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Im going to Florida and Planning on saltwater fishing. What Fish Should I look to catch?

im Leaving for sarasota florida in two days. Im from NJ and Im not sure what people are catching in florida this time of season besides pompano. What types of fish should i look to catch and what baits should i use to catch them? Thanks

Also Im SALTWATER fishing
i am fishing off land mostly surf fishing (on the beach)

Public Comments

1. Spanish mackerel and King mackerel are good this time of year. Spanish can be caught on topwater lures ( ask a local, they will tell you which ones ) and King can be taken on cigar minnows. If you're going on a deep sea trip, you'll likely be going for snapper or grouper, which can be caught on cutbait. There are many other species that may be caught, including bonita, flounder, sheepshead, amberjack, etc. If you're fishing closer to shore or on a pier just see what they're bringing in and what they are using to catch 'em. Good luck and good fishing.

2. Take some heavy equipment (not your bass rig) and try the mackerel with live cigar minnows, Sheapheads around pier piling's and jetties and Flounders at night.

If you want to have some real fun, go to a bait shop and buy a few Bonitos and try some shark fishing. Commonly the locals will rig a triple hook string in a Bonito then tie a garbage bag with a slip knot and toss it off of the piers.

Once your bait has floated several hundred yards off shore, give the rod several sharp snaps to untie and free your bait then wait. Again this requires some big rods and reels but I can attest that once you hook even a 25 LB. shark, you'll be ruined from fishing for anything else.

3. reds and snook and tarpon

for reds i have never got one on a lure
but i get them on cut mullet

for snook i always catch them on golden spoons

i have seen a lot of tarpon but only landed 1
and it was on old stinky shrimp