Headed to Florida this weekend!!! - The Hull Truth

Lunkerlure · 02-02-2009, 10:02 PM

Hey guys,

I'm coming to Florida for about 5 days and will be staying on the East side of Lake Okeechobee. I've been down a few times and we normally target bass and crappie but I want to do something a little different this year. What kind of fishing would I have access to on the East coast fishing out of a 22ft pontoon boat? Anything going on in the waterway or near the inlets this time of year or should I stick to the freshwater stuff until I get a chance to bring my CC down?

Lunkerlure · 02-03-2009, 06:28 PM

Come on guys can I get a little help.

rkatz · 02-03-2009, 07:01 PM

At this time of year, the east coast seas can get a bit on the nasty side. Not something I would recommend in a pontoon boat. Depending on where on east coast you're talking about, you could access the intracoastal. Down near Ft. Lauderdale, it's nice, but not much for fishing. North of Boca / Palm Beach, it gets pretty wide open, typically rather flat, and you can fish for all sorts of stuff. If you head south of N. Miami, the intracoastal opens up again, and until you get to Florida Bay, it's pretty well doable in a pontoon boat.

There is plenty of shrimp running (I hear - no personal knowledge) and near the inlets, I beileve you may find tarpon, but I don't think they're all that easy to catch.

Really, with a pontoon boat, I think you would find yourself a lot more fun on the west coast near Ft. Myers / Sanibel Island. The gulf is way calmer and the nature is second to none.

signmansez · 02-04-2009, 02:26 PM

Bring your coat!!

Do your normal gig plus take a charter out of Stuart for Sailfish. Bite has been pretty good this season and the weather looks like it is turning for the better this weekend.

Lunkerlure · 02-11-2009, 09:51 PM

Wind blew so much we couldn't even fish on the lake. There were white caps on Okeechobee so we rode to Boca Grande just to see the Gulf and the water was slick calm.