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Post by skywaypa on Oct 30, 2019 15:01:14 GMT -5
Three weeks away... can't wait! We are staying in Holmes Beach this year and have a 20' Mako rented for Sun-Wed. The rental is waterfront with a straight shot N/NE from dock to Skyway.
Last year we dabbled, managing a keeper gag, a couple rando spanish and a large mixed bag of this and that fish. Finished with a couple keeper sheep from the pier. But this year the plan is to go hard core and put in the extra work. Going to have a livewell of white bait even if I have to spend hours to get them. Plan to hit the inshore/bay wreck(s), the shipping channel, and the rockpiles (if I can figure out which tide flows toward the pier so I'm not in the way of pier_guys). Plan to chum liberally, hopefully get some snapper and macks excited. Hell maybe even drift a bit for flounder.
Can't keep a snook, redfish or trout, but if prior trips are a guide we were in no danger of that anyway.
Don't know if we'll make it on the pier this trip or not. If not I'll honk at you guys a few times.
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Post by aussieguy on Oct 31, 2019 9:56:07 GMT -5
get a a sabiki and pull up a few pinfish / grunts before heading into deeper water more than likely they will be right at your dock...
will be worth the effort for grouper
I just bought from walmart, a cheap 13 dollar rod reel for sabiki
thought I'd catch some pinfish when I dropped anchor (26ft water) at my grouper spot
sabiki was destroyed in 5 seconds , never saw the culprits or any sign of the sabiki again
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Post by skywaypa on Oct 31, 2019 11:10:19 GMT -5
Aussieguy - absolutely! I never fish without sabiki rigs at hand, even up here in freshwater they catch fish. My experience with sabikis in the Tampa area is that spanish macks got you. They LOVE the flash and will hit them before and after a bait hits. Unless you get really lucky they take at least part of the rig with them.
Oh, and from last trip down there we found that 4 or 5 fow on or near grass will get you a school of pinfish you can walk across. Tiny hook and a tiny piece of any bait will catch as many as you want and more. As soon as we put the chum bag in the water they swarm you.
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Post by phishead on Oct 31, 2019 11:16:42 GMT -5
I got lucky earlier this week. Two macs on sabiki and no damage.
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Post by SkyJay on Oct 31, 2019 11:27:09 GMT -5
not sure if your boat will have sonar or not,
but check out the area known as Bean
Point on the sw corner of AMI.
Possible Gag holes abound.
Good multi species bottom fishin
area.
Lots of produtive bottom.
Dont forget the flatline!
East side rockpiles are lit up with Gags.
Main Span, and Port Manatee publc
reef.
Shipping Channel inside the bridge
can be awesome this time of year.
if you catch a calm day hit the
Whistler Buoy for realistic shot ar Tuna
and Smoker Kings.
good luck!
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Post by alaskaguy on Oct 31, 2019 14:12:11 GMT -5
Fishin has been good in the bay, Caught a 19" Mango on a bay reef last week, Lots of trout
Macs inside the bay. white bait every were. The bay is better than I have seen for a few years. Still way to hot 83deg this am on the Lowarnce, Red tide is not to far south
Good Luck
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 10, 2019 12:25:31 GMT -5
12 days... haven't touched a rod or reel yet. Also need my license, and I need to take my refresher course on Florida fishing regs. Be down there in two shakes!!
But seriously Florida, can we talk about your fishing regulations? Do I still need to fish with circle hooks? I think that went away. But I can't use treble hooks? Only with artificials right? I can't keep a snook, or a red, or a trout from the bay, unless I go 20 minutes North or so? I can keep 10 snappers, but only 5 can be mangoes (aka gray, aka other names) which need to be 10" but other snappers can be smaller or bigger, and some aren't in that 10 fish bag limit?
So yeah, I figure it is on me to learn the rules before I come down there and kill some of your fish. But FL is hands down the most complicated rules of anywhere on this coast. And really the big one for me is:
24" TL, 2 per person per day = GAG GROUPER!! And if I'm super lucky, 20" 2x red grouper, and 24" 4x black grouper. With a 4 fish total aggregate. Which has never been a problem for me, and likely won't.
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Post by SkyJay on Nov 10, 2019 15:14:10 GMT -5
mangos - 5 fish 10" inside 9 miles
10 fish 12" outside 9 miles (federal regs)
yellowtail 12 " included in 10 fish max
agregate limit
Red Snapper 16 inches included
in 20 fish max agregate limit
lane and vermillion snapper 8"
not counted against Snapper Agregate,
but included in 20 fish max reef fish
bag
Hogfish 14" to fork 5 fish limit
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Post by SkyJay on Nov 10, 2019 15:19:10 GMT -5
circle hook laws are still in effect but
rarely practiced or enforced on west
coast with anglers opting more for
octopus style hooks
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Post by SkyJay on Nov 10, 2019 15:20:27 GMT -5
good time of year to fish large live
shrimp on offshore bottom for
mixed bag goodies.
