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Post by mghitescu1 on May 24, 2017 7:25:57 GMT -5
Hi All; I live up in Atlanta and get to fish about 1-2 weeks a year so I spend the other 52 weeks thinking about fishing. I have next week off and plan to spend 3-4 days of it wasting away on the pier, getting a tan and trying to catch some fish with my 11 year old son. We passed through there last year and spent just about an hour there to say we did but did not catch anything notable. We caught a few small snapper and were on our way. I am hoping that after this coming rain that there will be some action down there, but I was looking to see if I have the gear right. I have a sabiki rod for catching some bait. I have a couple medium rods for the usual setup with the egg sinker for sheep-head, snapper and I have a larger rod/spinning reel combo (spheros 10000) for live bait or larger baits. I have read the forums here regarding the rock piles and tides etc but I was wondering if there is any other advice that you guys might share so that I can make this week one to remember with my son. Are there any other spots to check out near Bradenton or Tampa that might be more productive etc this time of the year or any party boats that wont break the bank? The size does not really matter, I am just looking for some action. I appreciate any reply and help given.
One more question , I am sorry, and this might be dumb, but does anyone use jigs or is this just not thought of as an effective method here.
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Post by Mackerelman on May 24, 2017 7:34:35 GMT -5
Put Your Son on the Sabiki. He will have a ball Out-Fishing You like My Kids did when they were young. LOL A good Party Boat that I would Recommend would be the 2 Georges. They have Various Trips to go on. They also have a Fantastic Crew. twogeorgesdeepseafishing.com/
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Post by Mackerelman on May 24, 2017 7:42:23 GMT -5
By the way, WELCOME TO THE FORUM !!!
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Post by detroitd on May 24, 2017 8:26:02 GMT -5
Depending on what kind of jigs you are referring to. The redhawk type may land a snook in the shallow ends. They are coming to the beaches to spawn so maybe the shallow ends approaching the SSP might hook you one. It's purely catch and release but fun fight.
Small banana-type jigs (al la Doc's Goofy jigs) may land you a pompano or who knows what..!? If macks are thick they'll hit a jig if they are in a frenzy. Jacks will as well.
It wouldn't be my first go-to but if things are slow, break out a jig.
D
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Post by aussieguy on May 24, 2017 8:32:42 GMT -5
grouper season starts on the 1'st
get on a party boat and drop in a live pin fish
seeing you don't get to go often... make the most of your trip down here
when /if you book a party boat make sure they have or can sell you live pinfish they will supply the tackle etc
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boanro
Rod Polisher
Posts: 121
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Post by boanro on May 24, 2017 8:44:20 GMT -5
If your looking for a party boat in the Bradenton area, look for Cortez Deep Sea Fishing. www.cortezdeepseafishing.com I have done very well with them in the past. Also, they usually don't get filled up, I have had a couple of trips with between 12 and 16 people on board.
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Post by Mackerelman on May 24, 2017 8:50:23 GMT -5
If your looking for a party boat in the Bradenton area, look for Cortez Deep Sea Fishing. www.cortezdeepseafishing.com I have done very well with them in the past. Also, they usually don't get filled up, I have had a couple of trips with between 12 and 16 people on board. Thank You for the Link.
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Post by mghitescu1 on May 24, 2017 9:11:51 GMT -5
Well I went and took your advice on the Cortez for June 1st for their 12 hours Snapper trip to close out the week. I guess it will be pain an heartache on the pier and then hopefully some fish on the boat Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful.
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gnome
Rod Polisher
Feeding hungry fish, one shrimp at a time, since 1959
Posts: 159
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Post by gnome on May 24, 2017 9:59:43 GMT -5
Personaly, I find jigs, or lures of any type to be more difficult to work from the height of the pier. They always seem to work better the closer you are to the water. But to answer your question, a red/white bucktail jig with catch anything in the bay. If it will chase a lure, it will hit a bucktail. It is a must have item in my tackle box.
