Went Fishing in South Florida
Posted: May 28th, 2004, 7:47 am
Just got back from 3 days of fishing out of Punta Gorda, FL. Really good fishing down there, that's for sure.
Bad News: I had many a shot at 150 - 200 lb Tarpon, but couldn't get them to take the bait. Tried pinfish, greenies, and big swim baits. All to no avail. We were fishing Captiva Pass, it was set up a lot like DI/St. George only the water looked like the Carribean. Pods of Tarpon (40) were just cruising along the beach. We would run ahead of them, and try to throw baits in their path. I had one turn towards my pinfish and then move on. The rest just swam on by. It was too windy the next day to get back there for a second try. We were the novices amongst the $500/day guides, but they didn't do any better than us.
Good News: Fished Mangrove islands, and flats very similar to st. marks only with deeper drop offs at the shoreline, and caught lots of fish. Mostly on greenies I would catch w/ the cast net after chumming them up.
Fish caught included:
Snook to 30"s
Trout to 23"
Redfish to 23"
Jack Crev
Mangrove Snapper
Spanish Macks
and a small Gag Grouper out of the mangroves
Snook fishing was awesome. They fight hard to pull you pack into the mangrove overhangs, and made for very good sport. Unfortunately the season was closed so I couldn't keep one. Fished out of a Hewes Redfisher and was pretty impressed. The poling platform was extremely tall and took some getting used to, but the vision from up there was incredible. Sight casting was extremely effective. I would recommend a trip down there to any inshore fisherman. We planned it totally off the blue charts.
I should have some pictures to post after Monday. Off to Ochlocknee Bay for Reds this AM, the vacation continues. Good fishin' to all.
Bad News: I had many a shot at 150 - 200 lb Tarpon, but couldn't get them to take the bait. Tried pinfish, greenies, and big swim baits. All to no avail. We were fishing Captiva Pass, it was set up a lot like DI/St. George only the water looked like the Carribean. Pods of Tarpon (40) were just cruising along the beach. We would run ahead of them, and try to throw baits in their path. I had one turn towards my pinfish and then move on. The rest just swam on by. It was too windy the next day to get back there for a second try. We were the novices amongst the $500/day guides, but they didn't do any better than us.
Good News: Fished Mangrove islands, and flats very similar to st. marks only with deeper drop offs at the shoreline, and caught lots of fish. Mostly on greenies I would catch w/ the cast net after chumming them up.
Fish caught included:
Snook to 30"s
Trout to 23"
Redfish to 23"
Jack Crev
Mangrove Snapper
Spanish Macks
and a small Gag Grouper out of the mangroves
Snook fishing was awesome. They fight hard to pull you pack into the mangrove overhangs, and made for very good sport. Unfortunately the season was closed so I couldn't keep one. Fished out of a Hewes Redfisher and was pretty impressed. The poling platform was extremely tall and took some getting used to, but the vision from up there was incredible. Sight casting was extremely effective. I would recommend a trip down there to any inshore fisherman. We planned it totally off the blue charts.
I should have some pictures to post after Monday. Off to Ochlocknee Bay for Reds this AM, the vacation continues. Good fishin' to all.