|
|
Posts: 1316
Location: Lebanon,Mo | Well being most of you are in a closed season for musky right now,I want to see what your opinion is if you were in my shoes.I have the opportunity to move to central Florida.My wife and I have discussed this for about a year now and she is just waiting on me to make the "move". I have lived in the same area now for over 27 years now. (Im 36) and only thing keeping me here in Missouri is the musky fishing,or at least what the area has to offer.My wife and youngest will not move up north,and I dont blame them due to harsh winters that we are not use too here. We have some family in Florida,and have visited several times,but on March 1st,we head down for a few days to check out our options. I have decided I would be doing the saltwater thing,and with my own rig/gear. Our house will be on the market soon and we will be sufficient on funds once it sells to purchase a new home.She will have a job when we get there and Im sure with my background,I will follow soon.Anyway....does anyone get the urge to live in another part of the country if possible,or does the muskies keep you from exploring whats out there...?? Im giving in more and more each day..
Fred
And this being said and discussed,I will have a decision within two weeks of returning from our visit.
Edited by missourimuskyhunter 2/19/2013 7:54 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | Saltwater has al lot to,offer. I only live about 2 hours from the Jersey coast so I have been fishing for fluke, stripers, bluefish and other species for years. I absolutely love it to death and it is a great time BUT there is just something about muskies that keeps me crawling back to them. You know the bug. However it is hard to choose a fish over family. Tough choice Fred hope it works out for ya man!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2097
| Go have fun. Take a week here and there to take a vacation back up north to muskie fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 33
| That is awesome, I would do it in a minute. Think of it like this you get the thrill of muskie type fishing with the salt water atmosphere. Good Luck. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | I get a pain in my chest contemplating moving somewhere further away from my MN muskies. I live within an hour and a half of a few world class lakes north, south, east and west with some good lakes within minutes. That said, I am starting to see that there are more important things in life than fishing and compromise might be in order if I want to move on with my life rather than sitting in a boat chasing slime all by myself. FYI, winter here sux but the fishing far outweighs the cost. You can even learn to enjoy it. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | the ony thing i would not like is the hurricane season other then that i would love a chance to go tarpon fishing
Edited by muskyhunter47 2/19/2013 7:49 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 292
| sounds like a great oportunity,go for it and good luck. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 87
| Fred,
Good question...I'm from the mindset that no matter where you live, you'll always find the silver lining. I moved from Maryland to Tampa, FL in 2009 and have been here since. I definitely don't get to musky fish as often, but I still take a trip once a year to LOTW. I've picked up tournament bass fishing, since there are a ton of clubs/trails to fish. It's not quite the same, but let's put it this way... I'm taking Friday off at work and going fishing for bass, because they're spawning. It's going to be a high of 82F. <--- that's not a typo. Short sleeves and a decent chance at a 10lb largemouth flipping grass in February (not entirely to bad).
If you do the whole saltwater thing on top of that (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Shark, Kingfish, Grouper), things are pretty good. Reducing your time Musky fishing is tough, but see if you can't swing a trip once a year. Makes that pill easier to swallow and your time spent doing it that much sweeter. At least that's my 2cents... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 89
| Went south for are honeymoon and don't need to go back. Way to hot and humid you stand in one spot and sweat and the bugs are huge, they grow year round. That is my opinion but it is all personal preference. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 252
| Fishing is the main reason that I like living where I live. Close to several good muskie waters, good largemouth, smallmouth, hybrid, striped bass waters; trout, walleye, and sauger waters. I like visiting Florida and fishing the piers and going deep sea fishing as well. A person can most likely find good fishing just about anywhere if they don't mind adjusting some.
Those King and Spanish Mackerel sure can be fun to catch. I guess they would be fun to release too, but I don't know because I always eat them.
