We did our best fishing there that way. They give you maps and
    directions at the boat rental.  Plus you can buy bait and ice.  Make
    sure you ask for a tide schedule as well.
    
    	We have been there in March and April and the fishing was great.
    I would recommend bringing your own rods and tackle.  A good medium 
    rod and reel as well as a good surfcaster.  I don't own a rod case
    (too cheap) so I made up my own using 4" PVC. You can pad the top,
    sides and bottom with foam.  I use my strap from my camera case to 
    carry it with.  Cost < $20 to make with about 6' of 4" PVC and two 4" PVC
    clean out plugs.  Looks like s**t but I go there to fish and not to
    look good.  Most people think I am carrying a Bazooka on the plane and
    stay the heck away from me. 
    
    	This year we decided to go to the Keys to fish instead of Sanibel.
    Maybe when we get back we can trade notes.  Have fun, we did.
    
    	Ken

    I returned a rod section to SAGE last year and packed it in a PVC tube.
    The counter person at UPS said that was the best possible way to pack 
    a rod for shipment, better than aluminum, etc...
    
    I have traveled on planes to fish and attempted to carry on my fly rods
    which has worked for the most part, excluding my 10 foot two piece rod,
    there just isn't anyplace inside most planes where a 5 foot section can
    be stowed...
    
    A friend has carried his fly rods onboard airplanes without a tube or
    rod case, he makes sure they are the last thing to go into the overhead
    compartments.  People assume that they are fragile and are careful when
    they see them....
    
    Greg
    

    I plan on being in sothern Florida around the end of March and plan on
    getting my line wet while I'm there. What type of terminal tackle have
    you been using for snook etc? This is my first time fishing Florida and
    would appreciate any info. 
    							Big Jack

    RE: .12
    	Where in Florida are you going?
    						B.C.

    RE: 13
     
      I'll be in the Miami area but I am planning on taking a day trip down
    to the Keys. I will be bringing an 8' plugging rod with me. I'm
    interested in renting a boat and maybe a charter. 
    				
    						Big Jack

    
    RE. 14:
    
    Big Jack,
    
    	If you are interested in booking a charter or renting a boat down
    on the Keys there is a service that will provide it for you.  They are
    called The World Class Angler and they are on the Marathon Key. They
    charge no fee for the service so I imagine they get paid a percentage
    from whoever charter they book you on.  They can be reached at
    305-743-6139 or FAX at 305-743-0392.  We are going down in April and
    they booked for us a tarpon excursion.  Just tell them what you are
    interested in fishing for and they will set it up for you.  
    
    Good fishing,
    
    Ken

.12>What type of terminal tackle have you been using for snook etc?

 This question hasn't been answered yet. Anybody have any advice?

 In general, do people normally use heavy mono leaders, or is 8-17lb test
straight off the reel sufficient?

 What size hooks? What sort of weights? Is wire typically needed?

 I'm making the final few preparations for the flight this weekend. I hope
the fishing's good!

 The Doctah

    RE: .12 + .16
    
    	A Snooks gill covers are about THE sharpest thing in nature!  Their
    teeth are more abrasive than sharp, kinda like a Striper.  I have had
    good luck with 40-50 lb. mono leaders.  When I went lighter I lost a
    couple good sized fish (and lures) from the teeth just plain wearing
    through the leader.  I make my leaders ~2 ft. long cause the Snook like
    to roll up in the line and may cut it above a shorter leader.
    NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use wire leader for Snook unless you're just out
    for some casting practice!  They usually won't go near it.
    	Hook size is determined by the bait you're using.  Small shrimp I'd
    use ~#1 hook, large shrimp maybe a #1/0.  Pinfish, which are THE premier
    Snook bait, I like a #3/0 Kahle hook.  I don't think trebles are
    allowed (too many people like to snag Snook) and NO gaffing.  You can
    lip a snook but be warned that they do NOT go limp like a bass, and
    NEVER grab them by the gill covers unless you want to chum with your
    fingers!  I don't like to use any weight unless the water is really
    rough and dirty and then IF I use any it will be a minimum size slip
    sinker.
    	I used to use 17-20 lb. line and lost a lot of fish cause as soon
    as I hooked up they'd dive into the rocks.  One of the local old timers
    told me to use 12 lb. and the fish will run out away from the rocks and
    you get to fight them back in, then (hopefully) they're too tired to
    take you into the rocks.  I tried this last year and landed 18 Snook!
    Fish TIGHT to the rocks, bridge pilings, etc., Snook are really object
    oriented!
    	Another good part of the fishing down there is to get a cast net
    (the round ones that you throw) and net your own bait.  It takes a
    minimum of practice (try it on the grass first) and pays off big if
    there are any Greenbacks (local name for little herring) around.
    	Above all, ENJOY the fishing down there!  If the Snook aren't
    biting there are plenty of other fish that will!  Wear plenty of
    waterproof sunscreen so you don't get fried.
    	Doc, I think I read somewhere that Sanibel and Captiva Islands are
    connected by a causeway, this could be THE spot for them as they love
    to cruise along close to the rocks.  I can see it now, nighttime, calm
    water, throw that Rebel Windcheater minnow right along the rocks,
    twitch it along on and just below the surface, WHAM!!  Drag screaming,
    fisherman screaming!!  I can't wait!  Four weeks till trip #15 down
    there for me!!
    	Best of luck to you guys!!  Let us know how you make out!!
    
