[Al B]

Hey gang,

I'll be headed to Tampa for their 1st Wish-A-Fish event on May 9th, and am going to hang out the week before or after. Has anyone stayed in these areas? Any recommendations of one over the other? Charters?

Here's what I've found so far:
Sanibel / Marco Island are almost twice the price of any other the other places... and seem to cater to an older crowd (piano bars, shelling excursions, etc.)
Pine Island (just north of Sanibel, west of Cape Coral/Ft. Meyers) seems pretty cool, but there seems to be very little to do there... other than fish, which is cool w/me.
Bonita Springs/Bonita Springs Beach seem pretty cool... found a house w/dock and small aluminum boat for a rediculas price (850/wk.).

I'll be shipping down some rods (3) ahead of time and taking a 54 qt. cooler as a checked in piece of luggage. It'll be loaded w/GPS, cast net, reels, tackle, bubble machine, fillet knive... ready to fish.

Any info, suggestions would be appreciated....

 

[jhmorgan]

My sister got married in Marco Island in '05. One of the best fishing areas of Florida if you ask me. The Tarpon and Snook action can be off the charts. During the summer (not sure about May) you can walk along the beach and sight cast massive schools of massive snook with the fly rod. All I know as far as May is that the Tarpon action should be red hot in the canals as they spill out.

The whole Tampa area should be good for Reds that time of year for inshore. Not positive about offshore but Kings should be around then. You looking for more inshore/offshore?

 

[Al B]

Definitely inshore... tarpon, snook, reds, trout... nearshore wrecks.

Also, any info on cool areas to stay...

 

[Capt. Pete Bregant]

Call me, I will give you Gregs number.

 

[Rebel]

Al...I have a good friend who lives in Sarasota (Siesta Key). I'm sure he would be willing to take you fishing. Gimme a call and I'll hook you up with his number.

 

[sc high tide]

That part of may is a little early for tarpon off the beaches, should be some in Pine Island sound and possibly Boca Grande pass. Do yourself a favor and try to fish the ICW in Venice at night. Largest concentration of snook around. They congregate around dock lights and if you've got live bait it is an absolute sight. If you can find a place around venice/osprey that has a boat, I would do that, you can fish topwater and jerk baits around the sea walls and do well on snook with little or no experience in the area.

 

[Slickcalm]

Check out Punta Gorda; cheaper than the cities u mentioned and a dynamite fishing area; close to Boca Grande, Turtle Bay, Pine Is. May is the time for tarpon and snook. Slickcalm

 

[Feeshon]

Hey Al - Couple Things

Been going there since the 70's. Go out to Sanibel / Captiva stay at the Tween Waters Inn and hire the crusty old guide at the Green Flash restaurant. They have good drinks and the best grouper sandwich on the island. The crusty old guide there is a redfish machine, and there are rental boats there as well - use spanish sardines up against the bay side of the island where the boats come out. Snook on the front side of the island at first light, tarpon there in May. Trout on the edges of the oyster islands during falling tides at Tarpon Bay outfitters, and there are trout in the flats in the grass same area. Hooked a small tarpon on a trout last year. Rent one of the canoes with a trolling motor and head out to the pass and the deep water around the pelican islands, jig with shrimp tip, and you will be in the trout is short time. Chop a ladyfish and turn her into the red bait she was supposed to be. I have waded around the causeway and Ding Darling as well for snook, sheephead, and some trout, but it is more hit and miss. Ding Darling also a great place to watch ducks come in at dusk with a cocktail if you are taking your wife. Great fishing and yes you may pay a little more for Tween Waters but it is one stop fishing paradise. Bar in house, bands at night, pool, restaurant. Ride bikes from Tween Waters to shopping on Captiva and stop at Schnappers hot dog stand on Sanibel for a great dog!

I have a co worker that has house in Cape Coral that rents out if you are interested b mail me - right on the canal.

See this month's Florida Sportsman for more info, Frank Sergeant has great maps of the area in his books on trout.

 

[flounderman06]

i lived in bonita for a short while. theres alot of great snook fishing in the fish trap bay area and all the tributaries that lead into it. lovers key and big carlos pass also hold alot of fish. try shark fishing at night off the big carlos pass bridge. bring the heaviest gear you got! good luck. good thing about that area is you can fish it all in a 16' skiff.

 

[Al B]

GREAT info... keep it coming guys.