I figure that if I lived near LOTW, no one could drag me away from there (in my mind, LOTW is paradise on earth), but since I don't, I could live about anywhere and not gripe any more than I already do. |
|
| |
|
Location: Sawyer County, WI | I have family in the Ft. Myers area and it truly is beautiful. There are, however, pros and cons to any location. Winter weather is great, but it is oppressively hot in summer. Winter tourist crowds are a PITA. You won't catch any musky, but the saltwater fishing can be fantastic.
Be sure you weigh all pros and cons when consider the move. At the very least it should be an educated, conscious decision. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8782
| Well.. You may have to do without muskies, but you can fish year round. I've done a fair amount of bass fishing in the inland waters down in FL, and it's a lot of fun. Saltwater is a whole different experience. There's always something different moving in and out. Lots of opportunities for different types of fishing - snook, tarpon, redfish, grouper. That said, the only times I've ever been down to FL to fish are the months between October and April. From what my friends who live there tell me, May-September and into October are pretty brutal. Hot, humid, rain every day... You pretty much sweat whenever you are outside, morning, noon, and night. If the world were perfect, I'd probably live in FL for 6 months and spend the other 6 up North musky fishing. You won't have muskies, but you can sure fish a lot more than you can up here. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | Going fishing in the saltwater could be a great week of a vacation, on the other hand, living in that heat and humidity would be unimaginable. My opinion though,you guys may love it. Fishing soft water all year round would be cool though! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Fred,
Whatever you decide I hope it's family first. Sometimes it's not. I have seen both sides of how these mythical Muskies can take a mans soul for the good and the bad.
If you do choose to make the move I want you to know you always have a place in my boat and a place to stay if you want to come back to your old stomping grounds to go knock em' out all over again. And who knows, I may be fishing with you one day off shore as well. I'm approaching that fork in the road too.
Good luck.
Ron
,.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Make enough $ in Florida to buy a 2nd home in Wisconsin. Become a snowbird. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 371
Location: Dixon, IL | I love Florida and I think about to move there but I stay in Illinois because my family live in Illinois. I like go to Florida twice a year!
Edited by ILmuskie 2/20/2013 8:19 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | I think the sharks and tarpon down there will ease the pain of leaving your beloved muskies.
Talk to Vince of Migizi Rods, he has some great times down there chasing some monster fish! How does a 350lb goliath grouper on 400lb test sound? I've never worried that a musky would drag me out of the boat, these suckers will!
jeremy |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | Flambeauski - 2/20/2013 8:11 AM
Make enough $ in Florida to buy a 2nd home in Wisconsin. Become a snowbird.
you got it! my folks live in marathon, florida (keys) december thru may 1st. there second home is 5 minutes from the chippewa flowage in hayward. best of both worlds when i take some litte vacations south or north.  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1036
| You could always look at a timeshare or a 3 week rental in Wisconsin/Minnesota/Canada to hunt muskies.
Best of luck to you. Some of my clients have condos in Florida where they go in the winter. They love fishing down there. In particular they like the "reds" and every single one of them has cool shark stories that they tell. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 299
| The saltwater species will have you forget all about Muskies. I recently fished for Snook and Tarpon and heading back in a month for adult Tarpon. Haven't even once thought about my beloved Muskie since I hooked several Tarpon. There's so many other species of fish out there that will make you rethink why your so hung up on one particular species. I lived 5 years in S. Fla and loved every moment of it. My wife, kids and I would move down there in a heartbeat if we could live without and away from our families in Michigan. We're both just too close with family to give it up. Trust me, you'll forget all about Muskie when your deep in Everglades or inshore setting the hook on a 150# Tarpon. Family first but if everyone's on board and nothing's keeping you where you live ( excluding Muskie), sell your Muskie gear, get a bay boat and start chasing real fish that really fight. Orlando or the Central Florida area would not be my first choice if I was to live in Florida again. I'm not a fan of that area and there's so many areas to live down there besides Central Florida. Also, make sure to look at the school systems as well. A lot of decisions to be made outside of fishing activities... Good luck with the decision. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Living in Fla. from May thru Sept can be brutal with the heat and humidity, especially if you have to work outside or fish,golf,kids sports, ect.