    					B.C.

    Not from personal experience, but from watching Mark Sosin do it:
    
    8-17# should be fine.  Remember that snook have very thin mouths so
    don't horse them.  I would put a bimini twist of about 3-4' in the end
    of the line to protect yourself from mangrove roots.
    
    Tim
    
    p.s. remember that Mark Sosin has caught tuna & sailfish to 60# on 12#
    test, so your mileage may vary.
    

    re:.16
    If you are talking about leader ratings in the 10-12# range, 
    why not bring along a fly rod....   
    
    Greg

    RE: .19
    
    	This year my fly rod IS going to Florida with me!  I will still use
    a section of heavy mono as a shock tippet, probably more than the IGFA
    allowed 12 in.  Where/when I fish for Snook gentle presentation is not
    something you have to worry about, there's usually a lot of wind so
    it'll be more a matter of slapping the fly down where you want it.  I
    think my 9 ft. 9 wgt. will be just right for the job.  There could be
    a small problem "matching the hatch" for Snook though, people use
    bait of all sizes up to and including Ladyfish about 18 in. long!
    
    					B.C.

    Well I'd offer to tie you a couple of streamers, but I don't have any
    mat'ls that are 18" long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   With a 9 ft 9 wt rod, you 
    should be able to cast almost anything, but the distance will very
    depending on the fly size and wind.  So, an 18" pattern cast with the
    wind acts like a kite..... How much line do want out???  No chance
    across or against the wind though...
    
    Good luck with the fly rod, there is nothing like salt water fish
    on a fly rod...... Even here in New England.
    
    Greg

    RE: .21
    Thanks for the offer....  I really don't plan to use streamers THAT
    long as most of the baitfish are in the 4-8 in. range.  There is a
    tackle shop that is more biased towards fly fishing where I'm sure I'll
    be able to get advice on flies for the area.  In 14 years of fishing
    down there I've only seen ONE guy using a fly rod where I usually fish.
    This is Venice, Florida which is ~15 mi. south of Sarasota and ~30 mi.
    north of Boca Grande which is well known for outstanding Tarpon fishing.
    I'm going down near the end of April this year instead of my usual
    first week of April so the fishing should be really hot by then!!  Who
    knows, maybe a few of those Boca Grande Tarpon will make up to Venice
    by then!!
    					B.C.

    re: .16
    
    	So? How about a trip report? I'm (finally) going down there the
    	1st week in May.
    
    		Any luck?
    			Robert.

 I got familied; only about 3-4 hours of fishing in total. Wasted alot of
bait on bitty little fish. Not really worth mentioning...

    bummer. But itty bitty little fishies are better than none at all!
    
    		Robert.

    RE: .25
    
    Robert,
    	Where in Florida are you going?
    
    				B.C.

    I'll be in the Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach area (north of West Palm
    Beach).
    
    			Robert.

    	Fishing report for Easter week...
    
