GFF Folks,
I will be traveling in Florida during the last couple of weeks of April, and was wondering if anybody can recommend some fishing opportunities.
I will be with the family - wife and the boys 19 and 21 - in an RV, so we have a lot of freedom to move about and no obligations with regards to theme parks or the like. We expect to concentrate on the Keys and the west coast (Carribean) rather than the Atlantic coast.
I have no plans towards guided tarpon trips, bluewater or anything like that, but was aiming more for stuff that can be done wading or even from the shore. I'm open to anything - bonefish, redfish, panfish, bass... you tell me.
So any recommendations regarding gear, flies and other things I need to bring are welcome.
Any Floridans (sp?) who want to share a couple of beers or a coffee, I'm certainly open to that too.
Martin
Hello martin,
Here are a few pointers for Florida: the great thing is that there are fishes pretty much anywhere to be caught.
For bonefish, the southern keys is the place to go with a fast 8 weight, floating line, boneflies and some barracuda flies, you should be able to hook something. Bones are spooky there but they can be big. Better bet for bones is to go to the bahamas, which is not far by plane/boat. Small trevallies cruise the flats as well...!
Tarpons can be caught in the keys as well, close to the bridges and all the way to fort meyers. Sure bet is to hire a guide with a boat for the big ones on a 10 or 12 weight. But there are many smaller ones in the canals, causeways, etc. which can be great fun on 8 weight. Snooks are there as well and can be fun.
Basically I would get a 8 and 10 weight fly rod, a 12 if you want to go for big poons, tropical floating lines, a good reel with lots of backing & good brake, good wading shoes, plenty of suncream, polarized glasses, plenty of different flies and cast whenever I could.
Renting kayaks is a terrific way to discover birdlife and go after fish as well. Depending on the season, hiring a guide should be done in advance, otherwise you might be left with a nondesirable one....wich is a waste of money.
Be careful of the sharks in muddy waters, plenty of bull sharks and big hammerheads can ruin a day...but they can be had on the fly as well and that's when the fun begins!!
Tight lines Martin! let me know how your trip went!!
Eddy
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Hello martin,
Hello martin,
Here are a few pointers for Florida: the great thing is that there are fishes pretty much anywhere to be caught.
For bonefish, the southern keys is the place to go with a fast 8 weight, floating line, boneflies and some barracuda flies, you should be able to hook something. Bones are spooky there but they can be big. Better bet for bones is to go to the bahamas, which is not far by plane/boat. Small trevallies cruise the flats as well...!
Tarpons can be caught in the keys as well, close to the bridges and all the way to fort meyers. Sure bet is to hire a guide with a boat for the big ones on a 10 or 12 weight. But there are many smaller ones in the canals, causeways, etc. which can be great fun on 8 weight. Snooks are there as well and can be fun.
Basically I would get a 8 and 10 weight fly rod, a 12 if you want to go for big poons, tropical floating lines, a good reel with lots of backing & good brake, good wading shoes, plenty of suncream, polarized glasses, plenty of different flies and cast whenever I could.
Renting kayaks is a terrific way to discover birdlife and go after fish as well. Depending on the season, hiring a guide should be done in advance, otherwise you might be left with a nondesirable one....wich is a waste of money.
Be careful of the sharks in muddy waters, plenty of bull sharks and big hammerheads can ruin a day...but they can be had on the fly as well and that's when the fun begins!!
Tight lines Martin! let me know how your trip went!!
Eddy