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Post by seabird on May 24, 2017 11:12:15 GMT -5
Have a safe trip here and enjoy the fishing and this area. Many people have given out good advice. Welcome to the forum!
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boanro
Rod Polisher
Posts: 121
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Post by boanro on May 24, 2017 11:30:21 GMT -5
Good luck! I have done about 10 trips with them and have had very good success every time. Hope you have the same.
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Post by detroitd on May 24, 2017 11:54:35 GMT -5
Personaly, I find jigs, or lures of any type to be more difficult to work from the height of the pier. They always seem to work better the closer you are to the water. But to answer your question, a red/white bucktail jig with catch anything in the bay. If it will chase a lure, it will hit a bucktail. It is a must have item in my tackle box. Right! The redhawk style bucktail is mostly red with white head. You do make a good point about tossing them from the pier height. And lots of crap out there to snag on. I'd use them more in the shallow areas. D
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Post by jeremiahisbrown on May 24, 2017 16:56:10 GMT -5
Really, all you need to fish the skyway is hooks, leaders, and sinkers. Don't forget the dead threadfins and greenbacks to use as cut bait! I'm from Atlanta also and just came back from the area a day ago. They were chewing pretty good! The stripers and bass are still hitting pretty good back home on lake lanier also π
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Post by jeremiahisbrown on May 24, 2017 16:58:12 GMT -5
Personaly, I find jigs, or lures of any type to be more difficult to work from the height of the pier. They always seem to work better the closer you are to the water. But to answer your question, a red/white bucktail jig with catch anything in the bay. If it will chase a lure, it will hit a bucktail. It is a must have item in my tackle box. That's something I need to stock up on. I think that style head will be easier to fish also. Spro Prime bucktail jigs are money too. I tip them with berkley swimming mullets and tandem rig with it.
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Post by shadowxmas on May 24, 2017 23:01:49 GMT -5
mghitescu1 Welcome to the forum. The sabiki rigs would be good for you to use with your son. He will get a kick out of several fish being reeled in at once. I know he is young and he will enjoy watching and helping you reel in the fish. Sabiki rigs have several very sharp hooks and you have to be careful with them as you know. I have caught myself more than once. If you go out on a head boat check with the operator re the minimum age they would allow. Hubbard's Marina www.hubbardsmarina.com has a variety of trips including fishing and dolphin watching. With your son's age a fishing trip out on a boat might not be a good fit until he is older. You would want to only do a 1/2 day trip which is 5 hours. The dolphin watch trips are an hour and a half.
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Post by aussieguy on May 25, 2017 5:34:30 GMT -5
Well I went and took your advice on the Cortez for June 1st for their 12 hours Snapper trip to close out the week. I guess it will be pain an heartache on the pier and then hopefully some fish on the boat Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful. make sure you let us know how it turned out for you I want to see that you hit the bag limit on grouper and snapper
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Post by mghitescu1 on May 25, 2017 7:24:00 GMT -5
mghitescu1 Welcome to the forum. The sabiki rigs would be good for you to use with your son. He will get a kick out of several fish being reeled in at once. I know he is young and he will enjoy watching and helping you reel in the fish. Sabiki rigs have several very sharp hooks and you have to be careful with them as you know. I have caught myself more than once. If you go out on a head boat check with the operator re the minimum age they would allow. Hubbard's Marina www.hubbardsmarina.com has a variety of trips including fishing and dolphin watching. With your son's age a fishing trip out on a boat might not be a good fit until he is older. You would want to only do a 1/2 day trip which is 5 hours. The dolphin watch trips are an hour and a half. Thank you Shadowxmas, I appreciate your advice and concern. I agree that my son is young, but he has a few trips out under his belt so far and I think he will be ok. He might not be able to pull in the big fish on the boat, but I think it will be an experience that he will never forget and I will keep a close eye on him : ) The toughest part of the trip now is waiting until tomorrow to drive down and then waiting until the 1st. You guys have been very welcoming and helpful, thanks again to all of you. Here is a funny link of him from January off of Tybee Island Tybee
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Post by Mackerelman on May 25, 2017 9:00:18 GMT -5
Mghitescu1:Great Video ! If He can Reel in that Sheepshead, then He can Reel in a Grouper. Put Him on the 2Georges Boat out of Tarpon Springs. No Age Limit there. All He has to do is to be able to hold a Rod. He will have a Blast ! twogeorgesdeepseafishing.com/about-us/4350745
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Post by seabird on May 25, 2017 9:18:43 GMT -5
Good video of your son's battle with a large sheepshead. You had a beautiful day for that trip. Hope your next trip is that way. How old is your son?