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 10, 2019 16:21:49 GMT -5
Thanks SkyJay. That first post is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. And I don't think I've ever read that 9 mile thing, that's interesting.
I'm not sure we're the kind of people who go 10 miles out. I mean, I'm reasonably confident I can use a plotter to get back home, and I can certainly use a compass to go East. But we're in a 20' rental, and I don't have enough hours on that water to be confident that I wouldn't do something wrong or get into trouble. I'm sure to most guys that's silly and they go that far in their sleep. I'm certain the boat would be fine, since it is a Mako and is pretty much made for that. I feel adventurous if we make it to the bridge, heck even the shipping channel.
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Post by tears143 on Nov 10, 2019 16:48:29 GMT -5
Pretty sure Red Snapper does not count towards snapper limit.
Be sure to download fishrule app. read up on it before you head out to fish. At least some of the fish you think you will be catching.
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Post by SkyJay on Nov 10, 2019 17:19:12 GMT -5
Pretty sure Red Snapper does not count towards snapper limit. Be sure to download fishrule app. read up on it before you head out to fish. At least some of the fish you think you will be catching.  I thought the same thing Tears, until the friendly undercover FHP in the Contender SST with double 300 Yammys informed me otherwise on our Middlegrounds adventure in August. We were only 6 mangos from being buried when they boarded us to. Talk about suprised! We were anchored on the twin tugs wreck 87 miles from Oniels at 2 am in 140 ft of water and out of the dark comes the GW! changed my life forever lol good advice on the ap im gonna load that thing right now! myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ |
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Post by tears143 on Nov 10, 2019 17:58:51 GMT -5
Pretty sure Red Snapper does not count towards snapper limit. Be sure to download fishrule app. read up on it before you head out to fish. At least some of the fish you think you will be catching. I thought the same thing Tears, until the friendly undercover FHP in the Contender SST with double 300 Yammys informed me otherwise on our Middlegrounds adventure in August. We were only 6 mangos from being buried when they boarded us to. Talk about suprised! We were anchored on the twin tugs wreck 87 miles from Oniels at 2 am in 140 ft of water and out of the dark comes the GW! changed my life forever lol good advice on the ap im gonna load that thing right now! myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/state it is include in the 10 snapper argo. Fed it is not.. interesting.. didn't know state it is include in it. gulfcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/Recreational-Regulations.pdf |
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Post by SkyJay on Nov 10, 2019 19:06:33 GMT -5
the officer that stopped to visit us in federal waters
said they were part of the agregate in fed
waters as well is all i know.
im not takin a chance me.
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Post by tears143 on Nov 10, 2019 20:19:17 GMT -5
the officer that stopped to visit us in federal waters said they were part of the agregate in fed waters as well is all i know. im not takin a chance me. I totally understand that. That's why I look up regs. Game warden are also human. They do not know everything. Had a game warden told my friend that he need a stamp to keep snook while he is on a public pier. Another game warden told another friend that he can only use 2 hooks with artificial for pompano but that rules only applies to bait fishing. I know they r only human... |
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Post by shadowxmas on Nov 11, 2019 1:44:18 GMT -5
Pretty sure Red Snapper does not count towards snapper limit. Be sure to download fishrule app. read up on it before you head out to fish. At least some of the fish you think you will be catching. I thought ARS were closed now for recreational anglers but I think I heard or read there were a few dates available to catch them. Check the FWC website and have a copy of the regs with you on the boat in case you can not access the website on your phone while out on the water. |
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Post by shadowxmas on Nov 11, 2019 2:07:06 GMT -5
Thanks SkyJay. That first post is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. And I don't think I've ever read that 9 mile thing, that's interesting. I'm not sure we're the kind of people who go 10 miles out. I mean, I'm reasonably confident I can use a plotter to get back home, and I can certainly use a compass to go East. But we're in a 20' rental, and I don't have enough hours on that water to be confident that I wouldn't do something wrong or get into trouble. I'm sure to most guys that's silly and they go that far in their sleep. I'm certain the boat would be fine, since it is a Mako and is pretty much made for that. I feel adventurous if we make it to the bridge, heck even the shipping channel. Skywaypa, Best to play it safe re how far you go out re your experience and boating knowledge,and knowledge of the waters where you will be boating and fishing. Download the skytower radar app and baynews9 app for local weather info. The skytower radar app is for channel 13 the Fox affiliate in our area. The Baynews9 app is with Spectrum. Keep a hookout and needlenose plyers on hand to deal with larger fish when using sabiki rigs. The fishing regs can be confusing. I think I will check out the fishrule app and maybe download it myself. |
