Hey guys,

I'm going to be in the Fort Lauderdale area for a few days in mid February.  I'll have a couple days open to get out and do some fishing.  I won't have a boat or any tackle with me so I am looking to do the guide thing.  I will have a rental car so I can drive a few hours if need be.  I'm thinking about doing one day of bass fishing and one day of inshore/flats fishing for tarpon, snook, redfish, and/or bonefish.  Any recommendations on where to go and what guide services to use?  Any and all suggestions would be helpful.  Would love to hear any personal experiences with guides as well.  I've always wanted to fish Florida...I'm so excited...just want to make sure I get a good guide on good water. 

Thanks

George Welcome, Sebastian Florida

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

Where? Stick Marsh / Farm 13

Who? George Welcome

That's all you need to know.

Been there, done that, and can't wait to go do it again.

Georga is an awesome guide, and a real "character". You will enjoy a day with him.

I would recommend Lake Okeechobee for the bass and then Flamingo or Biscayne Bay for the inshore.

Tons of guides available for all of those locations.

btw if you are dead set on bones then flamingo is out and biscayne is it. The rest you can catch in both places.

For backcountry snook, redfish etc... The areas best is Capt. Benny Blanco. He fishes flamingo state park is stays booked with a ton of repeat customers.

Check your P.M.'s

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Hey guys,

Thanks for all the responses.  It looks like I am definitely going to try to do either Biscayne Bay or Flamingo for some flats fishing.  Biscayne Bay would be really convenient, but is Flamingo better??  I'll probably just call a few guides and see what they recommend in mid February.  I'm still going to try to work in a day of bass fishing.  Thanks for the suggestion and feel free to keep them coming.  Thanks.

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

I have done very well out of Islamorada with guides, many available but lodging can be tough.

Steve Daniel out of Clewiston for largemouth-Steve is great, former Elite and FLW top series pro who will put you on fish and teach you something as well

Alan Zaremba-best peacock guide around and going for the peacocks are a special South Florida thing that any visitor ought to do

Jorge Valverde for Flats, Flamingo or Biscayne

PM  me and I will get you contact info for each if you are interested

Hi csizzle

February on Okeechobee can not be beat. You can find great guides at Roland Martins' in Clewiston; Slim's Fish Camp in Belle Glade and many places in the town of Okeechobee on the north end of the lake. If there is a north wind during your visit, go to Okeechobee. There is a guide their by the name of Mike Shellen. He is a great guide, but he is difficult to get along with. I fished with him by myself once and again with my wife. I could not wait for the second trip to be over. You should be able to find many terrific guides with a few phone calls. Most of the fishing will be Shiner (live bait) fishing, but you will have a great chance at a trophy bass. Water levels on Okeechobee have been low until the past few months, but we got some great rain in the summer and levels should be ideal in February.

Bonefish and redfish will be iffy in February. If you want some great sailfish, wahoo, kingfish and bottom fishing action in the same day, try Captains Denis Forgione or Bouncer Smith in Fort Lauderdale. Both will give you your money's worth on a small boat with the best light tackle fishing imaginable.

When you get here, if it has been warm for a couple of weeks, the Peacock Bass fishing in the canals of Dade County will be good. There are numerous good guides in the Miami/Dade county area that will give you plenty of action. You will also catch plenty of nice large-mouth bass as a by product.

Enjoy your trip

Try going up to fish The big O and fish out of Clewiston and Roland Martins. Mark King is a great guide. He will be able to put you on fish with either shiners or artificials.

Inshore saltwater? Captain Mo out of Miami is the way to go. Check out his website: www.newdawncharters.com

Great Captain and a great all around guy!