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Post by mghitescu1 on May 25, 2017 11:14:13 GMT -5
He is 11, and he is kind of on the petite side, I cant get him to stop running around all the time and he plays lacrosse like 4 days a week so he burns more calories than I can get him to eat.
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Post by detroitd on May 25, 2017 11:26:03 GMT -5
Ahhh, above you missed a digit. Thought he was 1 year old. Eleven is quite different, he can hold his own! Mongo sheepshead!
Hopefully the macks will be playing when you get down here. If they're on a rampage, no better fast action!
D
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Post by shadowxmas on May 26, 2017 2:30:39 GMT -5
mghitescu1
When I first looked at your post it said your son was 1 that is why I said what I said. At 11 he can certainly hold his own.
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Post by aussieguy on May 26, 2017 6:15:40 GMT -5
I read it as 1 too and I just got new glasses
just shows they grow up fast in the south must be the grits
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Post by aussieguy on May 26, 2017 6:35:59 GMT -5
If possible you want to fish from the back of the boat (stern)
If they don't assign you a fishing spot... arrive at the boat as early as possible and get a stern spot
I have caught good sized grouper on dead bait supplied by the boat. Used a WHOLE sardine with the tail removed.. stops it from spinning
plenty on sunscreen and a good hat a hand towel
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Post by Mackerelman on May 26, 2017 8:23:17 GMT -5
If possible you want to fish from the back of the boat (stern) If they don't assign you a fishing spot... arrive at the boat as early as possible and get a stern spot I have caught good sized grouper on dead bait supplied by the boat. Used a WHOLE sardine with the tail removed.. stops it from spinning plenty on sunscreen and a good hat a hand towel On Most Commercial Party Boats in the Tampa Bay Area, You pick Your Fishing Position when You Purchase Your Ticket. There are some Exceptions.
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Post by mghitescu1 on May 26, 2017 13:39:39 GMT -5
Made it to our hotel, lol gonna change and head to the pier . Everyone seems to think South side is a good spot to start.
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Post by kinggeorgeiii on May 26, 2017 13:47:19 GMT -5
Made it to our hotel, lol gonna change and head to the pier . Everyone seems to think South side is a good spot to start. Good luck bro, make sure to keep us updated ππΌπ£
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Post by detroitd on May 26, 2017 14:41:00 GMT -5
Made it to our hotel, lol gonna change and head to the pier . Everyone seems to think South side is a good spot to start. Good start but keep a cool head. Weekend warriors and holiday weekenders no less. I tend to fish during the week, if a weekend I'm there about 6am and gone by noon. Gets crowded with jackwagons. Also, supposed to go up to the 90s so keep a cool head by hydrating. It creeps up on ya real fast. Sunscreen, water, water, water! Seems mangos are making a comeback along the structures. Hopefully macks show up to play. Have a good weekend. Let us know how you do. D
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Post by Mackerelman on May 26, 2017 15:18:20 GMT -5
Fish the Outgoing Tide in the Early Morning just Before & During Sunrise.
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Post by justfish on May 26, 2017 16:55:31 GMT -5
I'll be at the north pier on Monday morning, I'll be the one catching all the fish with a red Elantra π¬π Anyone else goin to the piers Monday?
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