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Post by walleyealx on Jul 30, 2019 13:49:06 GMT -5
Hello all!
New to the Tampa area. I'm going to be living down here for 4-5 years and fishing on the weekends is going to be my main past time. I want to maximize my time off and I'm debating on whether or not fishing at the Skyway pier is enough to sway me from joining Freedom Boat Club.
I've fished quite a bit off of the piers in the panhandle and had a blast. It didn't take me long to learn the local techniques. There was often something fun biting and occasionally fish like mahi, sailfish, big schools of bull reds, jacks, and tuna to spice things up. If I was going to be living up there I would not join a boat club as I would be pretty sure that I could at least have a shot at having some semi-consistent success up there. The fishing down here seems to be a bit different and I'm not very experienced doing inshore type stuff; however, I'm confident that I will be able to adapt and learn pretty well.
Of course I know that I'm not going to slay the fishing every day, or even every other day, whether it be from a pier or a boat, but I just want to give myself a good shot. I've been skunked on many occasions, but as long as the potential is there I'm willing to put in the time. I think my learning curve would be higher from a boat just because I've never ran my own boat on saltwater (I've fished a lot from my own boats in fresh), but maybe the potential is there for catching more fish consistently than I could from the pier. On the other hand, the pier is right there and I don't have to worry as much about finding a spot to fish or even getting caught out in a storm.
Do you get good runs of kings? Do any of you have access to boats but still fish on the Skyway regularly?
One of the freedom boat club locations is ~10 minutes from where I'm living and the closest Skyway pier is about 45-50 minutes away. I'm willing to pony up and join, but if I'm not going to do that much better then I can save a lot of $$ for other stuff by fishing from the pier.
Side note: I will be fishing solo most of the time, both pier and boat.
TL;DR: I want to fish a lot down here, don't want to mess with owning a boat but considering joining FBC, wondering if one can get good enough at the Skyway to catch fish on a semi-consistent basis.
Sorry for the semi-coherent rambling. Thanks ahead of time for your input.
Alex
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Post by phishead on Jul 30, 2019 14:01:27 GMT -5
Hello all! New to the Tampa area. I'm going to be living down here for 4-5 years and fishing on the weekends is going to be my main past time. I want to maximize my time off and I'm debating on whether or not fishing at the Skyway pier is enough to sway me from joining Freedom Boat Club. I've fished quite a bit off of the piers in the panhandle and had a blast. It didn't take me long to learn the local techniques. There was often something fun biting and occasionally fish like mahi, sailfish, big schools of bull reds, jacks, and tuna to spice things up. If I was going to be living up there I would not join a boat club as I would be pretty sure that I could at least have a shot at having some semi-consistent success up there. The fishing down here seems to be a bit different and I'm not very experienced doing inshore type stuff; however, I'm confident that I will be able to adapt and learn pretty well. Of course I know that I'm not going to slay the fishing every day, or even every other day, whether it be from a pier or a boat, but I just want to give myself a good shot. I've been skunked on many occasions, but as long as the potential is there I'm willing to put in the time. I think my learning curve would be higher from a boat just because I've never ran my own boat on saltwater (I've fished a lot from my own boats in fresh), but maybe the potential is there for catching more fish consistently than I could from the pier. On the other hand, the pier is right there and I don't have to worry as much about finding a spot to fish or even getting caught out in a storm. Do you get good runs of kings? Do any of you have access to boats but still fish on the Skyway regularly? One of the freedom boat club locations is ~10 minutes from where I'm living and the closest Skyway pier is about 45-50 minutes away. I'm willing to pony up and join, but if I'm not going to do that much better then I can save a lot of $$ for other stuff by fishing from the pier. Side note: I will be fishing solo most of the time, both pier and boat.TL;DR: I want to fish a lot down here, don't want to mess with owning a boat but considering joining FBC, wondering if one can get good enough at the Skyway to catch fish on a semi-consistent basis. Sorry for the semi-coherent rambling. Thanks ahead of time for your input. Alex I love the pier. Because of the convenience. And I can fish before and after work without all hassle. However, every time I went out on a boat inshore or offshore, we got more, bigger and other fish. I don’t think you can compare the two. |
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Post by seabird on Jul 30, 2019 16:49:08 GMT -5
walleyelx, If you know where to fish offshore and can afford a Freedom Boat membership, that would be much better in terms of variety and size of fish vs the Skyway piers. I agree with phishead.
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Post by aussieguy on Jul 30, 2019 18:10:35 GMT -5
Freedom boat club .... not for me
I bought a used boat and trailer + fixed it up for LESS than the joining fee and the first years membership
+ got Seatow membership
major difference between salt and fresh water boating .. FLUSH motor + Flush motor again + hose down the hull
you said you had fresh water boat .... otherwise really not that much more different
Now some people on this forum will swear by the Freedom Club and that is their right
BUT
own my boat and can do whatever / whenever I like
don't have to teach the fish to bite between 9am-5pm
can modify to my taste .... got me the 9 inch Garmin Charts + fish finder + sidescan sonar toooooooooo
can go out for the weekend .... got a cabin potty and bunks
my understanding is if you sign up with Freedom you are committing to 3 YEARS
which is around $8,200
buy a boat for around 8,000 give it the TLC it needs enjoy it for a few years
then sell it for if you stop fishing you'll get something for it if you looked after it
Freedom.... they don't have terms and conditions on their website
so ASK these questions before EVEN LOOKING at that dotted line
1) If I return late what is the penalty
2) Gas cost?
