Fishing Charlotte Harbor Area (Edgewater, Punta Gorda: house, assessment, beach)

[bbronston]

What's a salmon?

I do a little flyfishing but not much. I've used bend backs, streamers, clousers, etc. but generally nothing smaller than 1.5 inches in length.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Foxrivman1

Is the Black drum related to the Redfish?

Yes, a Redfish is a member of the drum family. It looks a lot like a Stripped Bass (what we call a Rockfish in MD). They tend to get parasites when they get bigger, so most people don't eat them, but you can. People eat Redfish and smaller drums all the time, but the bigger ones - most people tend to avoid. I've caught and eaten Redfish, and they are good eating, but I haven't caught any of the big black drums yet.

One other thing about saltwater fishing vs. fresh water fishing. The fish fight a lot harder pound for pound! Salt water fish are much more ferocious! Even the trout are more aggressive and hard hitting, and once you see the fang teeth they have you'll appreciate what I'm saying.

It is a tad windy today, I am hoping to go out for a bit and see what I can snag!

[Big House]

Originally Posted by bbronston

Yes they are related...both are drums. I think bass fishing is actually pretty different. The top water part is similar but a bass will also just feel like you are dragging along the bottom and a snook will hit hard every time. Personally, I like reds and jacks for a good pull.

b, I hadn't read your reply when I just posted. I like to kayak for reds. They like to go in shallow waters. And, in the kayak often you can see the fish run right under you. At ponce de leon park in pgi they have a fishing pier which is really nice, and the fish run right along the opposite bank, but you can see them running and swimming right beneath the pier too.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Alaska to Florida

So does this mean that I need to remove all the salmon flies from my tackle box?

Nope, there are lots and lots of shallow shore line all around some mangrove areas in the harbor. I see people wading and fly fishing all the time. You won't catch any salmon, but some uppity snapper (who has thoughts of glory) might hit, plus there are some other trout and other species that may hit like a mackerel. I have some great fly fishing equipment, but haven't tried that out yet.

[Foxrivman1]

Have you ever caught Spade fish? My two sons and I caught a lot of them right off a pier in PG at the Best Western Waterfront a few years ago, they fight pretty good too!

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by Foxrivman1

Have you ever caught Spade fish? My two sons and I caught a lot of them right off a pier in PG at the Best Western Waterfront a few years ago, they fight pretty good too!

Hmmm..I'm thinking you mean a Sheepshead? http://www.rodnreel.com/gulffish/gul...view&FishID=61

They're similar to a Spadefish but these are the ones you'll find hanging around the pilings eating the barnacles.

Spadefish generally hang out on the reefs and are more toward Key West.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Foxrivman1

Have you ever caught Spade fish? My two sons and I caught a lot of them right off a pier in PG at the Best Western Waterfront a few years ago, they fight pretty good too!

Yes, but down here they are referred to as Sheephead. I mentioned that I have caught plenty of them down here, and a lot of people like to eat them. They are active and plentiful all year round. They are easy to catch this time of year as well. You need to use very small hooks on them because they will just nibble off all the bait from your hook otherwise. My brother loves them, and is one of his favorite target species.

[Foxrivman1]

They are fun to catch, we were using cut squid when we caught them and most times they would clean off the hook before you could set on them. Kind of remind me of angel fish.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Foxrivman1

They are fun to catch, we were using cut squid when we caught them and most times they would clean off the hook before you could set on them. Kind of remind me of angel fish.

Yeah, if you are fishing for them, you want to bait the hook the right way, using a small a hook as you can find, you want to make sure the hook point is set in a small piece of bait (very small, even a piece of shrimp) so that they can take it whole. Otherwise they will tug at a piece of it, and you will just loose the bait, and they will clean your hook off. Again, a lesson about how to fish for certain species. They have sharp beak like teeth. My brother likes to use the small sand fleas, and hermit crabs as bait that he finds in the water. I just use shrimp.

[Foxrivman1]

How big can these type of fish get?