    	The Gulf coast of Florida is running about a month late due to the
    cold weather they've had.  I normally go down the 1st week of April and
    have water temps of ~72 F.  Last week the water was still only 68 F.
    All the locals were complaining about the fishing but there were some
    fish being caught.
    	One of the gentlemen that I've chatted with over the years was nice
    enough to give me a few of his own Snook flies, streamers about 4-5 in.
    long.  That same day I met one of my main goals for this year, my first
    Snook on a fly rod!!!  He was just a little guy about 18-20 in. but he
    still ran me almost into the backing and had me in the rocks twice
    before I landed him!  The only negative to using the fly rod is that by
    the time I got this fish in he was really exhausted.  It took me about
    5 minutes to revive him enough for him to pull strongly out of my hand.
    	I only caught 2 other Snook, both just shy of the 24 in. minimum.
    One was caught casting a 5/8 oz. white/red bucktail from the beach
    beside a small jetty and the other on my trusty old Rebel Windcheater
    Minnow at about 11:00 pm right tight to the jetty at Venice Inlet.
    	There were some Spanish Mackerel, Jacks, Ladyfish, etc. that were
    biting on smaller tackle also.
    	If anyone wants more details let me know.
    
    				B.C.

    re: .last
    
    Oh oh. I hope the water is warmer in the Atlantic! I'm heading down
    on Sunday.
    
    Brain - you know I want the full report!!
    
    			Robert.
    
    P.S. - congrats on the flyrod snook!
    

Well, I'm back from my trip to Florida.

I couldn't find any snook to speak of - things seemed pretty slow for snook
I saw just one legal (25") fish taken the entire trip - this one came from
the beach on cut bait. The trout seemed to be hitting good for the people
wading out in the river - I didn't get a chance to try this type of fishing.
A few early morning trips to the fishing pier proved to be a waste of time -
the ribbonfish were cutting me off as soon as my shrimp hit the water.

Spent the majority of my fishing time in the surf using bits of shrimp - lots
of whiting and small jacks around - then the snapper blues moved in. There were
some pompano about but they were few and far between.

Took two boat trips:

Went out for a 1/2 day on a drift boat and came up empty - though one guy
(a local of course!) picked up a 16 lb grouper and a 20 lb snapper.

Next trip was a 1/2 day sport fishing charter - tried trolling around a
wreck for some king macks - nothing. Went out a bit farther to the gulf
stream and started picking up dolphin - I got my first one - a 15 lb
female - that made the trip for me!

The weather was near perfect, the fishing was pretty good (unless you wanted
snook!), and the magaritas were wonderful. Wish I was still there.


				Robert.
    
    P.S. - for those wondering about carrying rods on planes - I found a
    good solution : go to a carpet dealer and ask for a piece of the
    cardboard tubing the carpet is rolled on to. put your rods in that with
    some padding, duct tape the ends and your all set, These things are
    indestructable and can hold good size rods. Best of all - the carpet
    dealers seem glad to get rid of them!

    Re: licenses...
    
    I plan on taking a half-day party boat out of the 
    Sarasota/Venice area in a couple of weeks (along with
    two of my kids).  This is the only fishing I will do.  
    Do we have to buy licenses to fish for a half day?
    What is the cheapest salt-water license?  Do kids (up
    to 11 yrs) need 'em?
    
    I hope-to-heck not.
    
    Gary 

    	I think that the party boat covers your license in that
    situation...  But, check to be sure...
    	The Blue Seas goes out of Venice on 1/2 day trips.  They're located
    right on Business 41 about 1/4 mi. from where it intersects Rt. 41 on
    the north end of town.  The last time I was out on it was about 8 years
    ago and we caught Red and Grey Snapper and a few small Grouper but I
    can't give you any recent news on how they're doing.
    	I think Marina Jack's in Sarasota has a 1/2 day boat also.
    	Another lower cost option would be the fishing piers in either
    Sarasota or Venice.  The admission might cover the license here also,
    but again you should check first.  The pier in Venice goes 720 ft. out
    into the Gulf and is quite popular for Shark fishing at night.  It also
    has a great restaurant at the base of it, Sharky's at the Pier.
    
    					B.C.
                                            

    Hey B.C.,
    
    I called the Blue Seas and the cost of the trip includes
    a license fee.  It is currently $21, same price for
    kids.
    
    Gary

    My wife and I will be headed to Sanibel Island in late April for a
    much-needed break and we will want to do some fishing.
    
    Ideally, we are looking for an inexpensive half-day charter that might 
    do some reef fishing or something that won't require her to do any casting. 
    Although a back-country trout/snook/redfish trip might be a great
    opportunity for her to learn.
    
    Another option is a party boat again for some bottom bouncing. Anybody have 
    any recommendations and prices? 
    
