Budget saltwater fishing

[turiprap]

Now that I haven't fished for a week and a half, I'm starting to dream about winter escapes. I've never fished in saltwater, but from what I read, it seems that redfish are the both the poor man's and the beginner's most logical target. I just saw a magazine piece about fishing for reds south of Corpus Christi. It sounded intriguing, but how about other venues, such as Louisiana or the Florida panhandle? Anybody with any suggestions or experiences to relate?

[Bobb-o]

this spring break i am going on a kayaking tripo to the florida keys with my school, and am planning on getting a new fly rod for the occasion. I am also gonna bring my speargun, and hopefully get a couple with that. The whole trip is only costing me $370 including food and transportation. it is $410 for anyone who doesnt go to the school, but the trip is full already

[JP Z]

Another fish that I would assume (haven't fished for them with Fly gear.) to catch would be the different Jacks. Specifically the Crevalle. They are very predominant in the mangrove forests along Naples, and the 10,000 islands. And they are very voracious feeders who demolish topwaters.

[Paul Johnson]

I was in Boca Grande Fla a couple weeks ago. I hired a guide out of the local fly shop with the idea to fish for reds and snook and if it worked out to catch a fish on a fly rod. The wind really picked up when we were out and so it didn't look like the fly rod was going to get out of the holder. We were heading back to the boat dock to try and catch a couple more snook and as we headed into the channel area, the entire area was busting with fish and birds. The guide said to cast out the live bait into the middle of the activity and in about 2 seconds I had a Jack on. Man can they fight. I caught a couple more when I asked the guide if they would hit a fly and so he got the rod out. Ended up catching 3 on the fly rod. It was really cool watching them chase the fly. The next afternoon I hooked up with a nice snook on the beach in front of our condo, that was really cool also.

[JP Z]

Good for you Paul! Those Jacks are dogs aren't they? Man even little fish rip you up.

[Craig_S]

Oh, my favorivte places! I've done Florida numerous times, but now am stuck on the Bahamas. A couple of things about Florida:

There are no more secret hot spots.

Fish have seen alot of bait.

Fish have seen many flies and can be spooky.

Guides are excellent - but expensive.

There's a tremendous number of people around.

The Bahamas is opposite in nearly every way. But guides can be crummy and the situation occasionally a bit dangerous. Which to me just adds to the charm!

The Bahamas is actually cheap to get to. Never fly Island Express. They're never on time and downright scary! And lodging is downright reasonable if you look off the beaten path. Much like Minnesota, the Bahamas depends on the hospitality industry and the people are extremely friendy. They also depend on drug running -

Just Go!

Craig

[Ice9]

Texas and LA can be hit-and-miss. Taking yourself has some appeal, though. If your trip isn't in the dead of winter there are many options. Most of the gulf is much windier in the early spring--March especially. Lots of gulf coast wade-fishing isn't easily accessible and the water can be stained. Also in LA and Texas a lot of the bottom isn't solid so you can't walk a long way--pretty important to exploring and fishing without a guide.

I'll bet there are good website/chatgroups like this one. Try finding them and offering to trade trips or just hook up with somebody who can take you fishing on the cheap. I've done it, in fact I found a guy who put me up and took me fishing for two days (out of southern FLA) and we cleaned up and had a great time, now he's a fine friend. Also I have another friend, met the same way, who offered to take me out if I'd take him out. Worked out beautifully and now he's a close friend.

ice

[turiprap]

Great information, Ice9! I've thought a good deal about FL possibilities, but I'm kind of averse to the tourist scene. I've heard that it's at least possible to find "old Florida" in its panhandle. Any comment?

[Ice9]

FLorida gets a bad rap. It is crowded in many areas but Florida is a big state. Much of the good water isn't easily accessible to people who aren't ready to spend a lot of energy. Guides are expensive; if you want tarpon or bones it may be worth it but I doubt it. I've caught one bonefish and hooked (but not landed, thank god) several tarpon on foot. I have gone on my own on the east coast near Titusville for trout and reds, miami, keys, flamingo (back country--good fishing there, and rental boats), Naples. Never was it easy going alone, but always did OK. My personal favorite is snook, which are reasonably accessible in the southwest. If you give me specifics I can tell you what I know but I believe that there are websites out there that will take care of you well. Now if you're looking at Cape Cod, I can set you up beautifully there, and I prefer it to FLA but it's a June-Oct fishery. Easy wading and clear water and BIG fish (took a 25# stripe and a 13#bluefish this spring) and I'm very familiar with the mid atlantic especially north carolina and the chesapeake too, and mostly just go-it-alone wade fishing.

Generally though I'd echo what the post above says: just go.

ice

[Craig_S]

Say, don't get me wrong, I'm not poo-poohing Florida. There's some great fishing to be had, but budget isn't the first thing that comes to mind. If I were to go again, I'd camp. There's a state park near Marathon, and a couple of private outfits nearby as well. There's tarpon and snook within reach on foot, but barracuda is likely the easiest without a guide. Just make sure you have some wire!

In my situation, I always hire a guide for a day. In the Keys, that's going to set you back about $350.00. And as I said, with rare exception they are excellent. It's well worth the money for the education, then I fish on my own. Wading or rent a whaler. And the whaler rent will set you back about $275.00. In the Bahamas, you can get a decent guide for about $225, and a boat for $125. I'd take the savings and buy a Chalks Ocean Air ticket. They're sea planes and the ride is a gas!

This year we're going to Grand Bahama to satisfy the Misses. She likes shopping in Freeport, and as luck would have it, there's tremendous fly fishing for bones and permit nearby. Unfortunately, there's a car ride involved, so do-it-yourself is limited. But, the best days of my entire life have been spent with the whole family in a cheap whaler, calm days in March, and exploring un-named cays in the Bahamas. Sea, shell, fish, and rays. Mmmmmm.

