Houseboating Adventures - Issue 18 - (Page 61)

F Fishing. crank baits are all standard lures that catch fish in the river. The Barrier Islands of Florida’s Southeast coast offers prime fishing for many species including the much sought after snook, redfish, sea trout and tarpon. Because the habitat around our islands contains numerous inlet river mouths, oyster bars and mangrove shorelines, there is an abundant snook fishery here…12 months a year. One of the healthiest, largest redfish populations in the State of Florida is also found here. Seatrout are becoming more plentiful as well as larger due to good fishery management. With more fish and larger fish, the sea trout is gaining a healthy respect as highly sought after saltwater gamester. Tarpon fishing is so spectacular around Captiva and Sanibel Islands, it deserves its own write-up. This area is the cradle of tarpon fishing. The first tarpon caught on rod and reel was in 1885 by W.H. Wood using bait and thumb stall reel with linen line right here on Sanibel Island in Tarpon Bay. The annual migration of tarpon starts around mid-April and goes well into the month of July. Tarpon fishing in famous Boca Grande Pass (known as the World Capital of Tarpon Fishing) with professional captains is usually drift fishing in large boats using at least 50# tackle. Florida offers a huge variety of fresh and saltwater FISHING and some of the best can be found at our featured houseboat destinations. The St Johns River is known for excellent fishing, especially largemouth bass. Its estuarial nature provides both freshwater and saltwater or brackish-water species. Saltwater species include redfish, flounder, tarpon, and the brackish water sea trout, known locally as the "gator trout". A recent report states that saltwater species have been venturing farther up the river (southwards) in recent years. Some of the best known fishing occurs in January–March, when the American shad run up the river, and it becomes full of trolling boats. The shad, like the salmon, are anadromous and live most of their life at sea. They are caught primarily for the eggs, shad roe, for the flesh is below average and full of small bones. Although the Suwannee River is not known for trophy largemouth bass, good catch rates can be expected, and quality-sized bass are frequently caught by anglers. The smaller but feisty Suwannee bass species also occurs throughout much of the river system, and fish large enough to qualify for FWC’s "Big Catch" Suwannee bass certificates (minimum: 16 inches or 2 pounds) can be caught by anglers in the Santa Fe. Crawfish are the main food item for bass in the whole river system, so anglers should fish accordingly. Plastic worms, lizards, and crawfish; jigs with orange skirts and pork rinds; and metallic )6B@" A05("%C&5AB9&@ In the Keys, visitors choose either of two ways to fish. One is to hire a Backcountry Guide to pilot you into the wilderness of the uninhabited Keys and mangrove shorelines of Florida Bay. Common catches when fishing the flats include barracuda, bonefish, permit, redfish, shark and tarpon. Backcountry fishing in Florida Bay brings with it the excellent chance to reel in black drum, ladyfish, pompano, redfish, sheepshead, shark, snapper, snook, tarpon and trout. Those who prefer offshore fishing have two options. One is to hop on board a Party Boat Charter that will carry you and a group of others to the waters offshore. For the novice, serious and experienced angler, a Deep Sea Charter will take you into the Gulf Stream for big game fishing.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Houseboating Adventures - Issue 18

Houseboating Adventures - Issue 18 Editor's Desk Desert Ritual River Dream Boatel 2007 Top Houseboating Accessories 2007 Impact Design of the Year 2007 Comeback Company of the Year Florida A-Z The Perfect Florida Houseboat Under Thirty Feet? Adventure Guide

Houseboating Adventures - Issue 18

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