    I've read the notes here on shore fishing for snook and found them very
    helpful. Any other ideas or suggestions are welcome.
    
    Thanks for the help.
    
    Art
    

    In 1995, I'm going to have a few chances to go to Florida and I need
    some advice :
    
    1) I have a chance for a 4 day to 1 week trip to St Augustine (sp?) in
       Feb. I'll be fishing from shore but I need to know what will be
       around that far north in Feb. I'm primarly interested in reds,
       trout, snook, etc... Anybody know?
    
    2) My wonderful wife has given me the opportunity to take a week by
       myself to go fishing where ever I please! I'm thinking of going
       somewhere in Florida or along the Gulf coast in late spring
       (late May?) for some inshore fishing. I'll be taking my folding
       kayak along so I'll have some mobility. Any thoughts on where the
       best inshore fishing can be found along Florida or the gulf?
    
    
    			Thanks,
    				Robert.
    

    I've fished the general area but never that early in the year.  Florida
    regs are quite complete on size, season, species, etc.  If a local
    doesnt weight in with the facts, I can suggest some telephone numbers
    to call for the details.  I *think* snook season would be open at that
    time. As for other suggestions; there are piers in St Aug and at Flagler, 
    the Matanzas (sp) inlet has good fishing and you can rent boats in any
    number of places to fish the intercoastal.  St Augustine is located at
    the St John river inlet, and while I've never fished it, I'm certain
    you wont have trouble finding local access/experts/shops etc.
    
    As for your May trip:  With a week and a folding kayak, I'd head to Bud
    and Mary's Marina in the Keys and rent a room.  Should be right in the
    middle of *big* tarpon season.  Should be easy enough to slip around the 
    pilings and channels or fish the lee side of the islands if the weather 
    picked up. 
    
    I dont know about hanging a good tarpon while sitting in a folboat
    tho... 
    
    
    
    	Best of luck
    
    Harlan

<    I dont know about hanging a good tarpon while sitting in a folboat
<    tho... 
    
    
   It's called "butt-boarding", 

 
sort of like knee boarding, 'cept yur sittin' on your butt.

    re: .36
    
    	Yea, I think a big tarpon might just be too much to handle from
    	the folbot (could be a fun ride though!). I'm think more of the
    	trout, redfish, snook type of fishing.
    
    			Robert.

    While I don't know all the details, the amendment to the Florida
    state constitution which will severly restrict inshore gill netting
    in state waters passed!!!
    
    1995 could end up being one hell of a good year for Florida
    recreational fishing!!
    
    				Robert.
    

<    While I don't know all the details, the amendment to the Florida
<    state constitution which will severly restrict inshore gill netting
<    in state waters passed!!!
<    
<    1995 could end up being one hell of a good year for Florida
<    recreational fishing!!
    
   I'm not sure I buy the connection between the gill nets and the recreational
fishing. The gill net is set to trap a specific sized fish. If the fish is too
small, he can swim through the net, if he's too big he sort of bounces off the 
net during the retrieval.  I know that was an argument of commercial fishermen
and it makes sense to me. Those opposed to the nets made arguments that were
more applicable to the seine nets where EVERYTHING gets caught. Sure there'll
be more fish, but they won't have a great deal of size to them. One of the
big catches of the gill netters was mullet, which is a vegitarian and won't
bite for a hook and line.

    Time will tell whether this net ban we just passed will have the desired
effect, or just put 40,000 Florida fishermen out of work... Supposedly my Fla.
tax dollars are going to help buffer the blow to these guys. I'm sure it will
be too little for them and too much for me, but that's politics.

Al 
  who_voted_against_the_net_ban

    I agree in part - don't forget that the mullet are probably the most
    important baitfish in inshore waters - they have been decimated by
    the commercial guys. no baitfish == no gamefish.
    
    I don't know all the details about the ban, but I'm assuming that
    the ban extands to those guys who anchor thier nets on shore, and
    catch everything within 50 yards of the beach (throwing back the
    snook when they know they might get caught with them of course!).
    Last time I was down there, a couple of these guys got caught keeping
    the snook - The commercial fishermen were doing EVERYTHING they could
    to get these poachers off scot free!!
    
    Your right of course, we'll see what happens (although as I understand
    it, similar bans in other gulf coast states has caused major
    improvements in recreational fishing.
    
    			Robert.