Saltwater Fishing Southwest FL with Bass Gear?

[snake95]

Planning a trip soon to SW Florida and will be doing some LMB fishing and bringing some bass gear: one of my baitcasters and a spinning rod.

Hoping for a few mornings or evenings casting into the Gulf from shore too.  

I don't honestly know much about fishing in the Gulf.  I don't think I'll be doing anything too serious.  

I am sure you CAN fish with anything that has a hook and line on it - but does it make sense to try to fish from shore in the Gulf with a baitcaster, or would it be better to pick up a cheap surfcasting setup while there?  I know my reels aren't designed for saltwater - and I will be using a pretty basic BC reel.  Can you just wash them down really well with fresh water afterwards?  

Where I am going I can leave gear there and use it again in the future.

Interested to know if anyone has any experience with this.

 

[soflabasser]

      You will be surprised what a  spinning reel/rod combo meant for bass fishing can do when it comes to catching decent fish in saltwater.Make sure to have enough line in your reel for what you are targeting and make sure to clean the reel after each saltwater trip.

[snake95]

I guess to be more specific about what I am wondering:

1.  Is a medium or medium-heavy baitcaster long/powerful enough to make casts far enough to be in the strike zone for inshore species such as trout and snook?  Or, would it be better to pick up an inexpensive surfcaster for fairly limited use?

2. In terms of the sand and salt, I assume careful handling and a good freshwater wash is sufficient to maintain a freshwater reel used for a few trips in saltwater?

(That said, I won't be taking my best reel out there).

[soflabasser]

    Your baitcaster will be good enough if it is able to hold enough line for what you are targeting and has a good drag system. For most inshore fish you will need at least 100-200 yards of line since most large saltwater gamefish are capable of peeling line very quickly.The pound test of the line used depends on the size of the fish you are targeting and the structure you are fishing around. Heavy structure usually means using mono since braid cuts very easily on bridge  pillings ,rocks,barnacles,etc.

  Saltwater is corrosive, so you will have to clean the rod/reel after every trip to prevent the gear getting damaged by the saltwater.

[Afishionado]

South florida is snook heavy so that will be your most likely target.. If you are fishing from shore try to find an inlet.. You won't have to make great long casts for snook because at inlets and jetties they hang close to the rock line and are often right at your feet.. Cast parallell to the rock edges with lipped plugs.. Its almost like bass fishing, you wanna feel that plug bouncing off the rocks.. Plus most canals down there hold peacock bass.. 

[0119]

On 3/24/2016 at 9:37 PM, snake95 said:

Planning a trip soon to SW Florida and will be doing some LMB fishing and bringing some bass gear: one of my baitcasters and a spinning rod.

would it be better to pick up a cheap surfcasting setup while there?

Can you just wash them down really well with fresh water afterwards?  

I use the same tackle for both. We don't have a "surf" like you are thinking. The Gulf is a shallow stagnant saucer for the most part. Wading is a good way to fish here in SW fl.. The beach itself really isnt a fishing spot except when snook are there pre and post spawn in summer.  Aim for mangrove shoreline the few jetties we have and 'hole' of sand in the flats that still have grass in them.  Flounder and seatrout on the flats, snook in the mangroves.  A good bet is to always fish a bridge, the bigger the better. Look for deeper channels under them and snaggy pilings that attract bait.  Fresh live shrimp weightless on a med spinning gear is fine, your baitcaster around the bridges. Spooks and jerkbaits from your bass tackle, jig heads with shrimp tails you can get at walmart and your good to go.  Don't hose or spray your reel it'll only make the salt go deeper. Slosh a almost soaking wet rag over your reel dont forget your rod guides. Then do the same with a oily rag.

[snake95]

0119,  all great information.  Many thanks.  I understand what you mean about the Gulf now, and your comment put it in perspective for me.  Started an annual routine of fishing some New England surf and piers a few days last year, and I see the difference now.