3) If I kill the motor running at high speed/revs am I responsible for LOTS of $$$$$
IF yes .... ask them if the previous boater thrashed the boat at high revs ... but it didn't become apparent until I took it out. Am I still responsible?
I won't do business with a company such as freedom when I can't review the terms and conditions without having a Sales Person standing over me
another option...
private charter or party boat 8,000 will get you some good time on the water especially if you can find a buddy or two .. to split the cost of a charter
you can the supplement your time with trips to the pier
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Post by willdawson84 on Jul 30, 2019 19:09:40 GMT -5
Very valid points and to ad one to that i have encountered some rental/club type places that want you to stay within set zones with there boats (this is important for legal or rescue/breakdown situation)
So if you have a spot you want to go outside of the zone you may have ramifications for that
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Post by flbandit on Jul 30, 2019 19:49:26 GMT -5
Years ago, a buddy and I used to rent a small aluminum v hill with a 5 horse motor on it. We ran that thing all over the bay and caught some pretty nice fish in it.
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Post by parkpass on Jul 30, 2019 20:02:50 GMT -5
I'm here to encourage everyone to buy a boat and stay off the piers.....I need my space...
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Post by alaskaguy on Jul 30, 2019 23:46:26 GMT -5
you will not have the social life fishing from a boat that you will fishing on the pier,
I have my own boats allways have, never fish on top of the skyway since 1973, I enjoy the group on this site for the most part. So for me its more about being on the bay than fishing in it or catching. For me my first love is Flying then boating then fishing, if you are not a true boater you wont like owning one $$$$$
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Post by aussieguy on Jul 31, 2019 0:23:03 GMT -5
Years ago, a buddy and I used to rent a small aluminum v hill with a 5 horse motor on it. We ran that thing all over the bay and caught some pretty nice fish in it. had a lot of fun in a rented tinnie... couple gallons of gas goes all day
got my biggest lizard in one
unlike the lizards here .... aussie lizards (Flatheads) are a sought after fish.
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Post by sigeptrooper02 on Jul 31, 2019 7:31:34 GMT -5
I've wanted a boat for years. But for me, I just can't justify the money pit that we all know that boats are. I could afford it, I just think there are better places for my money to be spent. Maybe some day when I'm old and grey.... until then I enjoy my kayak fishing, wade fishing and of course the Skyway!!!
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Post by fishingmagician on Jul 31, 2019 9:32:05 GMT -5
Another option is to get in with the local charter captions, a lot of times they have a opening for One person and will call you, $200 to $400 and they put you on the fish, maybe once a month or every Six weeks, then spend the rest of your free time on the pier, causways and wading.
Also the big party boats are always available.
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Post by walleyealx on Jul 31, 2019 9:44:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the input guys. I really do appreciate it.
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Post by aussieguy on Jul 31, 2019 15:46:23 GMT -5
Maybe some day when I'm old and grey....
you called?
you forgot bald and fat but extremely huggable
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Post by Mackerelman on Jul 31, 2019 15:52:51 GMT -5
Maybe some day when I'm old and grey.... you called? you forgot bald and fat but extremely huggable You are Old & Grey just like Most of Us !   |
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Post by flbandit on Jul 31, 2019 17:08:05 GMT -5
I'm in the old, fat, bald club myself. I was looking at getting a fishing kayak until my daughter and Grandson realized it only had room for me (the one I wanted anyway). So, I ended up with a nice Old Town Camper Canoe. I figure I can use that for some of the areas around Ft Desoto. I'll always fish the skyway though. I've been going there on and off since late 80s.
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Post by YeehaZing on Jul 31, 2019 19:15:48 GMT -5
Canoes and Gheenoes can get you into a lot fishy spots!
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Post by saltybass on Jul 31, 2019 22:42:13 GMT -5
TL;DR: I want to fish a lot down here, don't want to mess with owning a boat but considering joining FBC, wondering if one can get good enough at the Skyway to catch fish on a semi-consistent basis. Yes. It's similar to panhandle piers but the current makes it fish a bit like a river. It will never come close to their piers for kings but snapper & grouper make up for it. There are a lot of kings in the bay & nearshore. There's a good chance you have better fishing for snook, flounder, sheepshead, reds & trout closer to you than the pier. Fish seawalls, bridges, shorelines or wade the flats. I know a couple guides & people that work at boat clubs. They put it like this: do a private charter if you want to go catching and join a boat club if you want to go boating. Bottom line is that if you do a little research, watch others and ask a few questions you can catch fish anywhere. |
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Post by oneputt12 on Aug 2, 2019 12:41:56 GMT -5
On weekends it might be hard to reserve a boat on short notice. You can fish the piers if that is the case.
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