Fisherman in the house?

[-Cago34-]

Any fisherman on these boards? I grew up in Maryland and would fish for Rockfish (Striped Bass) in the spring and fall. My Stepfather and I would troll the Chesapeake Bay using 9 inch ''Sassy shad's'' that Rockfish HAMMER! Only problem with the ''Sassy shad's'' is that Bluefish also attack them and basically just cut the tail's off of the lure which gets expensive quick.

I've lived in Clearwater Florida for the past 5 years and mainly fish for Snook, Redfish, Speckled Sea Trout, and Snapper's. I normally target Snook and accidentally catch the other's listed. Snook are an awesome fighting fish, especially in the summer months when their at the beach to spawn. Snook must be 28-33'' to keep during 2 open season's, spring and fall. The season is closed from basically June - August during their spawn. I normally wade at the beach during the dark high tide, fishing near bridge piling's and along shadow lines where Snook wait in the dark for bait to be brought to them from the strong current.

I always use live bait, mostly Finger Mullet, Pinfish, Silver Jennings, and small live Ladyfish...whichever my 12' castnet finds. The trick at the beach is to not only use live bait, but LIVELY bait. Bigger the better! Last summer I had a 44'' Snook POUND a 12-13 inch live mullet.

Lately my girlfriend has been coming fishing with me but does not like to be in the water waist deep, in the dark. Subsequently Her and I have fished the grassflats from shore, during the daytime hightide using live 3'' Pinfish and landed dozens of slot sized Redfish(between 18-27''). They are a fun fight and excellent to eat but I prefer the fight and taste of Snook handsdown.

Anyways, fishing is my other addiction besides my Bears...any others?

 

[Crystallas]

I had a year period where I would go fixing to get some relaxation. The best thing to fish was rainbow bass, and that literally took it from relaxation to sport, which defeated the purpose LOL. Maybe I'll take it up again. I just hope I don't turn into one of these people that walks around the retention ponds of sub-divisions and starts fishing in people's back yards.

 

[-Cago34-]

I had a year period where I would go fixing to get some relaxation. The best thing to fish was rainbow bass, and that literally took it from relaxation to sport, which defeated the purpose LOL. Maybe I'll take it up again. I just hope I don't turn into one of these people that walks around the retention ponds of sub-divisions and starts fishing in people's back yards.

I've never heard of Rainbow Bass...what part of the country are they in? Good to eat? Fun to catch?

 

[Crystallas]

I've never heard of Rainbow Bass...what part of the country are they in? Good to eat? Fun to catch?

When I lived in Hawai'i, a friend of mine said that it's a very unique opportunity to fish this local lake in Wahiawa. I went along with it, and because my apartment was right outside of the lake, we just fished the Rainbow Bass. Never to eat, the government ran the sewers into the lake sometime in the 70s and still haven't managed to clean up the lake. But for fishing, it was fine. Apparently the pro bass championships used to be held there every year. I'm not sure if it had to do with difficulty, or just because it was Hawaii, but that's just one of those things you check out. Even with the sewer wash, that lake is cleaner than nearly all of the local fishing here. :shrug:

But yeah, they're just bass found in more tropical areas. Fishing bass is like crack, but it's expensive if you don't eat it.

I'm nowhere the expert that you are on fishing, so I dunno if I can share anything else. But once you get going, it's awesome.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Any fisherman on these boards? I grew up in Maryland and would fish for Rockfish (Striped Bass) in the spring and fall. My Stepfather and I would troll the Chesapeake Bay using 9 inch ''Sassy shad's'' that Rockfish HAMMER! Only problem with the ''Sassy shad's'' is that Bluefish also attack them and basically just cut the tail's off of the lure which gets expensive quick.

I've lived in Clearwater Florida for the past 5 years and mainly fish for Snook, Redfish, Speckled Sea Trout, and Snapper's. I normally target Snook and accidentally catch the other's listed. Snook are an awesome fighting fish, especially in the summer months when their at the beach to spawn. Snook must be 28-33'' to keep during 2 open season's, spring and fall. The season is closed from basically June - August during their spawn. I normally wade at the beach during the dark high tide, fishing near bridge piling's and along shadow lines where Snook wait in the dark for bait to be brought to them from the strong current.

I always use live bait, mostly Finger Mullet, Pinfish, Silver Jennings, and small live Ladyfish...whichever my 12' castnet finds. The trick at the beach is to not only use live bait, but LIVELY bait. Bigger the better! Last summer I had a 44'' Snook POUND a 12-13 inch live mullet.