Bugs are everywhere.
The positive side is cheaper real estate,golf courses,great fishing, working inside, the Sun, and the beach, ect.
The most Important thing is; what does your Wife and family want to do??
They come first,....not a fish.
Jerome |
|
| |
|
| Way more to life than muskie. I have been fortunate to live in quite a few areas of our country and it has been great. You meet good people, broaden your own education and experiences. I have lived in places that muskie fishing was much better than the midwest and some areas that had little to no muskie fishing. You always get out and enjoy the outdoors if that is what you like to do regardless of where you live. Saltwater fishing is pretty amazing, as far as strength of fish and opportunity. The more time chasing other fish has improved my muskie fishing when I do it now. My production in smaller time slots in much better than when I was always at it. Also by moving and taking on new opportunities I have been able to fish the best muskie waters in the world that were out of reach when I was living and fishing solely in the midwest. I agree with above, you do what is best for you and your family, but I can assure you life does not end once you leave the midwest. BR
Edited by BenR 2/20/2013 9:34 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 415
| Do what is best for your family. Like some other have said there is way more to life than muskies. Don't get me wrong I love them too and it would be hard to give up, but you have to look at the bigger picture.
Plus from what most my friends or family tell me that have fished saltwater it sounds like once you get that saltwater fishing "bug" you will all but forget about muskies up north. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Stay close to your family and friends. After college I moved only 7 hours away to Wisconsin. Loved it there, but no family; few friends... Made it back to MN and I'm a lot less lonely. Still not where I want to be. Stuck in the 'cities, but will make it back to god's country someday. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 299
| A wise well respected Muskie and all around amazing angler said it best....
"Freshwater fishing is just killing the time until you get back to the salt"
I now agree... |
|
| |
|
| Not to hijack the thread but in the same instance I am also looking at the possibility of moving from the Madison, WI area to the Indianapolis area and instead of starting a new thread, maybe some people could throw out the positives to Indiana with regards to other fishing opportunities.
Great discussion though regarding friends and family and can definitely relate to the OP regarding the decision. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | Dog-gone Fred I am just about ready to come down and fish with you down there trading the trip for you to come fish with me in N. MN. we have talked about. And now you are heading down to dringk the saltwater! All seriousness if you are going to make the move do it while you are young enough. It never gets any easier. But I have been told by many that " fishing the salt" regularly, will spoil you for freshwater fishing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 785
| Top H2O - 2/20/2013 9:12 AM
The most Important thing is; what does your Wife and family want to do??
They come first,....not a fish.
Jerome
Yep. I've many times considered moving to MN, even looked into jobs at one point. About all summer I still find myself wishing I was up north... but when I really think about it musky season (up north) is 6 months... family is everyday. So I take as many trips as I can and try to forget about it the rest of the time. Florida is a long ways away but you can still get a week or two a year in the north woods or MO if you really wanted to... and salt water could be a very cool new adventure. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | Fred,
Being in the military I move all the time. I had a BLAST in Southern Illinois chasing ski's, but when it was time to go...it was time to go. I now have the oppurtunity to chase some trophy bass out here on the CA Delta. Not quite musky fishing but it keeps me busy. I'm a fisherman and I will always fish regardless where I am. There are some stud lrg mouth fisheries in Florida! As for the musky...I still sneak off to LOTW every year to fish
Good luck! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Guest - 2/20/2013 11:03 AM
Not to hijack the thread but in the same instance I am also looking at the possibility of moving from the Madison, WI area to the Indianapolis area and instead of starting a new thread, maybe some people could throw out the positives to Indiana with regards to other fishing opportunities.
Great discussion though regarding friends and family and can definitely relate to the OP regarding the decision.
unless you like to watch basketball and go to chain restaurants ... Indy is, well ... Indy. i endured it for a year and couldn't wait to get out. nice people with about zero to do. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | If my family and in-laws weren't all here in MN, I would blow this town as soon as I could find a decent job down south near the ocean. The closer to the Florida Keys the better or, even better yet, Puerto Rico. I am tired of the long winters here and greatly prefer saltwater fishing to anything in the upper mid-west.
