I am new to Florida. I recently moved down from Rocky Point, Long Island, New York and is now living in Safety Harbor, Fl., on Old Tampa Bay. I am 60 years old and want to fish off piers, beaches and sometime on charters. Do I need a license and where can I obtain one. I am disabled with a low vision disability. I would also need to know requirements of sizes, limits on how many may be caught and pictures so I may identify types of fish.

Thank you,

Richard Grimshaw
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Richard:

If you are legal resident of Florida, you currently do not need a fishing license to fish from shore. If you fish any of the piers that charge admission, they usually have a blanket license that covers all those fishing there. The same applies to charter boats. However, if you want to purchase a saltwater license -- it really is a great bargain. For approximately $15.00 you can fish our waters for a full year -- with all of those funds going toward the protection and enhancements of our great fishery.

As for size limits, regulations, species pictures, all of that information and more is readily available on our web site at capmel.com.

Finally, let me welcome you to our glorious Sunshine State. After living here for 40 years, I can tell you that there are few places on earth that have such wonderful fishing available. And I know that with your skills developed in the waters off Long Island, you should do just fine here in the Tampa Bay Area.

Capt. Mel

Back to top




Capt:

I like to fish near Weedon isle and down by Gandy but can not find good tide charts on your site can you help a brother out ?

Dennis Cline

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Dennis:

We have an excellent tides program on our site which lists all of the official tides stations. Unfortunately Weedon Island is not one of them --but it's quite easy to interpolate the tide flow from an nearby tides station. In this case, that would be the St. Petersburg Pier.

Since tides arrive a bit later at Weedon Island, just add about 10 minutes to the St. Petersburg Pier predictions

Capt. Mel Berman

Back to top




Mel,

I'd appreciate your opinion since you're far better acquainted with the fishing scene in Florida than I am. I'm thinking of moving to the state sometime in the next few years but I haven't decided where. Wherever it is it has to have great fishing, moderately priced houses available in a good neighborhood, and a job market where I could realistically find something decent in sales or management for the last ten to fifteen years of my working life. I love all types of fishing and would want be in a spot where I could go after the widest possible range of species. I have other considerations but based on fishing and the above what locations would you suggest I look into further?

Thanks, Keith
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Keith:

Having been a resident of the Tampa Bay Area, I am kind of prejudiced because we have so many great fishing opportunities here – with hundreds of nice communities and, as a result of the economic downturn, most properties are really great bargains.

Having said that, it would also be fair to say that there are also numerous other communities all along both the east and west coasts of the Sunshine State that offer the same amenities.

The only decision you should make would be what kind of area you would prefer. If you like living and working in a major metropolitan center, then certainly places like Tampa Bay, Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando would be worth investigating. If on the other hand you wish to reside in a less densely populated community, there are many venues in between the aforementioned major markets that would be available.

In other words, let start with the premise that all have great fishing (and they do) – so the next step is up to you to investigate and decide which area best suits your requirements. (See http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=2008051407054389 for some ideas.)

Capt. Mel Berman

Back to top




Mel,

I have always used Diawa BG's,BG20 for snook and reds in Tampa Bay and BG60 for Gallo in Costa Rica and tarpon. About 4 years ago I started using Shimano Baitrunner 4500s or 6500s for tarpon, and also for kings and snapper off shore. We now live in Melbourne Beach and go out from Sebastian Inlet. The Baitrunner feature has spoiled me. Last July i caught a 150+lb tarpon at Captiva Pass on a 4500. I see Okuma Avenger ABF series are much less expensive at $59 for an ABF90 which holds more line than a 6500. Are they any good? The only fish that really test equipment are tarpon. Or would you recommend a Penn Live Liner 760 for $169 or Diawa Regal Plus bite-n-run 5500 for $59.

I am a poor pharmacist not a plastic surgeon so I do not own 4 Shimano Stellas, 3 Van Staals and 2 Quantum Cabo bait teasers. I have always liked Penns (the old 704z was my favorite. I used to pay $36.99 at sports unlimited in the 1980s for these) but the Captiva is a piece of crap. A 20lb red snapper 17 miles out destroyed this reel. Thank god it was not a 200lb shark or 150+lb tarpon.

What do you recommend for us poor slobs who have to have the Baitrunner feature?

Thanks

Dave Seiwert
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Dave:

I would say that, for the money, Okuma is an excellent buy. Their Baitrunner type reels are very well made, with some great design features – and they really do hold up very well in a saltwater environment.

I’ve used a couple Okuma Epixors for the last couple of years – and am really bad about not rinsing them off. However, they still work just as well and smoothly as the day I got them.

So I would say that for a pharmacist or a even plastic surgeon, anyone should be a happy with Okuma products.

Capt. Mel Berman

Back to top