After having lived in Florida for nearly 3 years, it seems like the popular thing to do around here.

I don't know a damn thing about fishing. I did go to Academy and got a Lews rod/reel along with some fake bait, one of the floating thingies and some weights. Oh yeah, got my fishing license, too.

Where do I start? (besides the water)

You're in central Florida...what part?

congrats....just remember that “fishing” doesn’t mean “catching”....enjoy the journey and take in the scenery...find someone that’s willing to show you a few basics and you’ll have fun....it’s all about the fun

If you don't have a friend that can show you the ropes, book a day or two with a guide and tell him you want to learn how to fish.

Just buying some equipment and trying to go out and fish will just frustrate you until you quit.

Or go to a popular fishing pier with a cooler of beer, look lost, and when someone comes over to ask if you need help, tell them you'll share your beer if they'll show you what to do. Fishermen tend to like beer and like talking about fishing and are generally friendly.

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Originally posted by lopezp:
You're in central Florida...what part?

Orlando.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Where do I start? (besides the water)

Well, first thing you need to do is spend around $30K on a boat with the latest in 4-stroke engines, wireless trolling motors, and electronics. Then around $5K on gear and tackle. Then...hit the water.

Seriously though, I don't know much about fishing in FL, but I started fishing two ways around these parts, both of which involved a Zebco rod and a Mitchell 300 reel (dating myself).

Lakes: Bobber, sinker, snelled hook, and a nightcrawler.

Creeks: Black on yellow Mepps spinner with the same nightcrawler.

Worked for me as a kid, and then I graduated to more complicated spin fishing and a LOT more complicated fly fishing.

I was really just going to go out this weekend and cast the line out and reel it back in to get some practice.

Don't even care if I catch anything. Just want some peace and quiet and not have to think about work. LOL.

Go down to Lake Istapoga and hire a guide. Tell him you want to learn. I guided on Lake Okeechobee out of Moore Haven for several years before the turn of the century. So many ways to fish in Fl you'll have a blast. Don't blow a pile on gear w/out some good advice and a guide can really help you. I sold my place on the Big O in 2015 or I'd show you some tricks.

Vic Dunaway's book "Baits, Rigs and Tackle" is a wealth of info. Learn to tie the uni knot and you've got it dicked.

I would go out on a party boat for a one or two day trip. After catching 20 lb.+ tuna, it is hard to go back to lake fishing.

https://www.youtube.com/result...tuna+fishing+florida

Go out with an experienced fisherman.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Go down to Lake Istapoga and hire a guide. Tell him you want to learn. I guided on Lake Okeechobee out of Moore Haven for several years before the turn of the century. So many ways to fish in Fl you'll have a blast. Don't blow a pile on gear w/out some good advice and a guide can really help you. I sold my place on the Big O in 2015 or I'd show you some tricks.

Vic Dunaway's book "Baits, Rigs and Tackle" is a wealth of info. Learn to tie the uni knot and you've got it dicked.

I would like to add most guides will provide all that is needed for the day (rods, tackle and or bait.)

It's a fun hobby. Since you're first starting out, if you're lake fishing (from either the shore or a boat) I would suggest you start out with a bobber and a nightcrawler for bait. The last thing you need to do is go out a couple times and catch nothing (we call it getting skunked around here). That will kill your enthusiasm real quick. From my experience and other fishermen I know, the nightcrawler probably offers the best chance to catch something, whether it's a sunfish or bass. If you don't plan on hiring a guide at first, get to know the guy who sells you bait. They will be glad to make suggestions as to where to try, and what local bodies of water are producing results. One final item. Some of the best fresh water fishing is in fairly shallow water near lilly pads. You don't need to fish in deep water to be successful. You can reach those areas even if you don't have a boat and are fishing from shore. Have fun.

Guys at local tackle stores will know what’s best. Get some 20lb fluorocarbon for leaders, use a 5’ leader to keep the swivel further from your bait. Live bait always works best. Use small swivels for tieing to. The top water imitation frogs work well in a dark green color. Root beer is a good color for worms.

Have you planned for the event that you actually catch a fish? What then?

Give a man a fish and he eats for one day.

Teach a man to fish and he.....will sit in a boat all weekend and drink beer.

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So no one has even asked if you know how to lie. And swear! Once you get those essentials down, the rest is easy. we could talk about the carry gun you plan on using. If its near salt water, make it a stainless. The guy above who suggested you blow $30 grand on a boat left out the other $60 grand on the truck to tow it. Got to be 4wd and new and shiny. Have someone install a front hitch. You can ramp it like a pro. If you're bored, go to a local ramp and watch the other beginners make fools of them selves. Pay particular attention to the women (babes) that are married to fools who can't.

Find a local boat dock with a bar that's cheap. Then go there and watch the other fishermen. Learn to splice lines and earn more beer that you can reasonably drink. Learn to take a leak over the side of the boat without falling in.

