need some equipment advice for florida fishing

[adesai73]

hey fellas.

i'm headed down to delray beach this week and will hopefully be doing a bunch of fishing down there.

surf, icw and maybe a pier (not sure about this).  what type of setup would you guys recommend i get for this sort of thing?

my plan is to bring my reels down with me.  I'll just buy 2 lesser priced rods to use while i'm down there and i can leave them at my in-laws' place. 

i have an emcast 5500, a cardinal c706lx and a small okuma hardstone hs30 that i mainly use for fishing local ponds around home. i have spare spools, so getting the correct type of line on them won't be an issue.

if you were me, which reels would you bring for where i plan to fish and furthermore what type of el-cheapo rods would you pick up to use with them?

i'm still relatively new to the fishing game here in nj, and know absolutely nothing about fishing in florida!

if anyone of you know of good links local to that area, that would be helpful, too.  i've googled it, but there's so much out there on florida fishing that i can't seem to separate the wheat from the chaff.  your guys' opinions, i know i can count on.

i know i'm asking a lot here.  thanks guys, i appreciate the time.

[Bucktail]

Just curious as to why you don't want to bring your rods.  If it's a luggage issue (i.e. you just have too much to carry) you could always ship them down to your in-laws house.  That way they'll be waiting for you when you get down there.

If you're concerned about bringing them on the plane, all you have to do is pack a rod tube and check it in.  I've taken my rods all over (Canada, Mexico, Florida, etc.) and so far (knock wood) I haven't had any major issues.  Plus it's so much nicer to fish with the rods you're comfortable with. 

Good luck down there!  Have a safe trip!

-Bob

[adesai73]

bob,

essentially it is a luggage issue.  near as i could tell, all the airlines charge a premium for traveling with them.  by the time that cost, plus the cost of a travel tube gets added up, i'm better off just buying stuff to keep down there.

besides, even with a tube, i'm not sure my 1-piece 8-footer is going anywhere.

can't ship'em down either.  there's nobody around to sign for them!  condo's vacant right now during the summer.  they rent it to the snowbirds during the winter and will probably retire there once they're ready.

thanks for the good wishes!

ash

[Bucktail]

bob,

essentially it is a luggage issue.  near as i could tell, all the airlines charge a premium for traveling with them.  by the time that cost, plus the cost of a travel tube gets added up, i'm better off just buying stuff to keep down there.

besides, even with a tube, i'm not sure my 1-piece 8-footer is going anywhere.

can't ship'em down either.  there's nobody around to sign for them!  condo's vacant right now during the summer.  they rent it to the snowbirds during the winter and will probably retire there once they're ready.

thanks for the good wishes!

ash

Last time I traveled with my rods was only two years ago.  At that time (and all times previous to that) a rod tube wasn't even considered as a piece of luggage.  For example, if the airline allows you to check two pieces of luggage, then you could have two suitcases and a rod tube.  Also, there was never a charge for checking the tube.

If you feel it is easier to buy some rods down there, then by all means do so.  But if you want to bring your rods, check with the airlines and see what they say.  They may have changed their policies recently, but who knows?

BTW, you could buy a Bazuka Pro tube for around $50.  It will accommodate a one piece 8' rod with no problem.

-Bob

[adesai73]

Bob,

Things may have changed.  We're flying out of philly on usa3000 and they wanted $35 and Southwest wants $50 on the way back.  Rising fuel costs may have made the airlines stingier with their baggage restrictions?

That's $100+ just to transport (including tube).  Not worth it, if you ask me.

Now, if I was going on a trip solely for the purpose of fishing, I'd bite the bullet and bring along my better gear.

ash

[Bucktail]

Bob,

Things may have changed.  We're flying out of philly on usa3000 and they wanted $35 and Southwest wants $50 on the way back.  Rising fuel costs may have made the airlines stingier with their baggage restrictions?

That's $100+ just to transport (including tube).  Not worth it, if you ask me.

Now, if I was going on a trip solely for the purpose of fishing, I'd bite the bullet and bring along my better gear.

ash

I agree with you Ash.  That's a lot of $$$ just to stow a couple of rods.   I'm surprised about those extra charges, but I guess this miserable economy affects everything.

Anyway, good luck on your trip!  Don't forget the camera!

[Bob]

Here is a suggestion for you, take your reels off your rods in NJ and pack them or put them in your carry on.  This way you will only have to buy rods which will save you considerable money.  Worked for me and I just gave the rods away except for a two piece which fit in the overhead or on the floor by your seat, should be a window seat.  Hope this helps.

[adesai73]

Ummmmm....Bob....

my plan is to bring my reels down with me.

Thanks nonetheless! 

Maybe I'm not being specific enough?  What sort of rod(s) do you think I'll need down there (ratings, length, etc.)?  And of the reels I said I have, which one(s) would you bring for the type of fishing I'm likely to encounter there?

[PeggyLee]

If your fishing a Party boat rent theirs.
If your fishing the beach bring a spinning that might have two spools with dif.lb test
Buy something (rod) at the local stores and leave with in laws so you'll have it next time.
I did that and it worked fine.     Good Luck.

[gagedylan]

near delray, there is a fishing pier in Deerfield Beach. it is an awesome pier. at the beginning there is a tackle shop, but he preys on the tourists, and there is nothing there you want. go with a heavy rod. bring many types of rigs. you will actually see the fish swimming underneath you, but you dont want those. if you can do it, bring a five gallon bucket with lid, poke holes all over it. bring enough rope to drop it over the side about 15' or so. fill the bucket with chum. bring a ultralight rod, and tie a sabiki rig on with a very light weight. in moments, you will see a swarm of baitfish all around the bucket. drop the sabiki into the swarm, and bring up 5-6 nice pilchards. tie one of those onto the heavy rod, and cast out as far as you can. the wait wont be long. schools of amberjack, and jack crevalle go by constantly. while the tourists are hauling in Nemo's, you'll be catching jacks in the 5-15 lb range! you'll also need a bridge net, but there is almost alwayssomeone there that has one. i had my picture in the fisherman magazine about two years ago with a 15lb jack i caught doing just what i just mentioned. it's a blast.

forget the party boats down there, they are terrible, or at least the few i went on were.

if you are lucky enough to get on a boat, troll the intracoastal with bunker spoons, i've caught large barracudas there.

[adesai73]

^ sweet.  thanks!