Fishing Charlotte Harbor Area (how to, satellite, clean)

[HarborRat]

I just back it pretty far in so the boat is about floating and then unhook the winch and push her off. Before backing down I attach 1 or 2 long lines to the dock-side of the boat and have them in my hands the whole time until tying off and then parking.

Putting back on the trailer is similar...tie up the boat, back the truck down very close to the dock and use the lines to float it over the center. Hook up the winch and get it a little tight while making sure it's centered, back down more if the winch is too tight. It is easier to hook the winch and then have to back down more than to hook the winch and find you are too far in!

I do not power the boat onto the trailer...I walk it on. Years of experience has taught me that, and it only takes 30 seconds longer...but will someday prevent some damage, trust me.

First and foremost, even if you have a line of trucks behind you, take all the time you need to do it right the first time. If you rush and do something stupid it will take longer and maybe cause damage. I use the Edgewater ramps for this reason when alone, usually less busy than the beach complex ramps.

PVC "guide-ons" are worth their weight in gold when the wind is howling or the tide is ripping. They will someday save gel-coat damage from hitting the trailer's wheel fenders with the bottom of the boat.

[Harbor Hopper]

One thing: if using a ramp with two docks (so there is room for two boats in between the docks), DON'T go in the middle of the ramp! That's grounds for some cursing. It's like using two parking spaces at the store during Xmas shopping season! Gotta be respectful to fellow boaters.

[rock creek]

Originally Posted by HarborRat

I just back it pretty far in so the boat is about floating and then unhook the winch and push her off. Before backing down I attach 1 or 2 long lines to the dock-side of the boat and have them in my hands the whole time until tying off and then parking.

Putting back on the trailer is similar...tie up the boat, back the truck down very close to the dock and use the lines to float it over the center. Hook up the winch and get it a little tight while making sure it's centered, back down more if the winch is too tight. It is easier to hook the winch and then have to back down more than to hook the winch and find you are too far in!

I do not power the boat onto the trailer...I walk it on. Years of experience has taught me that, and it only takes 30 seconds longer...but will someday prevent some damage, trust me.

First and foremost, even if you have a line of trucks behind you, take all the time you need to do it right the first time. If you rush and do something stupid it will take longer and maybe cause damage. I use the Edgewater ramps for this reason when alone, usually less busy than the beach complex ramps.

PVC "guide-ons" are worth their weight in gold when the wind is howling or the tide is ripping. They will someday save gel-coat damage from hitting the trailer's wheel fenders with the bottom of the boat.

Good info on both accounts Cep'tin I won't be climbing over the bow onto the trailer. But that's the info I was lookig for Just being sure I wouldn't be the only one doing it.

[Messing About]

Launching from Gasparilla tomorrow at sunrise...headed west do deep water.

[Salty Dave]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Launching from Gasparilla tomorrow at sunrise...headed west do deep water.

Good luck, hope to see some pics.

[DennisDaMenace]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Launching from Gasparilla tomorrow at sunrise...headed west do deep water.

You gotta go real far west to find deep water.

[rock creek]

Originally Posted by DennisDaMenace

You gotta go real far west to find deep water.

Just how far West, and how deep is deep?

[DennisDaMenace]

The continental shelf is about 150 miles offshore.

[Messing About]

We set out from Gasparilla Pass at 7:25AM and ran west/ northwest. Once we got to 80' of water we trolled rigged Ballyhoo and a cedar plug but got no bites.

We went 30 miles off shore, which is the farthest I've been. We fished the Bayronto wreck in 98 feet of water. The wreck is pretty high. The depth goes from 98 to 72 as you traverse the wreck from above.

I experienced a couple of firsts; first keeper Grouper (tried since 2008), a 21" red, and my first ever Amberjack, a 35" fish that took me on several long runs with my 40lb test and 80lb leader. I landed the AJ and took photos. I will post some photos tomorrow. For now, I'm beat.

Our tally was 3 keeper Red Grouper, lots of short red grouper, 1 lane snapper, many grunts, a few sand trout and the big AJ.
There were a ton of barracuda stalking our boat all day. We tried to tempt them but they weren't fooled. The Bonito run was nothing short of incredible. The water boiled all around us at different times for most of the day. When the school would get close, we tossed tipped **** their way but no go. We zipped out another half mile west so I could say I've been in 100' but we got nothing out there.

The water was smooth and flat most of the day. We ran 25 knots out there and 34 coming home.

We burned about 30 gallons of Rec 90 fuel on the day and used cut bait all day long.

[wpc691]

Congrats on the Grouper, MA! You're getting adventurous in the 196 - pretty soon, we'll be reading about your run to the Tortugas.