Different Bridge question

[jrose40]

I am new to the Florida Keys and am learning everyday a little more and more. But my learning curve is getting expenssive with gas prices. I am tired of catching tons of small fish and would like to try my hand at catching something worth and legal to keep. I live in Marathon, I see people talking about Channel 2 and 5 bridge but that alittle far to drive. Does anyone fish the bridge at mile marker 60-61? Any help would be appreciated on the fishing in my area. Thanks

[PhishingPhanatic]

Welcome. Most people talk about Ch 2 and 5 because they are the closest bridges when coming from up north. Where you are, there are tons of good bridges. The ones you mentioned around MM 60-61 are good, so are the smaller bridges south of 7 Mile bridge.

[Chevy Juan]

As Rory mentioned, the bridges near you are good. Check them each out as time passes when you get a chance and get familiar with them. In terms of actually fishing them regarding rigs etc let us know if you need a hand. You'd be suprised what you can pull out of there man, check em' out like I said, and remember how you catch your "catch", the times, tides, bait etc. Good luck!

[jrose40]

Thanks for the advice..went to the mile marker 61 bridge tonight and didnt do too well..the current was ripping and couldnt figure out how to fish LOL. The current was rushing from the Atlantic to the Gulf and didnt know how or what to do.

[PhishingPhanatic]

When it is ripping like that, you have 2 options. Either fish with relatively heavy gear (20-40 lb class) with heavy weights to get your bait into the current (muttons, jacks and other fish will feed in the current) or fish with lighter gear in the slack water around the pilings. Mangrove snapper, grunts, etc will hang out in the calm water and wait for tasty morsels to get swept down. Don't try fishing in the heavy current with light gear, all that will happen is your weight will get swept away until it finds a snag to get lodged in, and you will spend a lot of time re-rigging.

[jrose40]

So your talking about fishing behind the bridge pillers on the downside of the current, I tried that with a bottom rig with a 2 ounce weight to keep it still on the bottom and got a few small bites but nothing really worth anything. Like you guys said I guess fish more LOL.

[james380]

Try moving from pillar to pillar until your find where the Mangroves are hanging out.

[Chevy Juan]

J-Rose, Check this thread out made by Tommy with tons of useful information. Take the time to read it carefully and it will come in handy. http://www.boatlessfishing.com/forum/vi ... =12&t=1045

[Chevy Juan]

Yes fish More lol, honestly though that is how you will learn the best and fastest. When the current is ripping through channels 2 ounces sometimes is baby weight and wont hold up well at all. If you are fishing the current 3-4 ounces on an egg or bank sinker can hold out there pretty good. If you are fishing against the current and want to hold bottom your best best would be a bank sinker around 6-8 ounces. Remember its not just throwing on the weight and thats it, make sure your rod can handle the appropriate oz's etc. If you need more help let us know man.

[jrose40]

Well I fished the Bahi Honda State park bridge today.."under the old one" and did a little better. Actually caught a few fish of some size, things are looking up!! Thanks for all the help guys and keep the info coming its really helping.

[Green Tide]

Are you fishing the one that is being worked on by the two barges?
With August behind us things should start getting better. When I got in the water a couple of times last week I noticed it was cooler. Some of that was from all the stroms, but you get the pic. Night time is still gonna be easier on you.
Also make sure you have good fresh bait. The hoos try crossing under the bridge as the current slows so be ready for them and keep them iced down but out of water.
Check out the link juan posted. No tellin how many times i have read it.
Then put in the time.

[Chevy Juan]

Good info john, jrose as john mentioned about bait freshness is key. Having good quality fresh bait will land you quality fish. I'd say catching bait is just as important as the hunt for the fish. Take the time tio learn the ropes with the catching bait, the different kinds, hooking them etc. it will pay off big time.

[jrose40]

Is there a "how to" on the bait catching technique.?

[Chevy Juan]

Check the how to section of the forums and you will find threads in there . The two main ways are with a sabiki which is what most of us use, being a section of line with multiple small hooks running the length of it, you can either jig it naked or tip the hooks with tiny pieces of squid or shrimp and thst will get you multiple baitfish each cast.

The othet is a cast net which you purchase and you throw it over a school of bait fish, let sink real quick then retrieve it.

[Chevy Juan]

Yes, what nelson mentioned, a live well and there you have it. Its cheap, $5 for a bucket and $10 for th pump, use a rope to lower the bucket and grab water unless you can reach it from where you are fishing from.

Ron yea of course man bigger mesh will go down quicker as well as weighted, I dont mean let it sink to the bottom like a rig lol, I should have worded it differently, but yes you cast and retrieve.

[Chevy Juan]

Same here man just sayin lol. Ron i may go permit hunting next week, wish me luck, I picked up some candy for them yesterday.

[jrose40]

Thanks for the info guys, I went back to Bahia today and used the Sabika and could really only catch small grunts or sergent majors. So I tried using the smallest grunt I could by hooking him thru the upper lip and cutting his tail off, nothing really messed with him. I did catch some good sized mutton "around 12-15" with squid. Then saw a really cool spotted eagle ray come trolling by and a good sized nurse shark also. Thanks again and keep them coming I am learning

[PhishingPhanatic]

Keep at it, you'll get a keeper mutton. You'd be surprised how big a bait a 16" mutton will eat.

[jrose40]

So what bait fish should I NOT use?

[Chevy Juan]

Use em' all, a wide variety is key, as long as IT IS a BAIT fish, then you are fine. Don't be the one guy that is intrigued by a reef fishes exotic colors, then he goes in on a bottom rig etc, you get the picture. If you know it is a BAIT fish and you get your hands on it, use it, and catch/keep what you will use, if not then release back.

[jrose40]

Went fishing today and took all the advice you guys have given me and finally caught my first quality fish. Thanks for all the help!!

[fishnfool73]

Learn how to fish one bridge well. Once you figure that out fishing any other bridge is easy. The same styles , tricks, and rigs will work on any of them. Think like a fish when you look at a bridge. Some of the best lessons you will learn in fishing are done without a rod in your hands.

[Chevy Juan]

There you go man congrats! Keep at it brother!.. Things are only going to get better.

[DonOne]

Good going JRose, we knew it would happen soon. As others have said, it wil only get better for you. Congrats.