General Tips and Techniques

Fishing in Florida is a fun and rewarding experience, we have the option of fishing for many different species in both salt and freshwater. Whether it is fishing for bluegills with a worm and bobber, to fishing for 150 lb. tarpon with a 16 inch live mullet.

One of the most common problems with people that are not catching quality fish, is the use of too much tackle and/or too heavy line. Game fish are not stupid, and did not get large by eating things that do not look natural to them. Heavy line, large sinkers,steel leaders, orange beads,(unless fishing for mangrove snapper offshore), and too large hooks are a detriment to catching quality fish. There are people that will give you advice, such as, "you need to use 50 lb. test, steel leader, etc". Trust me when I tell you, that these people are not the 10% of fisherman who catch 90% of the fish.

Think of it this way, let's say you are a snook or tarpon that has reached breeding age. You have eaten thousands of bait fish, shrimp, and crabs. They just swim or crawl by, no sinkers,line, or beads attached to them. A natural, unencumbered presentation is always better.

When using live bait fish, there are many ways to rig them that work, through the lips, through the back, and just in front of the tail. If you are fishing with a bobber or balloon, I prefer through the back or the lips, with the exception of using greenbacks for trout. In that instance I will hook them through the stomach, which makes them swim in circles.

Drag set is important to fighting and landing large game fish, and should be changed accordingly to the fish you are fighting on the fly. You should never have a straightend hook, or line break, unless you are at completely spooled. That is not to say it never happens, it is just avoidable of most cases.

Personally, unless I am fishing near structure, such as a bridge or dock, I use 10 lb. mono with no leader while fishing for reds, trout,flounder,snapper,sheepshead, or any other fish without sharp teeth or gill plates. I think the lighter line, and lack of too much tackle results in more bites.

Heavier line and leader are needed at times, and these are the set ups I use then:

1) Snook on the open flats or passes, I again use 10 lb. mono, and 25 to 35 lb. Flouro leader.
Around structure or bridges, I will go to 30-40 lb. mono, and 40-50 lb Flouro leader.

2) Tarpon: I do a lot of my tarpon fishing from the beach, and my set up is 25 lb. mono, with 40 lb. Flouro leader.