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Post by navygmc on Mar 7, 2024 18:59:13 GMT -5
Took the wife to the North Skyway today...got there about 1130am and left at 4pm.
East side of the end was great ... ended up with 50 Mack's. Gave some away to 5 different people. As I just like to catch them. Helped a few people with my spoon method....as well as helping a few with the weight/spoon method. Everyone caught some fish. Some more than others. Ran into Freddie later in the day....caught some fish with him and gave him some fish as well. Good all around day. Lost 3 spoons due to cutoffs..(2 in consecutive casts...ugh)
Lost 2 weights/ spoons to structure in front. (Not used to North Skyway)
Not a lot of people. Get out there and catch fish. Oh...East side was not showing bait....but the bait must have been deep. Started with most hits near bottom...later in day...mid column. Got a handful dead on top as I was about to pull spoon out of water.
TIP: using Cotton Cordell cc spoon...cast out...sink to bottom...crank to surface or just short of surface...open bail...sink to bottom....repeat. Start vertical...straight up and down...you will be surprised how many fish I catch almost vertical
Tight lines to all!
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Post by conureman on Mar 7, 2024 19:05:28 GMT -5
I'm gonna head out there Saturday and Sunday if work permits.
Thanks for the report.
I'm eagerly waiting.
š
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Post by dfirmstone5 on Mar 8, 2024 8:14:34 GMT -5
Iām heading out tomorrow if anyone wants to meet up
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Post by albatross on Mar 8, 2024 20:43:17 GMT -5
Went to North pier this morning 3/8/24 and stayed there for two hours. I did not see anything resembling a fish. Left there at 8 and went to south side. The pier was pretty crowded, but in four hours I did not see a single fish come over the rails. There was a lot of fine bait at the beginning of the pier, but nothing was rushing them. I don't know if things got better after I left.
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Post by conureman on Mar 8, 2024 20:45:31 GMT -5
I'll give a report about tomorrow. Just getting a few things before heading out there. Gonna have to learn how to throw a net for bait.
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 8, 2024 22:07:37 GMT -5
..East side was not showing bait....but the bait must have been deep. Started with most hits near bottom...later in day...mid column. Got a handful dead on top as I was about to pull spoon out of water. TIP: using Cotton Cordell cc spoon...cast out...sink to bottom...crank to surface or just short of surface...open bail...sink to bottom....repeat. Start vertical...straight up and down...you will be surprised how many fish I catch almost vertical Tight lines to all! Thatās how Iāve always worked these weighted spoon rigs and proved to be by far the most effective rig on the pier today |
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Post by inoeatfish on Mar 8, 2024 22:17:28 GMT -5
Went to North pier this morning 3/8/24 and stayed there for two hours. I did not see anything resembling a fish. Left there at 8 and went to south side. The pier was pretty crowded, but in four hours I did not see a single fish come over the rails. There was a lot of fine bait at the beginning of the pier, but nothing was rushing them. I don't know if things got better after I left. Hi. Yea, they didnāt take much bait today. I was there on the south end at 6am. It was a dreadful outgoing tide. I think I landed maybe 1 on bait. The rest were caught from 7-9am on float/straw setup. They mostly hit at the end facing the channel and really close to the pier. |
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Post by conureman on Mar 9, 2024 0:39:55 GMT -5
People are currently catching macs right know but I can't get bait because sabikis are banned
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Post by navygmc on Mar 9, 2024 2:56:59 GMT -5
People are currently catching macs right know but I can't get bait because sabikis are banned When the fishing is good...and I'm in the mood for using bait (maybe twice a yeat..lol) Just put on the hook I am using for Mack's (long shank j hook)... simply drop it into bait school...let it go down at least 2-3 feet...and jig up fast...you'll foul hook a bait. Just put back out and fish..or reset hook if needed. Be careful not to jig when hook is near surface...or you will shoot hook into air and get tangles/knots. It is very easy once you practice. That is what we do in Naples... since we can't cast net off pier. Another option is size #10 gold hooks. Tie small loop knot... put on a single gold hook... weight a foot below that...jig slowly for bait... |
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fishtailz
Rod Polisher
Hour and a half drive to get there but love the skyway piers. Big fish available.
Posts: 119
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Post by fishtailz on Mar 9, 2024 9:01:56 GMT -5
Showed up at SSP yesterday at 4 p.m. I cut up a sabiki and hooked up two light rods with a single fly and commenced to pull up bait one at a time with help on the other rod. Put about 30 in the bucket in short order as well as 15 pinfish. Stayed til 10 p.m. Not fishing for mackeral. Family member caught a 20 pound gag on a frozen one foot long ladyfish. East side at marker 100. Saw one mack caught. Stayed at that spot entire time. Windy.
