Super User gim Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 I'm going to St Pete Beach, FL the last week of March for a family vacation with my family. My wife is up for me to devote a day to some inshore guided saltwater fishing (bless her heart) so I'm using the same guide service I did back in April 2015 when I was there on my honeymoon. I talked to him this morning and I'm booked for Thurs, March 27 with Mike Anderson of Reel Animals out of Tampa. When I did this back in 2015, I had an awesome experience. We targeted snook, redfish, and sea trout on spinning tackle and caught a bunch of all three. One of the redfish was in the "keeper" slot and we were permitted to keep it. Our resort kitchen prepared it cajun style for us that night and it was fantastic. The guide I used last time was kick ass (it wasn't specifically Mike, but one of his guides) and he put my wife and I on fish regularly. I understand guide fishing is a crap shoot and the trip can turn out poorly; that's part of it. But the experience itself was so good I said I'd use Reel Animals again if I ever went back, so I am. I tipped him handsomely with straight cash. Here's some photos from 10 years ago that I hope to duplicate again in late March. I'll never forget the pelicans and birds that hung around the fish-cleaning table that afternoon. Those things would come right up to the table and wait for scraps like a pet dog. When he tossed that redfish carcass to them it was a "WAR OF THE BIRDS." 6 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 Sounds like a great time. Smart move with the guide. Narrows your odds on getting on fish and having a good day. Heading to Headwaters in Fellsmere, FL on Friday hoping to start my year out with a double digit ditch pickle! 2 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 Nice, that’s the “inshore grand slam”! Looks like it was an easy choice to use the same guide. I’m in the process of planning a guided salt trip as well for when I go to Croatia in a few months. 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 March is the first month that bigger Tarpon start to bite down around the Tampa Bay area, I'd consult your guide about the prospect of Tarpon fishing. Any good inshore guide in that area will be an expert on Tarpon as well. There is nothing in the fishing universe that compares to Tarpon imho. A 100lb+ Tarpon is life changing. Good luck and have a great time! 2 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 27 Author Super User Posted January 27 34 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: March is the first month that bigger Tarpon start to bite down around the Tampa Bay area, I'd consult your guide about the prospect of Tarpon fishing. Any good inshore guide in that area will be an expert on Tarpon as well. There is nothing in the fishing universe that compares to Tarpon imho. A 100lb+ Tarpon is life changing. They weren't there last time I was there the first week of April. My understanding is that they are a migratory game fish and move up the coast as the water warms. Peak tarpon fishing season near Tampa is usually later than March. But I'll inquire about it anyways. I went to Key West in 2018 and tarpon fished for a day. That was insane. The acrobat and aerial nature those things have are incredible. 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 Yeah March is the first month where the bigger fish start to migrate into the area so depending on the yearly weather they could be there or not. It's a moot point if you've fished for Tarpon in the Keys. I've never found any form of fishing that holds a candle to Key West. Key West fishing is the summit of the mountain as far as I'm concerned. Where else can you go 30 miles out into the Gulf to catch Blackfin Tuna behind Shrimp boats in the morning and then go 13 miles out into Atlantic during the afternoon and catch Sailfish. Then wake up the next morning and go out into the bay and catch 100-200lb Tarpon. 1 Quote
crypt Posted January 27 Posted January 27 you will have a great time with Mike......great fisherman....better person. 1 Quote
BigAngus752 Posted January 28 Posted January 28 5 hours ago, gim said: I'm using the same guide service I did back in April 2015 when I was there on my honeymoon. This is what I got out of that post. Fishing on your honeymoon. LEGEND. 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 28 Author Super User Posted January 28 2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: It's a moot point if you've fished for Tarpon in the Keys. I've never found any form of fishing that holds a candle to Key West. Key West fishing is the summit of the mountain as far as I'm concerned. I took a 3 day guided saltwater fishing trip there in 2018 with my Father. We had that trip planned for 2 years in advance. I hope to go back again someday. I constantly remember the guide telling us to “BOW!” the rod every time a hooked tarpon would jump and all we could do is watch in amazement. 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 28 Super User Posted January 28 That's amazing you got to share that with your father! Me and dad took several trips down there when I was growing up where we'd hire a guide for 2-3 days like you. Every single time out was just spectacular. I lost a 175-200lb fish after about 2hrs right....and 1.7 miles away from the buoy we hooked up on right at the dang boat. That fight is seared into my soul for life. I'll never forget that fish. Saltwater fishing takes the wonderment factor of fishing off the charts. @king fisher always reminds me how special Bass are though, he earns a living fishing for the most amazing saltwater pelagic predators in the world and chooses to spend his free time exploring Mexican lakes for DDs. 2 Quote
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