Spring Has Sprung

[SirSnookalot]

This has been a very dismal winter for saltwater fishing in s/e Florida, very tough going.

Within in the last week or 2 I'm starting to catch a few fish, nothing great as far as size and numbers, but there is a ray of optimism now. I've caught 3 or 4 small snook, couple tarpon, few small jacks( even off the beach) and some barracuda, Saturday we caught small kings and cobia offshore.

[Diggy]

I need to hit up some of your spots with my pops, who is your age exactly, retired and looking to fish more.

[SirSnookalot]

Let me know what kind of fish he's into catching. Just like freshwater fishing, the available access to saltwater has become limited from shore, the options seem to be lessening day by by day. I'd probably wait until the bait starts running, it's still tough going, you gotta be a die hard salty now.

I have spots that I go to where about any kind of technique can be used, from bottom bouncing like for bass, to most kinds of lures, and bait fishing kicks butt.

[Diggy]

We'll take anything as long as we can get to it. I think we may buy some kayaks shortly, this may help some of the problems we run into. A kid at the park told me he hooked up with a 20lb snook at a park on indiantown road I believe and it pulled his kayak a small distance while trolling

[SirSnookalot]

There are a number of reasons why I don't have a kayak or a small skiff, if I did I know plenty of places to catch some real quality fish right in the ICW minutes from where you and I live. Many kayakers go offshore and butterfly jig, gotta be young with a strong back for that stuff.

FYI, April 29 will be the opening of the new fishing platform at snook islands, which is at the west side of the Lake Worth bridge. This is an excellent fishery, snook islands are man made. I personally have fished it from the golf course, snook, jacks, tarpon and some redfish, bring your A game.

Indiantown rd is the Jupiter inlet, a lot of snook there, plenty of mangroves off the the tribs and you can launch a kayak from there beach there. A 100 yds offshore in 15-20 feet of water is prime cobia fishing, bluefish, spanish macks, cuda and lots more.

[Diggy]

That April 29th venture sounds good. What size reel would you think is needed(2000 or 3000). I gave my dad my calico jack and president reel combo that I had before.

[SirSnookalot]

I think you can get by with a 2000 or 3000 size reel, but I prefer that size from the beach. The platform is much lower than a jettie but personally I think a 4000 reel on a mh 10/20 rod is a better set up. I got this one moring on the jettie, barely got it in with a 4000 mh rod. More important than drag often times is line capacity.

[Diggy]

thanks for the advice