Need Some Fla. Advise

[JB]

Sounds like a newbie question doesnt it LOL,
any who, we are flying to Tampa for a week of fishing and seeing relatives
(my son) and wifes side of family.
My brother in law in tampa fishes the flats, and has a nice boat, so I got that covered. However after a few days in tampa, I'm driving down to Rotunda
(2 hours south near Fort Myers) and renting a house for the other 5 days, to be near some more family that lives up here, but renting a place they always go to in May. We are going may 24-31st.
Most of the houses we looked at so far mention a canal close by (gaters?) lol
so here are my questions/concerns.
Can i put some tackle n reels in my suitcase for the plane?
I can pick up a couple cheap sticks when i get there.
Also will these canals so close to the ocean be fresh water ?
And also you guys that live there, hoseman, chris and others, do I go around and look for public lakes or retaining ponds, I am sure I'll need to get a fl license.
I am also guessing the big bite slows down for bass in may, compared to up here where may can be the hayday of the season.

any input? thanks

[lunker-lander]

Need some "advise"....




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Spell "advise" with a "c".

ADVICE

-Lunk-

[pig n jig]

Dayum Lunker , why didn't you correct the word Gator as well ?

JB, Can't be of any help to your questions, but have fun on your vacation. P N J

[lunker-lander]

Just-a-messin'...

-Lunk-

[keithdog]

Packin your reels in a suitcase should be ok. You could carry them on too, but last time I flew they only allowed one carryone per person. You could look into mailing them to your destination too. I would feel better having them with me though. If you were fishing a bit north at Lake Tarpin, I could tell ya about a great area to fish this time of year. My dad and I fished that lake a few times. Have a great time down there. I'd love to be down there myself.

[CarpMan]

JB, you'll probably get a 5 day temp permit to fish. Any of those bait and takle shops will put you onto some good fishin' holes in your area and will ans any queations.

[crankybait]

Nothing to tell you but Good Luck, have fun, and come back with stories.

[wargoth]

Can I stow away in your suitcase JB?

[JB]

thanks for the ideas and advice, hope the gat0rs dont get us LOL

[CarpMan]

JB, Have you not LURNT how to spell?. It's "gatUrs", not gat0rs. Have fun an your Vac. Carpy

[JB]

wonder how dem critters taste like on the grill carpy? hmmm hick-ry

[CarpMan]

taste jest like chicken.

[Christopherkeene9]

Depending on where you're going to be the canals can be fresh or salt or both (will have bass and salt species mixed). Either or all is fun. You can go look for retetion ponds (most subdivisions/neighborhoods have multiple). Google Earth is good for finding a couple spots to scope out. As far as license we have temp. out of states, they are expensive but needed.

http://www.myfwc.com

[flfireman]

The thing is to check where the canals are coming from. We do have a lot of brackish water canals. Many places in Fl have dams that are fresh on one side- salt on the other. These are great, catch bass, snook, tarpon all from same areas. There are plenty of lakes and canals all over the state, most are fresh water and most hold fish. If you go in high grass watch for moccasins and gators, they like it. Most gators will haul butt, most moccasins will haul butt at you. Im more cautious about snakes then gators. Also remember we have about 5 species of poisonous snakes down here. Google earth the area, I do it a lot and I live here.

[Christopherkeene9]

Yep, the gators don't scare me just the moccasins.

[JB]

thanks for the fl. info you guys!
I called my brother in law (with the boat) to tell him we are coming down in may, and he informed me they just sold the boat last weekend, so hopefully we can hook up with some of his other boater buddies.
The house we rented is in rotunda, I'm googling the area right now!
Another plus is that I didnt want to put my poles and tackle on the plane, and yesterday found out my neice and her husband are driving down, and are going to transport my stuff in the truck...its working out so far

[Christopherkeene9]

If we haven't sold our boat by then we may be able to swing a trip off into the bluest water you've ever seen!

[JB]

no kiddin, i've fished the east coast alot, but the gulf will be new waters

[Cranebird]

You gotta love just gettin away for awhile.Awy from this snow .we got another storm tonight.They're calling for 4-7 " by morning. Ivan

[Christopherkeene9]

That time of year our Yellow Fin Tuna will be in full swing, but thats about a 18+ hr. trip from dock to dock and requires about 300gal. of fuel.

Can't help you with the gulf stuff, We've hung out there on the boat but never fishing.

[lizardsrule]

Just bring your coozies to keep the beer cooler, and the 2 piece rods will fit in a golf bag LOL. Please PM me with the exact dates you will be there, and address, I may just make a trip down to your area for some fishing if I'm off work.

Lizards

[JB]

may24-31 lizards, i got a rental car, maybe i can drive up to st. auggie town for a "hookup'

[flfireman]

or just meet in the middle and we can all hit a few Central Florida lakes.

[JB]

that'd be kewl!

[Christopherkeene9]

I get out of school on the 23rd, be cool if we could all hang out and fish for a day!