Three fishing novices will make our way from Miami to Key West in couple of weeks. Any input on lures and locations would be greatly appreciated. Have electronic charts and don't really care what kind of fish we catch (easiest to catch would be best as we will just catch and release). Thanks in advance,
Recreational Fishing Questions -S. Florida
- Thread starter Diversion
- Start date
I looked at Florida Sportsman online. I was able to get a lot of GPS coordinates for northern Fla. waters
before I went there to fish. Click the "regions" button at the upper left and go the the area you want to
fish in. It is a great site and magazine for Fla. fishing information.
before I went there to fish. Click the "regions" button at the upper left and go the the area you want to
fish in. It is a great site and magazine for Fla. fishing information.
Rattletraps are lures that work on most fish. If you want to catch sheepshead just remember to use small hooks and don't try to pull and sink the hook. Just raise the rod up SLOW and if you feel pressure, start to real in. The fish hooks itself.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 937
- Messages
- 78
Diversion, trolling clarks or drone spoons of various sizes works well for Spanish and King Mackeral. For Spanish use a #1 planer and 20-30 ft of fluorocarbon leadet. Tie the spoon directly to the leader. For kings use a 3-6" spoon and a #1 or #2 planer. You will need heavier leader and a short piece of wire on the spoon to prevent bite offs. If you find a school of Spanish cast just about any type casting lure until you find something they will bite. I like casting Gotchas and Stingsilvers but try to match the bait they are eating.
If you can find some structure (reefs or wrecks), jigging "spec rigs" or stingsilvers or other weighted jigs works well for spanish and kings both. Of course bottom fishing around structure can produce about anything. Remember when bottom fishing you can catch a big fish on a small hook but won't catch a small fish on a big hook. 4/0 - 8/0 hooks are plenty for bottom fishing near shore or off shore.
Soft plastic baits cast next to the marsh grasses during the last part of the incoming tide and the first part of the out going tide can be great for sea trout and puppy drum (small red drum). Again, various plastics in shrimp and crab patterns will work fine.
If you can find some structure (reefs or wrecks), jigging "spec rigs" or stingsilvers or other weighted jigs works well for spanish and kings both. Of course bottom fishing around structure can produce about anything. Remember when bottom fishing you can catch a big fish on a small hook but won't catch a small fish on a big hook. 4/0 - 8/0 hooks are plenty for bottom fishing near shore or off shore.
Soft plastic baits cast next to the marsh grasses during the last part of the incoming tide and the first part of the out going tide can be great for sea trout and puppy drum (small red drum). Again, various plastics in shrimp and crab patterns will work fine.