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Post by inoeatfish on Mar 9, 2024 9:59:06 GMT -5
People are currently catching macs right know but I can't get bait because sabikis are banned Iāll tell you a great way to catch bait without a sabiki or net. You: āHi, Iām sorry to bother you. Iām trying to catch bait but I forgot my cast net, can I buy some bait from you?ā Me: āDude, take as much bait as you want and if you catch a lot of Macās, donate one to me and if you canāt a boatloads of ladyfish, donate them all to me!ā |
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 9, 2024 10:14:11 GMT -5
People are currently catching macs right know but I can't get bait because sabikis are banned To be honest with you at one point I completely forgot about the sabiki ban and did use a sabiki to pull up a couple baits, but I didnāt use it much as the spoon was only thing catching for me. Just realized my pompano jig was illegal too.. hahah |
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 9, 2024 10:15:36 GMT -5
Showed up at SSP yesterday at 4 p.m. I cut up a sabiki and hooked up two light rods with a single fly and commenced to pull up bait one at a time with help on the other rod. Put about 30 in the bucket in short order as well as 15 pinfish. Stayed til 10 p.m. Not fishing for mackeral. Family member caught a 20 pound gag on a frozen one foot long ladyfish. East side at marker 100. Saw one mack caught. Stayed at that spot entire time. Windy. Damn that is an awesome catch !! I have yet to catch a big gag from the piers, only small ones for me |
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fishtailz
Rod Polisher
Hour and a half drive to get there but love the skyway piers. Big fish available.
Posts: 119
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Post by fishtailz on Mar 9, 2024 11:29:51 GMT -5
I haven't caught one either. The kid that got it is from Idaho and has never fished here before. When the rod went off we let him take it. I was hoping they weren't in season after we released it then see on a smartphone it's May 1st. We were trying for a shark.
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 9, 2024 11:37:16 GMT -5
Man that is one of those āthrow it in the cooler, trips over, everyone go homeā kind of fish ! Hahaha just kidding, Iāve soaked hundreds of shark baits off the pier and never had a gag take it. That was a whole ladyfish just casted out  |
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Post by conureman on Mar 9, 2024 12:08:37 GMT -5
I haven't caught one either. The kid that got it is from Idaho and has never fished here before. When the rod went off we let him take it. I was hoping they weren't in season after we released it then see on a smartphone it's May 1st. We were trying for a shark. talking about sharks, Someone caught a 7ft sandbar shark in the morning at ssp end. Took em 1 hour and some help to lift it on the pier. |
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Post by shot33gun9 on Mar 9, 2024 15:17:00 GMT -5
I'm upset that Fishtailz did not post a pic of that Gag. 20lb gag must be around 36" long and his story might be a "fishtale"....lol
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Post by navygmc on Mar 9, 2024 16:11:56 GMT -5
I'm upset that Fishtailz did not post a pic of that Gag. 20lb gag must be around 36" long and his story might be a "fishtale"....lol Wonder if that gag had a 3/4 cotton Cordell cc spoon in his mouth. I lost one at that spot last week. Was casting for Mack's...slow rolled near bottom.....got crushed...ripped out about 5/6 yards and cut me off....on 15 braid. |
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 9, 2024 16:22:09 GMT -5
I'm upset that Fishtailz did not post a pic of that Gag. 20lb gag must be around 36" long and his story might be a "fishtale"....lol Nah we live in Florida, thereās enough monsters roaming around these waters that thereās no need to make up tales here š |
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Post by albatross on Mar 10, 2024 17:31:51 GMT -5
..East side was not showing bait....but the bait must have been deep. Started with most hits near bottom...later in day...mid column. Got a handful dead on top as I was about to pull spoon out of water. TIP: using Cotton Cordell cc spoon...cast out...sink to bottom...crank to surface or just short of surface...open bail...sink to bottom....repeat. Start vertical...straight up and down...you will be surprised how many fish I catch almost vertical Tight lines to all! Thatās how Iāve always worked these weighted spoon rigs and proved to be by far the most effective rig on the pier today Please tell; How do you make a Weighted Spoon Rig? |
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 10, 2024 18:07:43 GMT -5
Please tell; How do you make a Weighted Spoon Rig? I set mine up slightly different than most of the ones I see used, as I typically throw a lighter rod/reel combo but still the same concept; Mainline to barrel swivel. Tie about 6 -10 inches of heavy mono to swivel. 2-4 oz egg weight depending on your setup. Tie on another swivel to prevent sinker from sliding down to leader. Then long section of mono down to spoon. I fish a 7foot medium rod on a 4000 size reel. My egg sinker is 2oz My section of mono leading to spoon is about 8foot, this leaves me with enough room to cast overhand with my arm fully extended without too much slack in leader making casting impossible. Most setups I see used with the rig include a 4oz egg sinker, a heavy rod and 5-6000 size reel with a much longer 10-12 foot section of mono leading to sinker. My smaller set up may get less bites in certain scenarios but I prefer it as it is easier to handle, cast, and manage. |