Craig

[disco]

another spot to look if you are fishing redfish is the carolinas...... i've fished a ton in boca grande, as my grandparents used to live there, then they moved to hiltonhead...... we got a guide and went out and fished the grass flats as the tide waned and drained out of the grass flats (they have huge tides there, much bigger than the gulf side of fla)...... caught tons of redfish, though admittedly we weren't flyfishing.....

it would be tougher to go out yourself in that area, as you need to know where the tide is draining out of the grassy areas, so a guide might be necessary (and not cheap)....... but the reds are more plentiful there than anywhere i've fished em before......

i've done plenty of fishing in boca and gone out of naples into the everglades once..... both contain multiple fly-fishing opportunities..... boca is nice if you aren't tarpon fishing, as everyone seems to be doing that..... so the mangrove and flat fishing is never that crowded...... the everglades allow for the opportunity to catch multiple species on the fly rod-- reds, snook, gar, jacks, sea trout, etc....... just pound them mangroves at high tide and ya should come up with sumpin......

[Ice-9]

The original guy who asked the question isn't paying attention anymore; we're just thinking to ourselves and smiling...

Right now I'm thinking of false albacore out of Harkers Island NC. Last weekend was the big barbecue, first year I've missed it in many. Reports are that the fishing is strong this year. Last year I made the trip and landed one albie on two hits, both topwater and both memorable enough to make it all worthwile.

Backcountry in the Outer Banks is easy wade fishing, easy do-it-yourself, and hot fishing all summer, except maybe August, especially October. Primo beaching, too, with the only problem the hurricanes (I sat out my second this summer, a little one that brushed by but six hours of 80-100 k winds no picnic). Right now I'd take any salt water anywhere as long as it was above 50 degrees.

ice

[turiprap]

Believe me, I am paying attention and soaking up a lot of good information. It's just that with zero experience, I've found that I'll learn more by listening rather than speaking. Thanks to everyone for the input.

[priorbass]

WAS DOWN TO CORPUS LAST MARCH...WADE FISHED FOR SPEC TROUT AND REDS...DID OK...ALSO TOOK PARTY CHARTER OUT FOR $30...IT WAS FUN ...GOT SOME NICE SAND SHARKS...WE WHERE A WEEK EARLY FOR RED SAPER SEASON...NICE TRIP..MY SON LIVES THERE AND HE KNOWS WHERE TO WADE FISH...FLY RODS AMD LIHT SPINNING TACKLE

[Bobb-o]

question, i am gonna be kayaking the keys March 11-20th and am looking at getting a new fly rod for it. Ami gonna need a 9 weight or would i be able to get by with a 7/8 weight? I am not really sure what i am going to be targeting yet, probably just whatever i see, also i am planning on bringing my snorkeling equip and my harpoon, do i need a special permit for this, or will the nonres fishing license cover it?

[turiprap]

I'm looking forward to the answers that experienced saltwater anglers will provide, but just to show that I am keeping track of this thread and to show, that like most truly ignorant people, I do have my opinions, let me hazard this guess: I think that the folks who know will say that, while you can of course do it with a 7/8 and have fun, you'd be happier and more successful with a 9 weight designed for saltwater casting.

[Craig_S]

Well Bobb-o, you're going to have a blast. Some pointers - Fresh water fish are wimps. If you catch any fish in the 10 pound range, you'll wish for a 9 wt. That being said, I've caught 8 pound bones on an 8 wt. But wouldn't want to try with a 7. The main things you want to consider:

1. Make sure any rig is saltwater safe. Any mild steel is going to be a goner in a day. I just read a book that recommends soaking your saltwater safe, aluminum gear in the toilet tank at night. On a kayak, you've got no toilet tank, so I recommend wiping everything down with protectant - like Armor-all.

2. A 10 pound Jack (or any 10 pound saltwater fish) will spool anyting less than about 175 yards backing. I'd make sure I had 200 or better. Check out Orvis gel-spun if you have a low capacity reel. And you absolutly need a strong disk drag system. The most you can afford.

3. Make sure you have some wire. 'cudas, jacks, and others are toothy critters that put a northern pike to shame. These buggers want your fingers whole. Get a good set of stainless pliars.

Craig

[Ice-9]

I'll second the thought on the jacks...I had one on that beat the tar out of me and went all over the place then came in a little six-pound crevalle...I said, "where's my fish?" and the guide laughed so hard he had to hold his false teeth in.

Swisher and the other guys I know on the west coast always talk 8-weights, some badge of honor to take three-digit tarpon on them. I'm not sure why. 9 or even 10 for me...but I love my Scott sts 10 and 9, and confidence is all, I just like to use the familiar stick. A lot of the backcountry is jacks and snook under 10 pounds, smaller reds, so it doesn't have to be a big rod, but I saw a friend hook a big tarpon at boatside on a fluter and turn his two-piece into a travel rod in about four seconds.

Bobb-o, gotta disagree on the gel-spun, unless it has been improved in the past few years. I filled my Ross IV with it--got a ton of it on there--and every time it saw the light of day, stripes and blues on Cape Cod, a big stripe in the Chesapeake, and about forty albies and one misguided king off Cape Lookout--every time the backing stuck and jammed from running under itself or cutting below the coils. When I ran it off and then reeled it on tightly and carefully I was fine...but everytime a fish ran me deep I was in trouble again. And those albies like to go out two and even three times. I broke off two on backing fouls in one day. That's no good. This was the Orvis product. It seemed slick and the flattened profile may have contributed to the problem. It also bulged out through the holes in the spool. I went back to the old stuff, had no problems.

ice