Fishing questions

[Skoot]

Thanks guys, I looked at wally world yesterday and didn't see one there, I'll have to look again. Looking at the regulations, it says Dolphins are legal to catch? As long as they are over 20"? Is that really accurate?

Dolphin - 20? fork Atlantic - 10 per harvester per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel per day

What is the fork thing by the way?

     Im sorry but thats downright funny Here flipper

check out www.capmel.com, its a great Tampabay/Fl fishing forum.

[GoneFission]

     Im sorry but thats downright funny Here flipper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEOeTX1LqM  

       

[Circle Hooked]

For fish identification your local tax collector office should have a free book, it's one of the most accurate around I think, picture wise, even shows bait fish and they should also have the regulations book.

This is a Dolphin or Mahi Mahi or Dorado or you get the point  

[fmaster360]

That, looks nothing like a dolphin. hahaha

Any tips for bait fish? I'm going to hit the reef tomorrow that you guys mentioned and see what happens. It looks like it's only about 6 miles from the Clearwater Marina so it shouldn't be too bad. I'll have to grab some wire leaders since I don't have any. Is standard green backs going to be decent weighed down to the bottom? I'm not sure where I'll be able to get some at, I guess I'll have to try the beaches and islands on the way out to the reef.

[Blue Agave]

That, looks nothing like a dolphin. hahaha

Any tips for bait fish? I'm going to hit the reef tomorrow that you guys mentioned and see what happens. It looks like it's only about 6 miles from the Clearwater Marina so it shouldn't be too bad. I'll have to grab some wire leaders since I don't have any. Is standard green backs going to be decent weighed down to the bottom? I'm not sure where I'll be able to get some at, I guess I'll have to try the beaches and islands on the way out to the reef.

Slow troll live baits, if your boat trolls to fast you can just pop the boat in and out of gear to ensure that you are not going to fast. Get some Sabiki rigs from any local bait shop and you should be able to Sabiki baits at the reef or on the way out if you run into a pod of bait.  Watch for birds, there is bait all along the coast.  Use your fish finder to locate the bait pods once you arrive to the reef or around the birds and fire down the Sabiki rigs into the bait pod. You'll need to perfect the haywire twist to make those wire leaders, and don't forget to add a stinger hook.  Good luck!

Edit: Besides the Clearwater reef, you should also try some other artificial reefs. There are a bunch of them out there, google Pinellas County reefs. Pick a few that are relatively close to one another and you can plan to hit a few if the first stop does not produce.  Remember, the fish will be where the bait is at.

[Skoot]

If you wanted to go a bit easier, get some 1 or 1/0 long shank hooks, 20-30lb leader, a light action rod and free-line live 2-3" greenbacks(whitebait) hooked below the dorsal fin, cast it out over any hard bottom and you'll catch more mackerel than you care to fillet.

[Circle Hooked]

I my have missed it but is there a certain fish your looking to target like mackerel or just something to pull on the line ?

[wingtime]

Carl,  I picked up a nice spiral bound fish ID book at Wally world for Amy to look at.  Also most tackle shops now have a FWC lawstick that has color pics of fish on it.  

When you were following me back we were hitting some good size rollers and I had a bit of water in my bilge.

Clearwater and Dunedin reefs are easy spots to get to and fish.

[fmaster360]

Meh, I'd like to catch something edible. And by edible, I mean, I want to enjoy it as I'm eating it.

[Capt Matt]

Check out www.floridasportsman.com
they offer a good fish ID book along with law sticks with all the measurements on them
Capt Matt

[fmaster360]

Alright! What'd I catch!?!?!?

[Capt. Bob]

A cold?

Next to last is a Spotted Sea Trout

Not sure if the one above that is a Black Sea Bass or...
Tilapia  

Last one is good bait.

First one could be a suckerless Remora or a adolescent Cobia .....and the next one is a

Squirrelly Lizard Trash Fish

None are Dolphin. :(

All are edible when you're lost at sea.

Sound about right?

Guess you wished you bought that book.

[wingtime]

Not sure what the first one is either

Second one is a lizard fish

Black Sea bass you can keep if they are 10"  I think.

Spotted sea trout

Last is a blue runner....  as said great bait

[fmaster360]

Cool. Thanks guys! I won't be able to head out for a few weeks, so I'll have a chance to grab the book. I wish there were some people here that go out during the week once in a while so I could get some learning in.

[Circle Hooked]

Lets see #1 Cobia, the rest Bruce got.

Carl if you ever have any questions feel free to ask, you can pm me and I'll help you also.