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Post by conureman on Mar 10, 2024 19:35:46 GMT -5
Please tell; How do you make a Weighted Spoon Rig? I set mine up slightly different than most of the ones I see used, as I typically throw a lighter rod/reel combo but still the same concept; Mainline to barrel swivel. Tie about 6 -10 inches of heavy mono to swivel. 2-4 oz egg weight depending on your setup. Tie on another swivel to prevent sinker from sliding down to leader. Then long section of mono down to spoon. I fish a 7foot medium rod on a 4000 size reel. My egg sinker is 2oz My section of mono leading to spoon is about 8foot, this leaves me with enough room to cast overhand with my arm fully extended without too much slack in leader making casting impossible. Most setups I see used with the rig include a 4oz egg sinker, a heavy rod and 5-6000 size reel with a much longer 10-12 foot section of mono leading to sinker. My smaller set up may get less bites in certain scenarios but I prefer it as it is easier to handle, cast, and manage. I run it like how you see others have it but probably with a longer rod I use a 9ft ugly stck bigwater with a 5k reel with 40lb braid. Mainline to 4oz double swivel egg wieght Then 11 ft of 15lb or 20lb fluorocarbon leader to spoon. I feel more comfortable with 9ft rod cause I feel like a 7ft or 8ft one is a little small |
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Post by shot33gun9 on Mar 10, 2024 20:37:32 GMT -5
No fluoracarbon for me....30# Berkley big game mono....I change leaders a lot
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Post by albatross on Mar 10, 2024 20:57:41 GMT -5
Thanks so much guys. I made a set-up but I used a 4oz. sinker and it sinks the float, it is too heavy. I will try a 2oz. and see what happens when next I can get to the pier. Thanks again!
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 10, 2024 21:33:53 GMT -5
You can use the rig with or without a float. I recommend having both set up and switching between the two. When you use the rig without a float be cautious of the rock piles
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 11, 2024 1:20:07 GMT -5
I set mine up slightly different than most of the ones I see used, as I typically throw a lighter rod/reel combo but still the same concept; Mainline to barrel swivel. Tie about 6 -10 inches of heavy mono to swivel. 2-4 oz egg weight depending on your setup. Tie on another swivel to prevent sinker from sliding down to leader. Then long section of mono down to spoon. I fish a 7foot medium rod on a 4000 size reel. My egg sinker is 2oz My section of mono leading to spoon is about 8foot, this leaves me with enough room to cast overhand with my arm fully extended without too much slack in leader making casting impossible. Most setups I see used with the rig include a 4oz egg sinker, a heavy rod and 5-6000 size reel with a much longer 10-12 foot section of mono leading to sinker. My smaller set up may get less bites in certain scenarios but I prefer it as it is easier to handle, cast, and manage. I run it like how you see others have it but probably with a longer rod I use a 9ft ugly stck bigwater with a 5k reel with 40lb braid. Mainline to 4oz double swivel egg wieght Then 11 ft of 15lb or 20lb fluorocarbon leader to spoon. I feel more comfortable with 9ft rod cause I feel like a 7ft or 8ft one is a little small Yea nothin wrong with that ! I was using my 6000 penn for a while and worked especially well for ripping the fish away from dolphins but I canāt help but admit that after a while it just felt like serious overkill to catch 20 inch mackerel hahah |
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fishtailz
Rod Polisher
Hour and a half drive to get there but love the skyway piers. Big fish available.
Posts: 119
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Post by fishtailz on Mar 11, 2024 14:13:07 GMT -5
I'm upset that Fishtailz did not post a pic of that Gag. 20lb gag must be around 36" long and his story might be a "fishtale"....lol Actually Shotgun, the fish was 32 inches long. I guesstimated the weight initially at right around 15 pounds. However, the more time that elapsed after the release, the heavier the fish got. By the time we got home it weighed 20 pounds. It's hard to explain how that happens, but I think you understand. lol. Wish I could have posted a pic, but I have a flip phone. Can't wait to horse one in during the season. Again, it was caught on a dead, 12 inch ladyfish. |
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Post by shot33gun9 on Mar 11, 2024 14:33:40 GMT -5
Yes, I too have caught fish that got bigger after a few hrs. It's an unexplained mystery.....I believe Skyjay caught a monster gag on a big ladyfish but I think it was still alive, it's obvious they are not picky. Season starts Sept 1st....sad
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Post by stuckintherocks on Mar 11, 2024 16:37:43 GMT -5
I'm upset that Fishtailz did not post a pic of that Gag. 20lb gag must be around 36" long and his story might be a "fishtale"....lol Actually Shotgun, the fish was 32 inches long.Ā I guesstimated the weight initially at right around 15 pounds. However, the more time that elapsed after the release, the heavier the fish got.Ā By the time we got home it weighed 20 pounds.Ā It's hard to explain how that happens, but I think you understand. lol.Ā Wish I could have posted a pic, but I have a flip phone.Ā Can't wait to horse one in during the season.Ā Again, it was caught on a dead, 12 inch ladyfish.Ā Hahahahaha hell yeah brother |
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