heyitskirby

I always used to start with worms and fish for bream at the same time. Once I caught a few of those I changed up baits. For flatheads, like everyone said, live bait is best. For blues, I always cut the baitfish into three pieces. Head, midsection, and tail. Toss the tail and then figure out whether they are biting on heads or midsections. With all presentations I always cut the dorsal fin off. Your other options are eels (as cutbait, not live) or if you are on the lower James down near Dutch Gap, run a gill net for gizzard shad, which make excellent bait for blues.

Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm in the market for a pedal kayak and want to spend less than $2000. I'm looking to fish the bays and backwaters around Tampa Bay as well as the Hillsborough River. I'm 5'8", 160 LBs. Would like to keep it around 12' max as I'll be carrying it around in a F-150 with a crew cab and regular bed. Any input is appreciated. Several options out there and difficult to tell the difference on websites meant to sell you crap. This will be my first kayak.

I would go take a look at it before making a decision. I'm not sure what the dock looks like at the ramp (that small section to the right if you're looking at the water), I'm just speaking to the conditions of the dock/slips.

Yes.

It's actually kind of bad. When I helped him get the boat out of the water back around Thanksgiving last year the dock was in pretty bad shape, riddled with holes and broken planks.

I knew about the sale, not sure I knew about the apartments, which would stink because that field is where the boat lives in the winter. My dad put the boat back in the water this past weekend (luckily Charlie lives close and is still willing to help him out) and told me the restaurant is open again, motel renovation is currently suspended due to the economy (which I imagine would do the same to the apartments), and the dock renovation is on-hold due to some endangered plant.

Has fishing picked up at Powhatan Lakes? Having moved 1000 miles south I haven't fished there in a few years and my dad quit going over there since we parked the boat at River's Rest 5 years ago. Powhatan Ponds is definitely a great place for bank fishing, just check for ticks afterwards.

Same thing happens in highway construction when talking about striping.

Agreed. Before I moved here I would have never contemplated freshwater fishing while in the Tampa Bay area. Forget the bass and try something different.

Just to give you all an idea of how far the traffic mess will stretch - when Matthew went up the east coast a couple of years ago I was working on a project in VA on NB I-95 in southern VA. We were putting out lane closures at night and would get 2 - 3 mile backups all night on a stretch of 95 where traffic is extremely light at night (this is rural VA). Most of the plates were from Florida.

Most of my saltwater fishing in the past has been surf/pier fishing when I was a kid or charters. I haven't managed much of anything since I've gotten down here. I'm looking to do more saltwater than freshwater, but was wondering what was up with all those lakes up in North Tampa when I started this post.

Having time to catch bait is as simple as pulling out your panfish gear and catching a bluegill when you start out. Bait up your catfish gear and keep catching bait while that soaks.

I wouldn't go very far upriver from Watkins, but you can run all the way down to the dam downstream. It gets shallow in spots along the banks, but as long as you only run the channel you won't have any problems assuming the river is not super low. That's not to say you can't fish the banks, I just wouldn't make runs along the banks. Be mindful that this section of river is tight, has a lot of pleasure boaters and jetskis on the weekends, and there will be a lot of people on paddle boards and other self propelled boats. It can be annoying and most of these people will not respect your space. The ramp itself should be fine as long as the river is not super low.

Thanks for the info! I'm working in an FDOT office right by the Bypass Canal for the next couple of months and have seen people fishing it. Haven't had the chance to see what's going on, but they look to mostly be bottom fishing and I'm not sure what for. Getting ready to have some extra time on my hands so I will definitely be checking these locations out. The only fishing I've done since we moved down here was saltwater on the causeway in Dunedin and was just pecked to death by pinfish. Boat is in Virginia, since my dad uses it 3-4 times a week, so I'm stuck on the bank. I'm willing to drive an hour or two if the fishing is worth it.

Moved to Tampa back in August and finally able to get around to doing some fishing after leaving a work assignment in Ohio. I live in the Lake Magdalene area and there are a ton of lakes around here. Are any of them worth fishing and is there any public bank access? They all seem very private.

Ashtabula River is still moving north of the drawbridge and I've seen people fishing there everyday I go into the harbor area for lunch. I don't know if they are catching anything as this place is to cold for me, but there is plenty of parking and room to fish. Luckily I'm done with the project up here next week and headed home to Florida.

Where in Florida are you? I just moved to Tampa last week and I'm interested in where some good areas are to fish saltwater. I won't have my boat down there as my dad uses it in Virginia 3-4 times a week and I'm working in Ohio right now, so I need bank/pier fishing.

I was in Sarasota last week and went to Nokomis Beach on Casey Key. While sitting there you could actually watch the red tide as it came in. Once it got close in the lifeguard chased everyone out of the water and you could see tons of dead fish floating behind it. I've seen the red tide before, but I've never seen it come in like that. Guess I'll have to get used to it as I'm moving to Tampa from VA in less than a month.

I'm in Northeast Ohio for work for the next year or so. Working in Ashtabula, staying in Madison. Boat is staying in VA as my dad uses it several times a week. Any suggestions for Walleye charters? I've found quite a few, but was hoping someone had some experience or suggestions for someone specific. Thanks.

I haven't been in a few years, but this kind of fishing is completely based on luck of placement and fishing technique. I've slammed them from the bank and been skunked from a boat. My dad went the other day and said that flyfisherman were catching a ton and no one on the bank was catching anything. There doesn't seem to be any sort of advice to be made as is apparent from Sam's post. If Sam has no advice beyond that, then no one does.

I'm in Northeast Ohio for work for the next year. Ashtabula is where the project is, hopefully I get this place I'm looking at in Madison to stay. I'm not taking my boat up here as my dad uses it all Summer in Virginia. I've already looked at booking some Walleye trips for the obvious eating. Any good bank fishing spots? Anyone want to take me fishing? I've got gas money and will bring beer!

Buggs Island. There's more than just world records in there.

Funny thing is - large mouth bass in are actually in the sunfish family.

Reds can be found in the creek that splits Pawley's from the mainland, as well as just about anything from bluefish to flounder and croaker. Fishing from the bridge can be okay, but there are a ton of pinfish that will tear your bait up if you use cut bait. I've never gotten out in a kayak, but the current rips through there at times so I would be careful. A lot of houses have their own docks on the creek too, but keep in mind how far off you are from the main creek if in the middle part of the island. Other places to consider are Murrell's Inlet to the north and Cape Romaine to the south. If you try a charter I would stay away from anything "deep sea" and either do inshore for reds or near shore for flounder.