what do i do for ocean fishing in florida?
i am going to Daytona Beach Shores in Florida for spring break, and i want to fish in the ocean for the first time. I have absolutely no idea how to fish in the ocean and i have no idea what to bring. (the only fishing i have done is in the neighborhood lake catching bass.)
what i need to know is what line to buy, what lures and bait to use and buy (and the fish that it will catch), what kind of weights to buy, what kind of net to buy (prices and where to buy this stuff if possible (Indiana)), and maybe some tips and techniques if you have any.
I am planning to just fish right on the beach, no boat.
i already have a “Masters” pole that is very thick that i think would work, i have been told that i can use regular freshwater hooks (if not please tell me), and i have a fishing knife.
PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN!
Thanks
For Surf fishing you would need a reel that can hold at least 200-250yrds 12-14LB Mono with a rod that is at least 8FT long.
For Surf fishing you would need Pyramid weights in 2-5 OZ, Flurocarbon leader material in 12-14LB, Swivels, saltwater grade circle hooks in 1/0, and some Sinker Slides to attach your Pyramid weights to your line. Here is a diagram of a popular rig- (Look at the “Red Drum Rig illustration”)- http://amelia-island-fishing.com/fishing/rigs/index.cfm
Baits??- Depends on what you want to catch. Fresh dead Shrimp is the most popular bait and will catch most Surf-fish species. The fish you will catch in Daytona would be Whiting, Drum, Sailcats, Croaker, Pinfish, Sheephead & small Shark. http://amelia-island-fishing.com/fishing/fish/index.cfm
http://amelia-island-fishing.com/fishing/baits/index.cfm
What you will end up catching (90% of the time) will be Hard-head Catfish. Be careful! Hardheads have sharp Dorsal and pectoral spines in their fins that harbor bacteria and can give you a NASTY poke.
If you catch a Hardhead Cat (I know you will; they are the most prominent fish on the beaches of North Fla), BE AWARE and don’t allow yourself to get poked when un-hooking a Cat.
Just any old beach in Daytona won’t give you much opportunity to catch a decent fish. You should take a drive (about 20-30 minutes) and hit the Flagler Beach Pier. Flagler area beaches are much more “fishy” than Daytona beaches and the drive North on A1A is very scenic. The areas around Marineland are also very “fishy”; if you get a chance you should schedule a day to go to Marineland and then go fishing.
No you can’t use Bronze freshwater hooks in saltwater. #1.) They rust. #2.) They aren’t strong enough to catch most saltwater fish.
If you do end up bringing your freshwater rod & reel MAKE SURE to rinse it off after every fishing excursion; otherwise it will seize and be ruined.
Hope this helps? good luck.
Bass Fishing Tips