OT - need fishing advice

[brynkal]

We used to fish up north, panfish (bobber), bass (lures) and salmon/trout (sinkers w/ spawn bags), but have never fished in saltwater.

If we went to the fishing bridge (south side of big bridge), what should we use, and can we use our same rods/reels?

What could we catch, and can we eat it?

Thanks in advance!

[chimmike]

probably won't catch anything you'd want to eat off the big bridge.

IF you can, go try fishing new pass (near the old salty dog) when the tides are running. Tarpon runs through there, in cooler weather grouper goes through there into the bay, etc.

Get live shrimp from Harts Landing, throw it on a circle hook, maybe a bobber, and cast it out. Otherwise, just a little bit of weight on the line to allow a good cast. You can also try squid (will stay on the hook pretty well).

You should be fine using your fishing gear.

[Barfly]

By the big bridge, I'm assuming you mean the Skyway. I fish from a boat near both the north and south fishing piers. You can catch a variety of species. Mackerel, sharks, kingfish, and mangrove snapper, are just a few of the edible species you can catch. I know on the north side they have a baithouse and I would think the south side has one too. Just go into the baithouse and ask what's biting. They will be very helpful. The best bait is greenbacks, pilchards, and spanish sardines. If you are lucky, you can find a fishing boat that is trying to catch bait in a cast net and if you let them throw their net around the section of bridge you are at, they will usually give you a couple of buckets of free bait. I do it all the time. As far as the gear goes, your equipment should be fine. The big difference is the connection of the terminal tackle. You want to use line to line connections without the use of snaps and swivels. The easiest and most common knot for fishing is called a uni-knot. This one knot will take care of most of your needs. If you need some info on how to tie the knot, let me know. You should start out using flourocarbon for your leader and if you are getting bit off due to toothy fish, then switch to a small length of steel leader or a long shank hook.Also as far as lures go, my go to lure is a plain white bucktail jig. Some other options are a "gotcha lure" or you can try the gulp soft baits (THEY SMELL AWFUL) attached to a jighead. Again, the people at the baithouse will help and they should have all you need right there. Hope that helps.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[chimmike]

( I thought by big bridge he meant the bridge in Sarasota to St. Armands, which is why I commented as I did )

If you meant the skyway, then yes, barfly has the right idea.
Fishing from the piers, I haven't had much luck at the skyway. That's not to say there's nothing to catch there, you just gotta know how to do it. There's a TON you can catch there!

[Antdizzle]

id be willing to carry you offshore one day soon.

[Nwest]

Offshore is the only way to go!

[chimmike]

id be willing to carry you offshore one day soon.


I'll pay for bait if I can go!

[brynkal]

id be willing to carry you offshore one day soon.

That would be great, thanks for the kind offer, but I have trouble walking (use a cane or a walker) which is why I was thinking the pier, since there isn't much walking involved. Not sure I could do a boat any more...

[Nwest]

Antdizzle what kind of boat do you have?

[chimmike]

That would be great, thanks for the kind offer, but I have trouble walking (use a cane or a walker) which is why I was thinking the pier, since there isn't much walking involved. Not sure I could do a boat any more...

The opportunities on the pier are many. I just haven't had any luck there myself, while I've watched other people pull in fish like spanish mackerel and grouper :lol2:

[Barfly]

Offshore is the only way to go!

Not sure why you would say that. Tampa Bay offers a variety of fish. I've personally caught bull sharks, bonnethead sharks, blacktip sharks, spinner sharks, nurse sharks, spanish mackerel, kingfish, barracuda, gag grouper, goliath grouper, flounder, snook, redfish, black drum, trout, tarpon and the list could go on and on. All caught inside of Tampa Bay. Now I'm not knocking going offshore as I often venture offshore, but to state that offshore is the only way to go is just passing on bad information and shows a lack of understanding of the local fishing scene. My best times fishing have always been either inside the bay or within 1 mile of the beaches. Most people would freak out if they saw what we catch within a couple hundred yards of the Don Cesar.:eek2:

http://www.tbep.org/tbep.html
Tampa Bay, Florida's largest open-water estuary, stretches 398 square miles at high tide. Popular for sport and recreation, the bay also supports one of the world's most productive natural systems. Estuaries like Tampa Bay, where salt water from the sea and fresh water from rivers and uplands mix, are nurseries for young fish, shrimp, and crabs. More than 70 percent of all fish, shellfish, and crustaceans spend some critical stage of their development in these nearshore waters, protected from larger predators that swim the open sea.

[TampaSnooker]

There is nothing like sight casting on a 36+" snook. Pick a beach near a pass.

[Barfly]

There is nothing like sight casting on a 36+" snook. Pick a beach near a pass.

:thumbsup::beer:

[Nwest]

That is true Barfly I am not knocking inshore fishing at all. I spent my high school days as a regular at Reddington Long Pier. I have landed 40+ tarpon in my days. My opinion offshore fishing is more fun for me I like the thrill of dropping down a live bait 60-100foot down and sitting there waiting for a thud and then reeling my *** off to get the fish out of the rocks. Or trolling for tuna or sailfish offshore is nothing to say no too. So yes the inshore has NUMEROUS opportunities for great fishing, but offshore is my cup of tea!