Advice and tips for first real out of state trip

[Haris122]

Well guys, I'm back. Unfortunately I didn't do as much fishing as I hoped to, and when I did I just caught small fish. I hoped to surf fish from the beach but on 1 beach fishing was restricted to a small area where some other people were already, and the other 2 it was both unclear if I could, and impractical to do with the people around so I didn't get to fish that way. Then not being familiar with the area, finding other good areas to fish from shore was a bit difficult, especially since some areas were closed due to the recent hurricane. As luck would have it, the last day we were there, I visited a Florida state park area with a brochure that listed fishing spots, but there weren't many more from shore, than I found out about by then already. In the end I got 5 hardhead catfish, biggest of which was 13-14", a small redfish, a small mangrove snapper I believe, and 4 pinfish. And 5 of those fish I got near cocoa beach. I have to say the areas I visited around Crystal river would've been really good for kayak fishing, as there was a lot of saltwater marsh, mangroves, and interconnecting rivers and estuaries. We visited one of the crystal clear springs, and it was pretty cool to see the mix of saltwater and freshwater species mixed in there. Not often you're going to see bass, and sunfish co mingling with rays and mullet. I just wish the actual fishing would've worked out better.

 

[jpb2187]

What did you catch them on Harris>?

[Haris122]

Shrimp on the bottom with a 3 way swivel. Some of the pinfish I got on a roostertail, after I realized they're what's stealing my shrimp.

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats! Even though you didn't get out much, you caught a variety of fish. As you know I am a sucker for multispecies catches. Thanks for posting.

[Haris122]

I just wish there would've been one fish that would've actually made it worth bringing the medium heavy rod for.Looking at all the potential species online, had me day dreaming of catching a variety of big drum, sheepshead, jack crevalle, mackarel, and all that good stuff.

Instead I mainly caught little catfish, and the brackish water equivalent of a sunfish. Though the pinfish were fun to get to bite on the roostertail,seeing how that was on a light action rod.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Pin fish make great bait.

[Haris122]

Yeah I thought about using them as bait the first couple times I caught them, but I wasn't sure exactly what they were and if there were special regulations for them that day. The next time I caught one was on the last day right as we were about to drive back.