I'm going on vacation to Florida for three weeks in January and would like to spend a day or two on the water fishing. I'm having a hard time deciding what to fish for. If anyone has fished there I would like to hear about your trip and what would you recommend fishing for? If you havn't been there but could go, what would you fish for?
I've been doing some research and marlin sounds great but it's not the prime season then and they say an average guy will fish for 24 hours ( 3, 8 hour trips) per hook up. Tarpon maybe? Sailfish?

Thanks

sparky,
What part of Florida? Are you wanting offshore/near shore/ freshwater?
Im from Jacksonville originally, we usually fish the brackish waters/intercostal waterway for big redfish (reds) speckled trout (not a real trout) and the ocassional tarpoon.
The first two are pretty easy to fish for, if you find em, and mighty tasty if you're keepin.

Good luck
RL

I went out of Key West a couple of years ago, Went out on a big boat . we went out and trolled at like 12 knots all day long . caught a lot of those dolphin deals, not like flipper but the blue and green guys . It was like tuna fishin here. troll til ya find em and then throw the live bait.

i caught a maui wowie no that's not it, wahoo yea that was it about 50# ...took as many fish as I wanted and went to a resturant and had them cook it up, had some se* with my wife, great time.

Tarpoons are bottom feeders . But you can fish the shallows all along the keys.

carefull not to get hooked on cigars

Fishn Sparky: I have in-laws that live in Bradenton, FL and for the last 2 out of 4 years I have used Capt. Allen of Florida Light Tackle Charters, 866-482-7766. www.fish-fla.com
If you check out his web sight I'm in his photo gallery under May 2003, 4th set of pics. Where ever you are staying he will be able to locate a spot near you. Both times I fished out of the Port Charlotte area. Fisrt time was at Boca Grande for 100+ pound Tarpons. Hooked in to a few but was very challenging to land. It was pretty amazing to see a fish that large jumping out of water no more than 2 feet from you. This past trip was in the back country / flats. We fished and laned plenty full of Snook, Red fish, Sea Trout and Jack Crevalle. We did an evening fishery and it was non stop of fishing. Let me know if you'd like more info, just E-mail me your number. One thing I like about him he really works to get you in to fish. Plus he has some WA resident him when he was younger.

Hope this helps,

Erndog

I fish Naples, Florida (Southwest) every year. Phenominal fishing right from shore or rock jetties for Snook, Redfish, Drum and many other fish. If you are looking to go off shore and do some bottom fishing, Tarpon, Redfish try www.magichook.com and Rick Featherstone. Great guide with years experience and he will catch you fish. No Bananas!