florida east coast fishing guides?

Paul W

Well-known member
We are headed down in late April, curious if anyone has done anything down there - offshore/inshore whatever. Just like to catch fish with my wife. We have fished in tampa a few times with a guide we really like, but will be staying on the other side of the state this year. (cocoa area- will drive to a good guy though)


Thank you!


Paul
 
Paul,

The fishing can be quite outstanding down there. Steve and I have done a lot of fishing around Cocoa and we've always had a lot of fun catching fish. I know there are guides in the Mosquito Lagoon area and my dad used one that he liked. I'll see if I can get his info from him. If you want offshore fishing and don't mind driving a bit, I very highly recommend Charlie Stuve out of Jupiter. Not sure if late April is a good time for BIG snook but he has been an outstanding guide for us on the big snook and we had a blast with him offshore. www.fishjupiter.net

If you do get down to Jupiter and have time to stop, hit up Conchy Joe's in Jensen Beach either on the way down or way up to Cocoa. The conch fritters are delicious, the conch burger is delicious and the conch chowder worth taking the time to get off the freeway and make your way to Jensen Beach for.

Dani
 
I can't help you with a guide specifically, but I can give you an idea of what to expect.

If you want an offshore charter you'll probably have to go to Port Canaveral or Sebastian. That's where there's access from the ICW to the Atlantic. If you hit it right the cobia or dolphin should be moving through. Bottom fishing is usually pretty fun, not sure what's good or in season that time of year.

Inshore, the redfish, trout, and snook should be biting. I don't fish over in Mosquito Lagoon or the IRL because it gets pounded and I live closer to the gulf where the fish are dumber. The good news is there is a ton of guys that guide over there. It's also the best place in the state to catch a really big (28"+) spotted sea trout. April, especially late April, is just one of those times of year where the fishing is really good for everything.

Offshore charters cost more because of the amount of gear and fuel involved. I've heard a six-pack (up to six clients) offshore charter runs around $1,200, which isn't too bad if you split it 6 ways. I think its a way better deal than to pay $60 or $80 per person to take a head boat and catch a bunch of grunts or whatever. Not that head boats aren't fun. Depends on what you want. I'm not sure what inshore charters run as far as price.
 
I'm five miles to the east of Cocoa on Merritt Island. If things are normal the Cobia should be running. Like Dani said the better Snook fishing is to the South and Charley is the guy I'd recommend for that.

That's turkey season and I'll be heading north to pick up a dog in April so I might not be here but if you get with me via pm and tell me what you're most interested in I can recommend some people that know what they're doing here fishing wise.

Steve
 
Paul,

If you do get down to Jupiter and have time to stop, hit up Conchy Joe's in Jensen Beach either on the way down or way up to Cocoa. The conch fritters are delicious, the conch burger is delicious and the conch chowder worth taking the time to get off the freeway and make your way to Jensen Beach for.

Dani

Hey Paul -

Dani and Steve sent to a restaurant last time I was in Florida and it was spot on. If they have suggestions, chances are pretty good you will like where they send you.

Enjoy Florida.

Mark W
 
Pic's from the 2015 spring mullet & pogie run between Sebastian Inlet & Port Canaveral on the inshore flats & off the beach.

It was an epic spring/summer except for the water temp never really got warm enough for the (100+) one hundred pound plus tarpon to move north. They stayed between WPB & Miami gorging themselves on bait down that way.

Here's what you expect to catch while here during that time of year.


Redfish on light-tackle
image_zpswmhxufpj.jpeg


Black drum on live shrimp
image_zpsnswqnbhn.jpeg


Triggerfish on cut squid on 60' bar
image_zps3ydapqpk.jpeg


Sharks on topwater
image_zpsxhxspjgs.jpeg
image_zpswvvfcmka.jpeg


Ocean going jacks on topwater
image_zps9lwajswc.jpeg

image_zpscyrg6xzx.jpeg


Trout/Redfish/Snook on the flats
image_zpsqpvgghjr.jpeg

image_zpsiu71u1bm.jpeg
image_zpsqv46cqut.jpeg

10300861_10204140497931658_5828266074879162318_n_zpsghvgkx0k.jpg


Bonito on topwater off the beach
10286840_10203703055195863_637358446252117367_o_zpstfx6x5wa.jpg


Snook in the surf on live pogies
10476369_10204574548902661_2506435807240630396_o_zpsgaztb9i4.jpg

 
Last edited:
Thank you everyone!!! Especially steve and dani - I think we settled on a guide and will probably give one of each of your restaurant locations a shot.

now if I can just convince someone to let me shoot pigs...


paul
 
If anyone knows their way around east central Florida it's Steve & Dani!!!

Was out this week & we are already catching cobia off the beach.

The pompano have finally started to run & we've been limiting out on every trip.

image_zpsvzs1w3lg.jpeg


image_zpshczc8s8d.jpeg


image_zpsa6jyd3jo.jpeg

 
Nice job on the pompano Jeff. Love me some pompano.

If you decide you'd rather do the guide thing for pigs I'll of fish then Scott Swartley is your man for that. South of Cocoa by less than an hour. He can put you on them and handle the processing for you. Shoot me a note if you want his contact info. He does airboat rides as well. Something g you and the wife would enjoy if you haven't done it.

Steve
 
Nice mess of pompano! They've been running well here too, I am tempted to go tomorrow.
 
They're late like everything else this year.

What's been hard is finding sand fleas, they moved south & now they are worth their weight in gold.
 
those fish look weird without a spear through them, haha.

i have been dying to jump back in the salt, maybe next year i can plan a winter get away.

please keep up the pics
 
Dang Jeff you guys really do have a nice mess of pompano. Though it sure looks pretty chilly.

Paul, just a couple pictures from when Steve and I fished with Charlie....like I say, don't know if right now is the right time for the snook but we had a blast with him. If you did decide to go with him, I'm sure that you will be very happy.

snook1.jpg


Snookfishing8-3-11059aa.jpg


BIGSNOOK-5-resize.jpg


BIGSNOOK-3-resize.jpg


There were several times we had double hookups though most times steve had the biggest fishes.

Snookfishing8-3-11024a.jpg


doublehookup.jpg


Snookfishing8-3-11016a.jpg


One of the days we ran out of live baits (and the baits were BIG....1 lb sand perch and 1 lb croakers....fish most people would take home to cook) really quickly so Charlie took us for the remainder of the time offshore to see what we could find after we caught a bunch of bait. We had a bunch of bonita catches. And lordy were those fish fun too.

Snookfishing8-3-11102a.jpg


now i really wanna go fishing :)

Dani
 
Back
Top