Sport Fishing in South Florida - West Coast vs East Coast - The Hull Truth

UaVaj · 04-09-2007, 11:29 AM

Which south Florida coast has the better topwater gamefish fishing? In terms of fishing for SailFish/Marlin, Yellowfin/Blackfin Tuna, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Dolphins, Amberjack, Tarpon.

What are advantages and disadvantages of each coast?

First obvious observation. To get to deep water - 100+ feet where the big fishes roam. The east coast does have the advantage of only 5 miles offshore while the west coast is 75+ miles offshore.

Base on my lack of knowledge. I am all ears.

rkatz · 04-09-2007, 12:02 PM

East coast is a no-brainer for that question. You don't even need to run 5 miles (at least down here in S. Fla). I have to run maybe 1.5 -2 miles to get to those depths, and those fish that you refer to (other than maybe the marlin) can all be caught within sight of the beach.

That said, I do love the west coast of Florida for its back country fishing. The fish may not be as big, but it sure is nice not to get beat up just cause it's a little windy.

CaptainRob · 04-09-2007, 12:15 PM

For those species you mentioned(other than Tarpon) I would have to say the East Coast for sure....We do occasionally find dolphin and wahoo out of the west coast ports but you generally are making long runs and you are not targeting them, usually for us they are a bi-catch when fishing for kings or grouper fishing and having a flatline out. We do get AJ's over our wrecks, reefs and springs and the occasional sailfish, but for consistent catches of what you are looking for definately the east coast. Now, Tarpon on the other hand is a different story, we get great numbers of tarpon during the annual migration. Boca Grande, on the west coast north of Ft. Meyers, is probably the best place in the US to target tarpon.....hence the reason there are 300 other boats out there each day doing the same thing.

endoman · 04-09-2007, 12:17 PM

I agree with Rkatz.
And I also live on the east coast.
Up here in Delray we're in 100 feet just a mile or so offshore. Gulfstream maybe 5 miles out.
When the weather's right you can do very well in a 4 hour trip.

UaVaj · 04-10-2007, 11:22 PM

Is there any decent top water game fish on the west coast beside tarpon? What about 125 miles off shore in the middle grounds? How does that compare?

Also - how does the two coast compare in terms of offshore bottom fishing? Grouper?

dmarcian · 04-11-2007, 04:09 PM

I fish out of SW florida. The type and size boat you have will also make a difference. On the east coast (from what I hear) the wind can blow for weeks at a time and make off shore fishing a chore in even medium size boats. On the west coast if the seas are too rough there is great in side fishing but only if your boat is small enough. i run a 28 Scout CC and can go offshore on most days but can still fish inside on the really nasty days.

Flot · 04-11-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

dmarcian - 4/11/2007 3:09 PM
On the west coast if the seas are too rough there is great in side fishing but only if your boat is small enough. i run a 28 Scout CC and can go offshore on most days but can still fish inside on the really nasty days.

LOL I live in SE Florida and the parents live in SW florida and what they call "windy and rough" over there is what we call "a little choppy" over here.

Now I should clarify that I'm talking about what you see from the beach I honestly don't know what the gulf looks like 10 miles out.

Both coasts will have some nice flat days during the summer but I would say that 6 days out of the week I'd be comfortable taking a 23 footer out on the west coast, whereas over here it can be pretty hit or miss with the east winds... seems like we've had 3 months of 4-6 foot seas so far this year.