Hi all,

Thought i'd post a few pics of some of the many fish that i caought over Christmas whilst on holiday in the Florida keys.

They are not massive, but all lots of fun on my light spinning rod!

Regards

Jacko

__________________
Carpman in need of help!

My boss is heading out a week saturday to the keys. he wants to do pleanty of fishing with his boys. he has booked a few days up key west an clearwater. He has been searching high and low for info on fishing off the pontoons/harbours. what bait or lures you using for them fish?

by the way they are some fantastic looking fishy's

__________________
River Guru

welldone jacko old boy. cracking pictures mate. is the first one a permit and how big was it. thanks for uploading mate. got you pm's.

burhan

__________________
I could fish deep into the night
Well past the light
But at the end of the day
It's the end of the day

Burhan

mc_death187@yahoo.com

Welldone jacko nice looking fish there. The last time i saw fish like that was when i was spear fishing in jamaica. I managed a few nice size barracuda and a few snapper.
Thanks for showing

Nice one... Some stunning looking fish

Top one looks like a Jack

Russ

nice 1 jacko a nice selection ov fish there atleast sum 1 got to wet a line everywhere is frozen here in co durham and has been for 3 wks now

Hi all,

Thanks for the comments.....wish I was still there as this weather is such a contrast to the sunshine and Pina-coladas of just over a week ago!

With regards to where to fish, this year Florida state fisheries created a new law that says that anyone over the age of 12 must have a permit/licence to fish salt/fresh waters. This includes fishing from shore/pontoons/bridges. The only way around buying one is to book a charter fishing boat on which the skipper's fishing licence covers all on board. Be careful though as these charters can be very very expensive at around $400-$1800 per person for half day Bone/Tarpon fishing. The good thing is that permit/licences can be got quite easily from the array of tackle shops.

Permit/licences can be bought for 3 or 7 days or for a 12 month period. Prices are around $35 for 7 days and I think only around $50 for a year. You MUST show your passport when buying such permit/licences so make sure your boss takes his.

I would say that bridge fishing is the best, from the top of it or if possible from the side casting under. I caught loads of fish using my 9' Shimano travel spinning rod.
I was using a small fixed spool reel with line between 18lb-40lb (just in case) I did hook a massive Tarpon or Jack from the bridge (all I saw was a ball of shinning silver) but after a short fight he wrapped my line around the edge of the bridge wall and snapped me off - Thank God I think or I would have been water skiing!!

The method I used most of the time was fresh live shrimps (sold all over the place) with a hook size between no:1-6 depending what you want to catch. I used a running in-line lead of around 1 and 1/2 onz and basically kept the line tight whilst feeling for the knocks......and by God when they come you will know it!

Just a little tip, buy a shrimp bucket and find some old rope. When fishing close the lid(with holes) and keep the bucket in the water. Shrimp only stay alive in running water and the fish really do prefer them alive)

The fist fish posted is called a Crevalle Jack (noted by the black spot on its gill) and it was around 8-10lbs the other jack posted was a Horse-eye Jack.
Some people were using small live bait caught with a throw net or on light gear, but my daughter would never forgive me if I did that lol

I did take loads of plugs, spinners etc, however I did not catch anything on them. The locals said that Barracuda tend to stay in the flats and need to be stimulated with fish chum to get anything that is worth a fight.

The top method seemed to be still live shrimp or shrimp that is spun under the bridges.

I caught loads of Groupers, Snappers and Grunts. the strangest fish was the Scrawled Cowfish posted (the one that looks like something from Star Wars)

Needle/Gar fish are everywhere, but if children want to catch all day long I would say take small cork floats and light UK fresh water gear as there are millions of French Grunts of 4-8 inches that they will love catching with pieces of shrimp.

I bought a great book out there and if I’m honest just about every supermarket sold the hooks, weights and line that you will need if caught short. They also have lots of books.

Anyway, I hope this lot helps, however if you need to know more please let me know.

Thanks again for taking a look

Regards

Jacko

__________________
Carpman in need of help!

Thank you for taking your time to write this up for me. They are after a bit of everything so goin to try all sorts, he mentioned the bridges and fishing from the beaches. something about mile markers??? he said he is going to travel around by car and find some good spots. i will let you know how they get on out there.

Once again thanks.

__________________
River Guru

Hi Guru,

Glad i could help. we were based in Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key at around mile marker 60/61. there are some great bridges here but to be honest all the bridges are clearly marked as to where you can fish and even have signs showing you the names of the fish liely to be cought.

If i can help in any other way, let me know

Cheers

Jacko

__________________
Carpman in need of help!

I had a similar collection from Key West, I'd been sent there to work for a month and everything I cught seemed to have spiky bits. I was fortunate to have private beach access with its its own bar and free use of BBQs, so the fish went straight on the heat. That was living.

regards

Vince