Lately my girlfriend has been coming fishing with me but does not like to be in the water waist deep, in the dark. Subsequently Her and I have fished the grassflats from shore, during the daytime hightide using live 3'' Pinfish and landed dozens of slot sized Redfish(between 18-27''). They are a fun fight and excellent to eat but I prefer the fight and taste of Snook handsdown.

Anyways, fishing is my other addiction besides my Bears...any others?

Ahoy, good to see another west coast Floridian. I used to reside in Naples/Ft.Myers/and the east coast for a while. While snook is probably our best all-around sport on the Gulf side, the reds will put up a hell of a fight as well. I used to fish from piers on the east coast, gets really active when the mullets hatch and run parallel to the shoreline...lots of tarpon around feeding that ignorant tourists mistake 4/sharks. I used a rig set-up off the pier and once hooked a nice sized mackerel. As I was reeling in, a huge barracuda came along and took the entire fish along with the rig...left me nothing but the head!.

Now that I'm back up north, the gear is in storage until I can sell this house and buy a boat.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[-Cago34-]

When I lived in Hawai'i, a friend of mine said that it's a very unique opportunity to fish this local lake in Wahiawa. I went along with it, and because my apartment was right outside of the lake, we just fished the Rainbow Bass. Never to eat, the government ran the sewers into the lake sometime in the 70s and still haven't managed to clean up the lake. But for fishing, it was fine. Apparently the pro bass championships used to be held there every year. I'm not sure if it had to do with difficulty, or just because it was Hawaii, but that's just one of those things you check out. Even with the sewer wash, that lake is cleaner than nearly all of the local fishing here. :shrug:

But yeah, they're just bass found in more tropical areas. Fishing bass is like crack, but it's expensive if you don't eat it.

I'm nowhere the expert that you are on fishing, so I dunno if I can share anything else. But once you get going, it's awesome.

Oh okay good deal...I google imaged ''Rainbow Bass'', pretty cool looking fish. Hawaii is awesome, I will hopefully make a visit in the next 6 months.

I fish 100% saltwater, as I stated in the OP the fish I target is Snook, which coincidentally is a lot like a Bass...very aggressive hard hitters! I'll have to check out the Rainbow Bass when I finally make it to Hawaii.

 

[-Cago34-]

Ahoy, good to see another west coast Floridian. I used to reside in Naples/Ft.Myers/and the east coast for a while. While snook is probably our best all-around sport on the Gulf side, the reds will put up a hell of a fight as well. I used to fish from piers on the east coast, gets really active when the mullets hatch and run parallel to the shoreline...lots of tarpon around feeding that ignorant tourists mistake 4/sharks. I used a rig set-up off the pier and once hooked a nice sized mackerel. As I was reeling in, a huge barracuda came along and took the entire fish along with the rig...left me nothing but the head!.

Now that I'm back up north, the gear is in storage until I can sell this house and buy a boat.

Welcome to the forum.

Haha yea its really neat to watch Tarpon feeding...Every once in a while I go to the Skyway and get to look straight down at them gulping threadfins. Last October I was fishing from a pier in Clearwater using a ladyfish head, which is a favorite of oversized Snook...all of a sudden my line starts peeling and I set the hook, I was shocked when a 6 foot Tarpon completely blasted up out of the water, 4-5 feet into the air, shook and spit my hook like it was a toothpick! They are bad ass fish!

 

[Sunbiz1]

Haha yea its really neat to watch Tarpon feeding...Every once in a while I go to the Skyway and get to look straight down at them gulping threadfins. Last October I was fishing from a pier in Clearwater using a ladyfish head, which is a favorite of oversized Snook...all of a sudden my line starts peeling and I set the hook, I was shocked when a 6 foot Tarpon completely blasted up out of the water, 4-5 feet into the air, shook and spit my hook like it was a toothpick! They are bad ass fish!

I've watched them feed from the beach, and I could swear they have a system. As the mullet parallel the beach, the first 2 tarpon would form a barrier by blocking both escape routes on each side. Then a third one would go straight through the traffic jam and feed, then rotate back into being a blocker...amazing stuff.

