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Post by yankspert on Dec 7, 2018 7:43:49 GMT -5
New to your site and new to fishing the gulf coast area too. As a matter of fact, I wanted to spend the winter in Kona Hi. marlin fishing but the volcano put a hex on that! So I'm spending the winter real close to the sky way pier and my friend that has a boat there doesn't get here until late Jan. So, I'm honest, NO IDEA, but i'll be out there .. Hahaha
I'm from western N.Y. state and stuck there due to my retirement structure. I've done plenty of offshore fishing of all kinds but no experience with inshore saltwater fishing at all. That being said, I'm leaving the 80 and 50 wide reels home in the closet, but not sure what to bring, or what to expect in regards to local fishing. What can i say,.. almost every Spanish mackerel I ever caught was rigged as a marlin bait! I looked through the posts and stickys, but still not sure what to expect when i get there. I'll be in the area from Jan 1st through April 1st and wondering what I can expect to catch there,... and what tackle to bring with me... so any help would be appreciated. I guess i'll just run some questions that i have and see what your thoughts are.
What can i REALLY expect to catch in January??? of that,.. what is really the best eating??? I'll learn how, just want to know what I'd be targeting, and what tackle to bring. I'm bringing 2 stiff Penn spinfisher rods with 6500 shimano baitrunners, I would think these would be ideal for gag grouper but not sure if people target them for release after Jan 1st??.. My other question regarding gags is... HAS ANYONE TRIED USING A KITE TO TARGET THEM??? I can't help but think a kite would work great there? I'm bringing a couple kites and heading to the keys sail-fishing at some point over winter, so I have to ask if fishing kites are ever used off the piers? I'm also bringing another stiff spinning outfit for the bridge, along with an inshore, 7' med action spinning outfit witha 3000 series reel and 10 lb braid.. another light spinning outfit, and a 6' bass rod i plan using as a sabiki rod.
What else will I need??? and ANY other info would be appreciated... Thanks in advance!
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Post by seabird on Dec 7, 2018 9:20:03 GMT -5
yankspert: Welcome to the forum and the Tampa Bay area! Reading the posts and the stickys is a good start. I am not real experienced yet with pier fishing...had started in 2015. There are many experienced anglers here that will have good advice.
Given you will be here in January, winter time fishing is what you will encounter. Many people go after the tasty sheepshead. Others target trout and whiting. Grouper will be closed by time you get here. Just walking the piers, observing and talking will get you a lot of information. Local bait and tackle shops such as Tatums, the Bait Bucket can offer advice on lures, bait etc. The bait houses on each Skyway pier will have information as well.
Enjoy your stay here and dodging a rough winter up north!
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Post by shadowxmas on Dec 7, 2018 12:56:52 GMT -5
Welcome yankspert, www.myfwc.com is a good place to get fish identifications and the regulations. The Skyway Piers bait shops also have copies of the regulation booklets. You can also pick them up in bait shops ad Walmart. You can get your fishing license at Walmart if you need it for fishing elsewhere besides the Skyway Piers.
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Post by parkpass on Dec 7, 2018 15:35:13 GMT -5
I've never seen anyone use kites on the SSP, don't fish the NSP so can't say. The gear you mentioned sounds adequate for inshore, but I would not target Gags once season closes, you might get yelled at..ha
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Post by yankspert on Dec 9, 2018 7:13:56 GMT -5
Well thanks for the welcome all, not sure how to reply to a single post.. haha I'll probably be out to see what the fishing is like and to see the pier itself when I 1st. get there. Kinda sucks the gag season closes the day i get there.... That seems to be the best fighting/food fish to be caught off the pier??? And I can't help but think that with the right wind and a kite... I could drop 2 baits right where I wanted them, and if weighted, to the exact/ or any depth you wanted your bait.. As I said, I am heading to the keys in February, so I might fly a kite 1 day just to get the bugs out, I've read post of sharks, but do any blacktip sharks ever around in the bay at all... like in January?? haha. Like I said, I have no idea what the gulf side supports.. But that's a delightful meal if you have them...lol
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Post by montylfl on Dec 10, 2018 0:12:37 GMT -5
Jan is a great time to load up on some silver trout. A Khoikhoi and a shrimp on light tackle no more than 20lb line will do the trip.