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Post by alaskaguy on Nov 11, 2019 9:23:52 GMT -5
the officer that stopped to visit us in federal waters said they were part of the agregate in fed waters as well is all i know. im not takin a chance me. How far out do they have power? If I was 87 mi off shore in the middle of the night it would have scared the s--- out of me, pretty sure I would have had a gun in my hand, when did he show ID? |
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Post by tears143 on Nov 11, 2019 9:29:23 GMT -5
Pretty sure Red Snapper does not count towards snapper limit. Be sure to download fishrule app. read up on it before you head out to fish. At least some of the fish you think you will be catching. I thought ARS were closed now for recreational anglers but I think I heard or read there were a few dates available to catch them. Check the FWC website and have a copy of the regs with you on the boat in case you can not access the website on your phone while out on the water. Copy of regs that you get at anywhere might be outdated. All printed materials are only good for a certain time. That's why I use the fishrule apps... always update it the night before you go out just incase. Yes Red Snapper season is out of date. Was just trying to figure out if they are part of the snapper argo or not. |
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 21, 2019 10:37:10 GMT -5
TWO DAYS! Looks like it will be "cold" on Monday but mid 70s otherwise. "Cold" because 69 isn't cold in PA. That's shorts weather. I'll enjoy seeing all the locals in winter coats though.  |
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Post by justin297moto on Nov 21, 2019 20:33:20 GMT -5
TWO DAYS! Looks like it will be "cold" on Monday but mid 70s otherwise. "Cold" because 69 isn't cold in PA. That's shorts weather. I'll enjoy seeing all the locals in winter coats though. Where in PA are you from? I’m from near Pittsburgh and I’m a student down here at Usf. Been hitting the skyway a decent amount lately |
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 22, 2019 0:13:35 GMT -5
I'm North of Pgh by 45 mins or so. Just outside of Zelienople. That's North of Cranberry Twp if you aren't familiar. |
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Post by shadowxmas on Nov 22, 2019 10:35:12 GMT -5
Skywaypa, My Dad was born in West Monterrey
I also had relatives in Parker,Foxburg,Bruin,Butler and Pittsburgh.
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Post by carlf on Nov 22, 2019 12:23:11 GMT -5
I grew up in Wayne County PA, over on the NJ/NY border.
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Post by justin297moto on Nov 22, 2019 12:33:51 GMT -5
Yeah man pretty familiar with that. I ride/race dirt bikes a lot up near butler.
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 24, 2019 21:03:27 GMT -5
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL FLORIDA?! I can get this kind of windy bs at home.  Also, our rental boat partially sunk before we picked her up, so it was all around an awesome day. Fishing report: all the pinfish you want, plus clouds of glass minnows, plus catfish. Mix of gaffs and hardheads. Biggest gaff I've ever seen today. Didn't feel like cleaning them, all went back. Grouper or bust tomorrow! ps - had grouper at the AMI Oyster Bar (at the pier). Red grouper fried... maybe the best fish I've ever eaten. |
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Post by carlf on Nov 25, 2019 7:54:58 GMT -5
Right after a front is always rough, north winds screaming down the coast. Today should be much calmer. Should...
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 26, 2019 7:09:12 GMT -5
VICTORY!! 27" Gag in the box. He ate a pinfish and ran into a rock, but I banjo'd him out. Caught a short red (18") and a short gag (21") back to back drops before him. That was all the grouper action we had (maybe another that was a breakoff) but it was enough. What a fantastic and exciting fish.  |
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Post by skywaypa on Nov 26, 2019 7:45:42 GMT -5
Made it out to the shipping channel in the afternoon. Man that's a long boat ride. Or maybe it isn't, but I fish on a lake you can fit about 40 of in the bay. Almost immediately had a school of huge greenbacks under the boat, but the only thing we caught out there were sharks. Not sure what these sharks are... gray with white spots on the side, and at least a couple of them looked to have cloudy eyes. Hooked a three footer and on the way up a 6 or 7 footer grabbed him by the top/back and ate about half of him. Luckily that beast didn't get the hook.
Not a lot of variety. Some grouper, some sharks and a sand perch. Oh and one hardhead. Yay. Nothing on the bottom to peak of, even on the wrecks. Soaked some live shrimp and didn't have one eaten off until late in the day. Maybe the front had them lock-jawed.
Headed back out today.
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Also, our rental boat partially sunk before we picked her up, so it was all around an awesome day. Fishing report: all the pinfish you want, plus clouds of glass minnows, plus catfish. Mix of gaffs and hardheads. Biggest gaff I've ever seen today. Didn't feel like cleaning them, all went back. Grouper or bust tomorrow!