Florida recommendations

[shiltsy]

Feel free to slap me and delete if this is off topic, but thought I might get some good advice from this forum:

I'm going to be in Palm Coast, Florida in late April (just north of Daytona) for a week . Two questions:

1. Has anyone used a bass guide service in this area and have recommendations/friends/etc?

2. What kind of shore fishing (saltwater or freshwater) is possible? I wouldn't even know where to start fishing saltwater from the shore or a pier, but hoping you might have some ideas.

Thanks!

[olski]

As far as the bass fishing thing, look up "The Bass Tamer" The guy s name is David Miller. I used him about 5 years ago for the first time, since then we have become pretty good friends. Now when I head done there(next Friday can't wait!) we hook up and just go fishing for fun. I don't know where he is from were you are going to be but he might be able to point you in a direction. And for the salt water. You will find most people just using shrimp on a circle hook. Pretty much catches anything. If you are going to be in a spot where yo can wade at all, just look for light colored "holes" in the grass about the size of 2 or 3 cars and fish the edges of them. Any light colored swimbaits work as well maybe 3-4 inch. Also pick up some Gulp shrimp, sometimes better than the real thing.

[Bigguyone]

Email me as I will make sure you are with the VERY BEST bass guide in Florida - he is GREAT!! Last time I went with him it was my girlfriends 2nd time fishing and she boated over 40 fish in 5 hrs. I was at 87....he is a great guy, g loomis/shimano equipment, and FAST 84mph boat.

My email is [email protected]

[mainbutter]

I've done a bit of saltwater shore fishing in florida, however that was all on the gulf side. Olski is def. right though that shrimp on a circle hook is bound to get you some kind of action if there are fish around.

As the water warms, cut bait on a circle hook fished off the bottom(or under a bobber, I prefer bottom fishing though) gets good action. Summer months are prime time for cut bait, catching sharks, redfish, and snook among other things in the gulf. I don't know how that'd equate to east coast florida fishing. During the cooler months cutbait can still work pretty well. I was down in florida just last week, gulf coast side, and had pretty good luck with small sharks(5-20 lbs) using steak slices of ladyfish on 9/0-12/0 circle hooks and 6 feet of 100lb mono for leader. Missed the beginning of the snook season as water temps were a little cool.

My advice is to hit up a bait shop and ask questions about where local piers are and what to fish with. Some piers you don't need a fishing license to fish from, and are often busy with lots of fishing going on.

Anywhere that has a marina in florida will have fishing guides for saltwater. I realize you posted in the bass section but if you're looking for saltwater guides, again your best bet is to ask at a bait shop. Asking at bait shops will be your best bet for up-to-date information on what is working where and who local guides are.