Little fish in a big new pond

[littlefish]

Hello everyone!

I just moved to Florida from Jersey for a new job which will leave my days free to do all sorts of fun outdoors stuff. Ever since I moved here I see people fishing everywhere! I was assured my second day here that in Florida, as long as there isn't a sign saying you can't fish, you can drop a line pretty much anywhere there's water!

I haven't fished since I was a kid, back when we used to go camping every year. Then things got tough and we really didn't have time for it. I moved to Florida hoping that I'd be able to find the time to enjoy life again instead of working myself raw and fishing is definitely something I'd like to take up.

I'm currently living in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, so I'd love to learn all the basics a newbie fisher needs to know. What sort of gear do I need? Where should I go? When's the best time? What are the important things I need to know?

I'm just looking to catch and release for now, but I'd like to do so with as little harm to the fish as possible. So tips on that would also be much appreciated.

But anyway, that's a little bit about me. Thanks for dropping in!

[swordfish]

Welcome to the pond, enjoy your stay! Right now you can go catch some familiar blues! However they are the mini-me versions of the Jersey bruisers.

-swordfish

[team fin addicts]

Welcome to the forum

I live in the Bradenton area and would be willing to help you out all I can... Good luck and tight lines...

[krash]

Can't help with the where, for that I'd suggest searching for post by Bluefishny hes posted many wading reports in the Sarasota area.. try to contact him by PM and he is a very helpful person when it comes to fishing, also a good fisherman. However I've not seen many post from him lately.

Equip:
Light fishing tackle is the way to go for inshore stuff.. I use Shimano so for sizes I use 2500/3000/4000 series reels loaded with 10/15/20 pound braid and usually a leader of light Fluro 15 or 20 pound test.. mounted on fast action 7' rods. Brand is personal opinion but most serious fishermen use Shinano, Diawa, Quantum, or Penn reels and an assortment of rods manufacturers.

Lures 90% of the time I have a Spook Jr. tied on and toss it all day, second rod will have a soft plastic, mostly DOA shrimp, or some sort of fluke like plastic rigged weedless or with light jig head. Colors MPO are not that important but light and dark are. I do use a lot of Glow in the dark or Rootbeer.

[Poseidon10/31]

I moved to Miami from Toms River, NJ last summer. Be advised, the fish here pull WAYYYYYY harder than the fish up north, and you can catch MUCHHHH bigger fish from shore than you can in NJ. I do miss fluking tho, I used to be able to catch 100+ fish in a few hours.

[swordfish]

Cool Poseidon, I had no clue!

-swordfish

[littlefish]

I moved to Miami from Toms River, NJ last summer. Be advised, the fish here pull WAYYYYYY harder than the fish up north, and you can catch MUCHHHH bigger fish from shore than you can in NJ. I do miss fluking tho, I used to be able to catch 100+ fish in a few hours.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'll definitely take your advice while looking into rods and reels and places to fish. I don't have anything specific in mind, kinda just want to drop a line and see what bites, there are some pretty interesting looking fish out there from what I've seen in the guides! Hopefully I'm able to land a few of them!

Poseidon! I was living in Barnegat before I moved down here, so we're from the same neck of the woods! Who would have thought? I believe you when you say they pull harder, though I've never really had much experience with anything bigger than sunnys. lol. I look forward to the fight!

[gruntking]

yankees are like hemroids when they come an go there fyne but when they stay there a real pain in the azz

[Poseidon10/31]

yankees are like hemroids when they come an go there fyne but when they stay there a real pain in the azz

Hahahahahah that is funny as hell!!!!! Think I pooped a little I laughed so hard.