When I was a youth, we loved summer because we could go fishing and didn't have to go to school. Remember to look at my location. We also discovered that you could kill dozens of nasty little catfish with M80s or Cherry Bombs. Learn to make mudballs with an explosive core. They sink and then explode. Its got nothing to do with ethical fishing, it just rids the ponds of catfish, the ugly little ones that over populate. Yeah, it was fun.


Back to the lying thing.... you learn that skill quickly.

I used to fish quite a bit in Florida. There was always something biting.... Giant Skeeters!
A good set of insect repellant clothing is needed.
Get it on sale in the winter.

Congratulations on choosing one of the most frustrating and rewarding hobbies known to man!

Understand that there are different ways to fish and that the different ways are dictated by factors such as the type of water (salt water, fresh water, fishing from a pier, fishing from a boat, fishing from the shore or banks, fishing from a chair etc...) as well as the type of fish you are fishing for and their habits (what they eat, how they react to predators, what attracts them, how they react when spawning etc...)

Knowing the requirements of the specific body of water you are fishing and the type(s) of fish you are fishing for will dictate the type of gear you need. You will need to familiarize yourself with the various fishing regulations specific to the body of water you are fishing. Some regulations are pretty relaxed and easy to learn...others are quite stringent and complicated.

Ask and answer a few questions for yourself.

-Are you fishing for food or are you a catch-and-release kind of fisherman? If you are keeping the fish for the frying pan you are going to need to learn how to clean the fish.

-Are you looking for a relaxing fishing experience ie-sitting in a boat or chair and lazily casting or leaving your line in the water for prolonged periods of time OR are you looking for more excitement and a dynamic fishing experience that requires moving around, repeated casting, possibly wading through streams and lakes? (I've done both but prefer wading, climbing up on rocks and hanging from trees and sight fishing)

As a kid I first learned to fish lakes and streams with live bait (Night Crawlers dug up from our family garden or Salmon Eggs bought at the fishing store) and later my father taught me to cast spinning rigs.

Quick story: Years ago my recently married father and mother moved to Alaska for his job. Excited to try fishing in the wilderness my Dad brought my mother along. During a back cast my Dad managed to hook my mother in the ass. The hook was set so deep that my Dad had her bend over the open door of the car while he tried to dig it out...and of course it was about this time that his friends arrived to quite a sight. Don't be that guy! (if you decide to spin cast or fly cast try practice casting in an open back yard or open park free of obstacles before you hit the water)

At times I've fished fresh water lakes and streams, sometimes from the shore and sometimes from small boats with outboard engines or motors.

Early in my 20s I had a co-worker who first tried fly fishing and while I watched him cast into our small fresh water company ponds I shook my head and dismissed fly fishing as a complicated and inexplicably pointless method of fishing...then years later, after watching "the movie", I suddenly got it and developed a driving passion to try it and in my early 30's changed jobs and states and I first had the opportunity to try it. It took me years to understand and become proficient but I eventually became a certified "trout bum". Personally, I find the dynamics of moving around and fishing/ wading streams to be the most rewarding and satisfy my need to see new water and sight fish to specific fish, but I'm not opposed to sitting in a boat either. I still haven't worked my way into salt water fly fishing but I hope to try my hand at that some day.

My advice would be to watch fishing shows on TV or on You Tube, maybe read a fishing book or two, find a co-worker or friend who fishes and go fishing with them, and decide which type(s) of fishing are for you. Some fishing shops hold fishing classes (casting, rigs, fly tying, entomology, etc... I experienced the frustrations of fly fishing for a couple years before I took various classes and hired a guide and went out with a more knowledgeable fly fishing angler before I really started to get the hang of it and have some success.

Try hiring a few different fishing guides, deep sea fishing from boats, fishing from shores/banks, fishing from piers, fresh water fishing, surf fishing, wading in streams, and tell the guides you want to learn to fish.

Often there are annual boating/fishing shows that you can attend and see all sorts of demonstrations and attend various talks. I used to attend an annual fly fishing show with many demonstrations by professionals, and attended several talks by both nationally recognized and locally recognized anglers and I picked up some good info and tips along the way. Also, many fishing shops and fishing shows will allow you to test different pieces of gear so it is a great way to figure out what gear works for you and your specific fishing experiences before you put down big bucks on gear that may not work for you.

Personally, I would suggest you hold off on buying much gear right now, just use the rental gear from the guides you hire...then, when you finally decide which type(s) of fishing grab you you can start to selectively stock up on gear.

Let us know if you have any further questions and I'm really looking forward to seeing pictures of your first fish!

How to catch fish, in one easy lesson:

Good for you. I have not been fishing in 20 years. I just started digging out my old freshwater gear. Looking forward to getting back on the water this summer.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
After having lived in Florida for nearly 3 years, it seems like the popular thing to do around here.

I don't know a damn thing about fishing. I did go to Academy and got a Lews rod/reel along with some fake bait, one of the floating thingies and some weights. Oh yeah, got my fishing license, too.

Where do I start? (besides the water)