th365thli Posted October 20, 2018 Posted October 20, 2018 In my previous outing summer patterns were still lingering like a bad hangover. Almost no bait balls, much less bass feeding on them. Low activity. Hot temperatures. Then I had to keep the boat in the garage to do some work on the trailer. After two weeks I finally was able to take her out again. What a difference those two weeks made. Water temps dropped from 73 to 67. My graphs, previously lifeless, now showed a ton of activity. Excited to be fishing shallower, I pitched my jig outside a weedline at a cove opening and the rest is history. A friendly kayaker helped take this picture for me: Picture actually makes it look smaller, but I promise you it's a 8.09 lber. Just a tad skinny. If I had caught her with a full belly.... Been fishing in California for 4 years and I could not break 7 lbs. Slightly embarrassed, but sometimes people think huge bass just jump in your boat out here. Lakes here get a lot of pressure. On to double digits! Some areas in the country have people already winterizing boats. Quite the opposite here. We're at the end of the fall transition into fully fledged "fall" fishing. Bass are getting more active and I managed to pull out some 3s and a 4 in addition to the 8. Can't wait to capitalize again. 22 1 Quote
Don51 Posted October 20, 2018 Posted October 20, 2018 People have the same perception about FL fishing! The 10 lbrs are everywhere! Lol 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted October 20, 2018 Super User Posted October 20, 2018 Congrats! Nice catch! 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted October 20, 2018 Global Moderator Posted October 20, 2018 Congrats!!! From what I have heard about California the big ones have a pHD in avoiding fishermen . Also, I like that old school ranger 1 Quote
Fairtax4me Posted October 21, 2018 Posted October 21, 2018 Awesome catch man! A look at the size of the fish compared to the hand that’s holding it gives the impression that she’s definitely a big girl! Congrats!! 1 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 21, 2018 Super User Posted October 21, 2018 Congratulations on your new personal best bass. 1 Quote
shimmy Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 Great fish, looks very long. Farther away shots like that from another boat ALWAYS make the fish look smaller. But that fish still looks great. Well done. 1 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 22, 2018 Super User Posted October 22, 2018 On 10/20/2018 at 8:02 AM, Don51 said: People have the same perception about FL fishing! The 10 lbrs are everywhere! Lol Yes most northerners think that everyone in Florida has a personal best bass over 10 pounds but it is not true. Most of the Florida fishermen I know have a personal best bass of 5-8 pounds,some with 8-9.9 pounds, and a small percentage of people with 10 pound or better bass. I am fortunate to have caught a couple 10 pound or better bass in South Florida but they are a rare fish down here (10 pounders and up are much more common in Central/Northern Florida). On 10/20/2018 at 8:49 AM, Derek1 said: Nice fish looks pretty long. Yes it is a very nice bass,looks to be at least 24 inches in length. 1 Quote
th365thli Posted October 24, 2018 Author Posted October 24, 2018 On 10/22/2018 at 1:52 PM, soflabasser said: Yes most northerners think that everyone in Florida has a personal best bass over 10 pounds but it is not true. Most of the Florida fishermen I know have a personal best bass of 5-8 pounds,some with 8-9.9 pounds, and a small percentage of people with 10 pound or better bass. I am fortunate to have caught a couple 10 pound or better bass in South Florida but they are a rare fish down here (10 pounders and up are much more common in Central/Northern Florida). Yes it is a very nice bass,looks to be at least 24 inches in length. I wonder if it's because in South Florida they have to compete with Peacock Bass and other non indigenous species. Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 24, 2018 Super User Posted October 24, 2018 On 10/23/2018 at 10:42 PM, th365thli said: I wonder if it's because in South Florida they have to compete with Peacock Bass and other non indigenous species. My current PB largemouth bass is 12.25 pounds and I caught it from land in South Florida. One of my mentors has a PB of almost 15 pounds, also caught from land in South Florida.Most bass I caught in 1 day was 149 bass from land.4-7 pounders are a normal catch for me and I catch 8 pound or better bass often whenever I stop fishing for other species of fish and focus on largemouth bass. 10 pound or better bass are a rare fish in South Florida but that has more to do with thermal burnout and that bass don't live as long in South Florida compared to Central/North Florida.This summer was one of the best bass fishing summers I had. On 1 of the days this summer my top 5 bass where over 115 inches combined length. The top 5 bass for one of those months was over 117 inches. There are many other bass fishermen that catch bigger bass and more bass than me in South Florida so it is safe to say we have a great bass fishery down here.I feel that the exotics has made our fisheries better since we have more selection of fish to choose from.Fishing for largemouth bass only gets boring quickly for me and I like the challenge other species present.Fishing for freshwater exotics is a multi million dollar industry in South Florida and people from all over the world come here to catch peacock bass,clown knifefish, bullseye snakehead, jaguar guapote, midas cichlids, and other exotics we have. I would not trade the amazing fishery we have in South Florida for anywhere else! 1 Quote
lonnie g Posted October 25, 2018 Posted October 25, 2018 congrats on the pb nice fish. pb always exciting Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted October 26, 2018 Super User Posted October 26, 2018 Congratulations! Quote
NittyGrittyBoy Posted October 28, 2018 Posted October 28, 2018 @soflabasser I grew up fishing private phosphate pits in central Fla, I can attest to a 4-7lb average bass per outing. Really enjoyable fishing trips, but it will quickly spoil you. I know live in So Ga fishing River systems and a 1lb bass in now my average! Nice bass to the OP! Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted October 28, 2018 Super User Posted October 28, 2018 2 hours ago, NittyGrittyBoy said: @soflabasser I grew up fishing private phosphate pits in central Fla, I can attest to a 4-7lb average bass per outing. Really enjoyable fishing trips, but it will quickly spoil you. I know live in So Ga fishing River systems and a 1lb bass in now my average! Nice bass to the OP! Central Florida has even bigger bass on average than South Florida so you where very fortunate to have been able to fish there. I agree bass fishing can get boring if it is the only thing you that is why I spend most of my time targeting several species of fish. You have the most species of black bass in Georgia than any other state and I plan on fishing in Georgia in the future. The bass that @th365thli caught is a beauty that any bass fisherman would enjoy catching that is for sure. Quote
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