Have U ever gotten a grouper?, damn things get huge!
[video=youtube;Y27LSPcbeB4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y27LSPcbeB4&feature=related[/video]

 

[-Cago34-]

I've watched them feed from the beach, and I could swear they have a system. As the mullet parallel the beach, the first 2 tarpon would form a barrier by blocking both escape routes on each side. Then a third one would go straight through the traffic jam and feed, then rotate back into being a blocker...amazing stuff.

Have U ever gotten a grouper?, damn things get huge!
[video=youtube;Y27LSPcbeB4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y27LSPcbeB4&feature=related[/video]

In the example you give I'm almost positive there are a lot more than 3 tarpon working together to feed but not 100% sure...depending on the time of year and what they target I believe they school in the dozens. Poor mullet haha! I was watching NatGeo the other week and they showed an example of humans with castnets working with dolphin to catch mullet which was pretty neat to see. The Dolphin would push the schools of Mullet toward the castneter's waiting to throw, castnets hit the water and the mullet would then head back toward the dolphin where they would get hammered. Then repeat. Was cool to watch.

I've only caught undersized grouper but dont really fish for them. I'm thinking of taking a charter soon out in the Gulf for Grouper and Snapper, just so expensive though...

Whoever reads or see's the video you posted click play! I've seen it before and is a sight to see! That's a Goliath Grouper(aka Jewfish) btw, they are known to attack divers lol.

 

[inactiveuser1]

Over the summer occasionally, usually for bass

 

[BestBearsFan]

This a flathead a friend of mine caught on a trot line in the Mississippi this summer. They couldn't get it in the boat so they had to go back to the truck and make hook out of rebar to haul it in with.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[chitownbears88]

I get back to the states in 3 days. Will be on the Mississippi (North Iowa) fishing for Smallmouth Bass. They should be coming out of the tribs into the main river. 5-7ft diving crankbaits against the rocks.

 

[inactiveuser1]

This a flathead a friend of mine caught on a trot line in the Mississippi this summer. They couldn't get it in the boat so they had to go back to the truck and make hook out of rebar to haul it in with.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[-Cago34-]

This a flathead a friend of mine caught on a trot line in the Mississippi this summer. They couldn't get it in the boat so they had to go back to the truck and make hook out of rebar to haul it in with.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Holy shit! That's a fish! How do you guys do your trout line? I used a trout line in Maryland for Blue Crabs. 400 yards of line(rope) with bull lips tied every 7 feet or so...very effective.

 

[-Cago34-]

I get back to the states in 3 days. Will be on the Mississippi (North Iowa) fishing for Smallmouth Bass. They should be coming out of the tribs into the main river. 5-7ft diving crankbaits against the rocks.

Good deal bro, welcome back!!! I don't know anything about fishing the Mississippi or what runs there. The only river fishing I've done was in Maryland, on the Little Patuxent for white and yellow Perch.

Thanks for doing what you do man! Hope you land a trophy Smallmouth your first cast!

 

[BestBearsFan]

I get back to the states in 3 days. Will be on the Mississippi (North Iowa) fishing for Smallmouth Bass. They should be coming out of the tribs into the main river. 5-7ft diving crankbaits against the rocks.

Sounds like a blast. Hey, check out http://www.fishingforfreedomquincy.org/ (ignore the horrible website, new one being built as we speak). I am on the board and we hosted over 100 warriors for 3 days of fishing, eating and drinking this year! We are hoping to host 150 minimum this year but getting boaters to volunteer can be tough. We would love to have you next year and thank you for your service.

 

[BestBearsFan]

Holy shit! That's a fish! How do you guys do your trout line? I used a trout line in Maryland for Blue Crabs. 400 yards of line(rope) with bull lips tied every 7 feet or so...very effective.

Different people do it different ways. The way you do it is what most do if they have a boat but some people run lines from the bank to.

 

[BestBearsFan]

Good deal bro, welcome back!!! I don't know anything about fishing the Mississippi or what runs there. The only river fishing I've done was in Maryland, on the Little Patuxent for white and yellow Perch.

Thanks for doing what you do man! Hope you land a trophy Smallmouth your first cast!

I know you didn't ask me but it really depends on what pool you are fishing in as to what is available. The Mississippi is controlled by a multitude of dams and levee's and the river can be completely different depending on water level and location. I know the dam at Keokuk IA is a hydro and the water above it is very strictly controlled to keep levels steady to ensure the dam stays operational. We can be flooded down here(about 30 miles south) and they have no problems up there because of that damn dam. With that said I know here large mouth are pretty much extinct but the catfish get huge. above the Keokuk dam large mouth fishing is pretty good.