Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

[RickV1955]

Just bought a fishing boat:
2005 Proline 19' sport center console with 115 Mercury Outboard.

Got a couple of tackle boxes with it...

Have some lures......huge diving lures...some 8 - 10" long. I assume for "trolling" but what kind of fish would these be used for??
I do know the prior owner did a lot of grouper fishing - don't think these would be used for grouper.

Any info appreciated.

Rick

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Yes they would be used for grouper!! Are they Manns lures? Those lures with the big lips on them will get down to 25 - 35 feet and pull the grouper up off the hard bottom. It seems to be a popular way to locate them. After a hit, toss a marker overboard.
Good find on the boat. The Pro Line is a well made dependable boat that you should enjoy for years....or untill "2 footitus" springs up!
They just came out with a whole new line of lightweight rolled hull boats"no liner" called Pro Lite. Seems very appropriate in this economy.
Man, I had some great times fishing Sarasota county for the ten years I lived in Englewood. You have some really good reefs just several miles offshore. I used to really load up on everything at the M-7 reef.
You will need a live baitwell full of greenbacks and hang on. The bonita will literally tear your lightweight gear out of your hands. Wish I was still down that a way to guide you out to some spots!! Good luck!

 

[w.lowe]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

We troll the bug lures for grouper and kings. They work like a champ.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Thanks for the info guys!!

Absolutely can't wait till I get down there full time!!
Retirement in just under a year (349 days, 6 hours, 26 minutes and 12 seconds....but, hey, who's counting.....lol)

Just got back from two weeks down there....did a little cruising around, but no fishing.....the worst thing was having to store the boat and having to come back up north....Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

The prior boat owner did say that he will absolutely show me all his "great fishing spots" when I come back down - he almost cried having to see the boat (unfortunate financial problems - lay off - etc...)
Also told me that most of his "spots" are stored in the GPS that came with boat....can't wait to get out there and do some fishing!!

And "Triumphrick".....any spots, tips/tricks, or tatics would be much appreciated!
My personal email is: rgv55@yahoo.com.

Thanks again.

Rick

And...yes, the lures are the "Manns" lures with deep diving lips......probably 7 or 8 or them....some new and never out of the package. Also left me fishing rods - two baitcasters (trolling) and three spinning rods.....a ton of other tackle....casting net...etc..etc..etc.....

Did complete a boaters safety course while I was down in Florida....just a relatively basic course....but saved on my insurance.
when I get down there for good, plan on taking a more advanced course....probably a U.S. Coast Guard course....

 

[capt sam]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Good for you on the classes, they usually offer local navigation classes too. Like Rick said you can definitely troll for grouper, heck you can troll for a lot of stuff here.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Capt. Sam......

Thanks.....would seem like a "local navigation" couse is just what I'm looking for!!

I've done a lot of fresh water boating....but very little salt water (very little Gulf....)
Went out once with this boat (with previous owner) and it did seem like the markers were a bit confusing. With all the really shallow water down here, have to make sure I know what I'm doing and where I'm going....LOL.

Rick

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

I'll email you soon. If you get a chance to head back down, just let me know. I fished that area a bunch and have a good bit of "local knowledge" as we call it. I also fished from a 19' cc, so we can work on getting your comfort level up a bit.
I think you will find the Sarasota area will be great for boating, fishing, cruising...all the good stuff we can do on the water. Good luck with that retirement and let's keep in touch. That was just a lucky guess on the brand of diving plugs!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

it just takes time, set some days aside to just explore, if you haven't, get a decent gps and a top spot chart of your area. You can download some of the numbers for wrecks/reefs and it will also show you mean low tide depths, it's amazing how much of a learning curve that helps with. My son has been running boats since he was 10 with a few simple rules, like basic rules of the road and how to read water.....that by far is the biggest thing to learn.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Triumphrick......
Thanks.....will definately keep in touch!!

Right now, we are not planning on coming back until this December....from just after Christmas and over New Years.......
But depending on what happens (i.e. how fast the house sells, etc...) I can see myself getting severe "withdrawal symtoms" much sooner than December....lol.
Soooooo, who knows...will keep in touch definately!!

Sam.....
My thinking was to head out initially and take it "REAL" slow.....just putting around the area until I get the hang of it.....
Shouldn't take too too long to get familiar with the general area....and the Gulf (after a half mile or so) seems pretty wide open??

I did buy a packet of navigational chats to study (through the rest of this damn New England Winter......Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! lol).
I went on line and got familiar with the symbols and markings.....wrecks, reefs, etc....

I looking forward to a new adventure.....a new life!!!!
the only tough thing will be deciding day to day what to do....let's see.....hmmmmmm fishing or golf or???
I do hear they have courses for "retirement training" down in Florida.....I'm a pretty quick learner, so will probably catch on pretty quick.....LOL.

Thanks,

Rick

 

[capt sam]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Triumphrick......
Thanks.....will definately keep in touch!!

Right now, we are not planning on coming back until this December....from just after Christmas and over New Years.......
But depending on what happens (i.e. how fast the house sells, etc...) I can see myself getting severe "withdrawal symtoms" much sooner than December....lol.
Soooooo, who knows...will keep in touch definately!!

Sam.....
My thinking was to head out initially and take it "REAL" slow.....just putting around the area until I get the hang of it.....
Shouldn't take too too long to get familiar with the general area....and the Gulf (after a half mile or so) seems pretty wide open??

I did buy a packet of navigational chats to study (through the rest of this damn New England Winter......Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! lol).
I went on line and got familiar with the symbols and markings.....wrecks, reefs, etc....

I looking forward to a new adventure.....a new life!!!!
the only tough thing will be deciding day to day what to do....let's see.....hmmmmmm fishing or golf or???
I do hear they have courses for "retirement training" down in Florida.....I'm a pretty quick learner, so will probably catch on pretty quick.....LOL.

Thanks,

Rick

sounds like a good plan, you'll learn quick. Yeah once you're out a little ways you're generally pretty safe. Keep an eye on the tides when you go out, I actually like learning new areas at low tide so I can see everything that's going on. There's a few general courtesy rules that I personally like seeing practiced, mostly common sense which is sorely lacking here anymore. Like I tell my son, just because the boat can do 50 doesn't mean you have to.

 

[inPursuit]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Capt. Sam,
That is great advice for someone new to the area. My dad always told me when I was kid growing up here "assume that the other boaters don't know what they are doing and expect them to do anything". That has been great advice. Tight lines

 

[gstanton]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Another saying I've heard is "In the north, assume its deep unless they say it's shallow. In the (Gulf) assume it's shallow unless they say it's deep"

Sand bars will get ya!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Bradenton, Fl Fishing lures??

Another saying I've heard is "In the north, assume its deep unless they say it's shallow. In the (Gulf) assume it's shallow unless they say it's deep"

Sand bars will get ya!

ain't that the truth.