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frayed · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: offshore fishing question

Was talking to a friend who lives on the FL coast near Miami. He's crewed every boat imaginable and on the subject of offshore boats, he made the point that your choice should be dictated by money, time, and access to 'fishy' waters. Money and time are obvious constraints on your ability to buy, maintain and enjoy a serious rig (I'm not there yet on either time or money).

But access to fishy waters. . . how's the water off the coastal bend compare to the waters off cocoa beach down to miami (that's what he fishes)? Lots of big $$$ boats on the island these days with the opening of packery.

Just trying to get an appreciation for what we do/don't have offshore compared to other areas. I'm more interested in fishing for good eats than sportfish like tarpon or billfish.
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Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3975

access to deep water and structure is a large difference. We have this wide shallow shelf offshore of Texas and you have to drive like 85 miles out to get to 1000' feet of water, whereas in FL you drive like 7-8 miles and you're at pretty deep water.

They also have a ton more natural structure, coral reefs, mangroves, etc. The Gulf Stream bringing them nice warm water up the coast.

We have sand. we have a southeast wind that drives muddy water along the coast, not really bonefish territory.

and then we have some more sand. oh and a couple rigs and just a few small derelict reef piles out there. but mostly sand.
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kingtender · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 436

I like fishing rigs. Don't believe they have them down there like here in Texas. I think we have a great fishery here. Nothing will compare to venice louisiana in my opinion for pure big game fishing. I caught a 84 lb wahoo less than 30 miles out. Down here as opposed to Freeport, Tx you don't have to nearly as far out. I love catching kings and lings off the Jetties in my small boat.

REEL BEAST · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:57 am Post subject:

Porkfetus must be an offshore professor. I could not have explained it any better myself. We usually don't even drop lines until 40-50 miles offshore, and often run 70-80 miles to reach the shelf and 1000 foot of water before fishing begins. The only other difference between Port A and Miami is the seas. I have fished both areas and the GOM is considerably more rough on a day to day basis than the Western Atlantic. We have a mix-master type of seas over here that they do not see in Miami. They have a steady rolling seas, and we have chop coming at you from all angles.
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frayed · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks fellas, that's helpful
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Jeff

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