Florida Fishing During Vacation

[MickinMO]

Took a 6 hour guided fishing charter on Mosquito Lagoon while on vacation last week. Two of us caught several trout, but only one red fish. The guide had about a 30" snook on for a bit. Pretty much spent 6 hours casting, so I was wore out afterwards. I wasn't real impressed with the guide. I have been on a couple of these before and my previous experiences the guides worked much harder at trying to get on or figure out the fish. Pretty much felt like we rented a boat driver, which isn't how his services are advertised or what was discussed when it was booked. Once out there he wanted to stick with artificial, which to me translated to either being too lazy to catch bait or too cheap to go buy it. 

Regardless, always fun to fish water you aren't used to. Amazing how expansive the area was, and except when we were in the intercoastal channel, the water depth averaged about 18". The whole place is pretty much just one big flat that goes for miles and miles. Guide used a 17' fiberglass flats boat with a 60hp propped motor with jack plate. Many areas too shallow to get on plane or restricted to push pole only.

 

[JestersHK]

Glad you at least caught something... I've had a guide trip like that before... Def frustrating with the money they usually costs. 

[LARRYG]

Had a guide like that on Sanibell Island several years ago. I wanted to fly fish for redfish and he expected me to cast 80 ft into a 20 mph head wind while shouting orders. Very frustrating trip. I did not tip him well.

[Krazo]

we fished out of destin last week.  only my 3rd time out on saltwater.  it was my dad, son, wife and myself.  our trip exceeded all expectations.  great captain.  only booked a 4 hour trip and we got a solid 4hours of fishing time, not including run time which we went 13mi from the harbor, 5 miles off shore.  fished out of 26' center console style boat.  we saw dolphins and turtles.  we caught the bait which was cigar minnows 2-4 fish at a time.  then we hooked into red snapper, white snapper, vermilion snapper and trigger fish, sometimes 2 at a time.  he cleaned 25 fish for us and we caught at least twice that many.  several times i looked around the boat and we had triples on.  my son is 5, he and I fished together.  my wife and dad each had their own rod.  great experience. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

On ‎5‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 4:51 PM, MickinMO said:

Took a 6 hour guided fishing charter on Mosquito Lagoon while on vacation last week. Two of us caught several trout, but only one red fish. The guide had about a 30" snook on for a bit. Pretty much spent 6 hours casting, so I was wore out afterwards. I wasn't real impressed with the guide. I have been on a couple of these before and my previous experiences the guides worked much harder at trying to get on or figure out the fish. Pretty much felt like we rented a boat driver, which isn't how his services are advertised or what was discussed when it was booked. Once out there he wanted to stick with artificial, which to me translated to either being too lazy to catch bait or too cheap to go buy it. 

Regardless, always fun to fish water you aren't used to. Amazing how expansive the area was, and except when we were in the intercoastal channel, the water depth averaged about 18". The whole place is pretty much just one big flat that goes for miles and miles. Guide used a 17' fiberglass flats boat with a 60hp propped motor with jack plate. Many areas too shallow to get on plane or restricted to push pole only.

 

That sux!  I've been there too.  I've booked dozens of guides and it's always a crap shoot.  I'd say the large majority were great but I've had a couple bad ones too.