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Post by parkpass on Dec 10, 2018 0:36:19 GMT -5
You might save a chunk of money if you bypass this area entirely. Reading your posts raises my anxiety level..
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Post by havetofish on Dec 10, 2018 10:12:23 GMT -5
Well thanks for the welcome all, not sure how to reply to a single post.. Just use the quote button on the message you want to reply to.
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Post by yankspert on Dec 12, 2018 21:53:34 GMT -5
You might save a chunk of money if you bypass this area entirely. Reading your posts raises my anxiety level.. Anxiety level... ? you lost me bud, and I'm thinking this might be the cheapest fishing i've ever done??? And It was you I was wondering how to reply to. You replied about the gags out of season,.. Like I said I was wondering,.. Guess if I use a kite it will be off the surface.. haha
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Post by YodaFisherman on Dec 13, 2018 7:57:27 GMT -5
I have only seen kite fishing along the Atlantic side of Florida. In the Tampa area the Dolphin cause more trouble than you can imagine. I know Mackerelman has had them steal his bait bucket and I have watched them open the top of my 5 gallon buckets to get to my pinfish. Although it would be amusing to see a Dolphin swim around pulling kite. LOL
Having a bait splashing on the surface is a great way to catch a number of good species, but it also calls flipper quickly. Trolley rigging is the better method, if flipper comes a calling you can lift the bait out of the water. Unfortunately, once they know there is bait to be had, they will hang in the area. I have had days out there where they set up shop and cruise the pier. There are other days they are nowhere to be seen. One specific one, nicknamed "Fin" because of a mangled dorsal fin and tail fluke, is particularly adept at stealing bait and your catch. I have also watched them herd Mackerel toward the pier hoping to steel one once it's hooked. This happens at the Ft. Desoto Gulf pier more than anywhere else.
Spend some time looking into fishing the causeways as well. It's a different style of fishing, but can produce nicely once you learn the right methods.
I have been fishing the Atlantic coast of North America from Rockport Massachusetts all the way to Miami Florida, from piers and in the surf, for most of my life. Fishing the Tampa Bay area was totally new and I had to learn all over again to be successful.
Hope you become as big a fan of the Gulf Coast area as I have become. I plan to spend a lot of time in the area in retirement, although the wife wants to move to Coast Rica. LOL
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Post by SkyJay on Dec 13, 2018 9:32:58 GMT -5
I saw a guy Kite fishing on the South Pier one time. He had a pretty tough day, and finally gave up. Birds, current, other anglers, and lack of fish did him in that day. Not to say you shouldn't try again. Just giving you an idea of the obstacles you'll be facing. Seems like it would work great for Kings on top, but personally I don't think it would be practicle for Gags except on extremly slow to slack tides on days the wind is blowing in excactly the right direction.
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Post by yankspert on Dec 19, 2018 7:06:10 GMT -5
Yea Yoda, was just a thought,.. I hadn't thought about flipper,.. but my friend that has a place down there had mentioned what a pain they can be. I guess if I get 1 out it will only be to make sure it flies or to target something specific.. (Jay has vision, he can see a King just ATTACKING that bait on the surface) But yes, I'm bringing the kites for a trip to the Keys while I'm down there. I even packed a few #30 rigs to troll with when I'm down there. I've fished all over but all my saltwater fishing has been mainly offshore and i never did much inshore fishing other than for bait! I spent alot of time in Hatteras, but not knowing the sound well, I spent most of my time offshore.
Like I sad, no idea what to expect but I've realized that being there in the winter most of the pier fishing will be for smaller table fare. Am i wrong maybe???
I'm just not sure what to pack! For the pier I'm bringing a couple stiff spinning rods??? for that lift! I'm also packing a med/heavy 4000/15lb test. type rod, a junk reel/6ft uglystick, a bass rod i can also use for a sabiki rig, and an utralight for some freshwater crappies. I'm also probably going to buy myself a nice lightweight 3000 series spinning outfit while I'm down there. (see some nice used stuff on craigslist down there)
If you can think of anyt5hing else I might need let me know.. It's snowing and I'm packing! Thanks for the replies guys!
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