Right now I head south whenever I can whether that be vacations or business and always try to get a little fishing in. Muskies are fun to fish for, but nothing like a Tarpon or big King Mac. I am actually starting to get bored with Muskies. They are fun to fish for, but just don't always put up a fight. To many of the Muskies I have hooked in the last few years just sit there and shake their heads and won't even run. So, we stick them in the net, remove the hook, maybe take a picture and then release them. Only then do they come to life and take off. Boring! |
|
| |
|
| It's important to realize that there are interesting fishing opportunities in many places around the country and world. You'll have a blast chasing other fish and you probably won't miss the muskies all that much. If muskies are the only thing holding you back, make the move! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 283
| I lived in Florida for a little while. You get used to the weather, we moved down there in January so we gradually got used to it and that made it tolerable. As far as fishing, there are so many fish down there you will be fine without musky (Tarpon, barracuda, snook, sharks.....).
If our family wasn't with us in NY we would move back down south. My sister lives down there and it is very tough for her without family. If I were you I would move, find a new fishing addiction down there (wouldn't be hard to do) and visit musky waters as a "yearly" vacation. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | I love Florida my job is what keeps me here in WI and my wife.I dont mind the heat and humidity of Florida. The reason I like muskie is that is the best wi has to offer that and sturgeon.I have caught about 15 tarpon or so and there is no comparison I think the tarpon blows any fish away and it is fairly easy to catch and you dont need A big boat to get them in fact you can get them from shore and you can do it fairly cheap.Then you got everything else salt water has to offer and the warm weather is just A great bonus.I plan to retire there and if I lost my current job I would do my best to talk my wife into moving there.And on top of all that you have south eastern conference football at your door step. I refer to the keys as paradise there is no where else in the world I would rather live than there |
|
| |
|
| Fred;
I currently live 20 miles north of Tampa. I retired four years ago, from Illinois.
I spend seven months, Oct. thru April, down here, and five months, in northern Minnesota.
My wife picked Florida. We like the area, we are in. Great community, and close to everything. We live about 10 miles from the coast. Saltwater fishing can be great. Freshwater bass fishing is tough, compared to bass fishing up north.
If you have any questions, or if you are in the area, maybe I can help you out.
John |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16
| My father moved to the Sebring area. The housing and golfing is very affordable when compared to coastal Flordia and the fresh water fishing is fantastic with tons of lakes to fish. If you like to fish, 10lb largemouth and monster crappies and don't mind a 90 minute or so trip to the coast, then central Flordia may be a good fit. I'd move there in a second. Only negative, is the night life is done by 8pm.
Edited by Hillbiehle 2/21/2013 11:44 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2024
| Start hunting other monsters...Burmese Pythons! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 41
Location: PA | I sort of wish I had been born and grew up on the coast somewhere. Ocean fishing is awesome and full of action and species. However I was born and raised fishing for muskies. My grandpa had me out casting for them by age 7 and every vacation we took growing up was musky related. Mostly Canadian trips and local fisheries. I enjoy visiting the ocean now and fishing there when we go but the "musky addiction" is hard to break ... Crazy but just can't give it up. Good Luck in whatever you decide! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1141
Location: NorthCentral WI | Never. We're hoping to move at least as far North as Rhinelander or Tomahawk in the next few years. It would be very tough for me to ever leave WI. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Fred-
Not even a question. A five pound jack or permit would row around a fifty inch musky and drown it in five minutes (if you tied them tail to tail). Saltwater fish are easier to catch, much stronger, taste better, and grow larger. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 358
| I lived in Dawson , WV. for years ... very remote. then made move to Pa. about same climate, however much better Muskie fishing or fishing period and same remoteness. PTSD. keeps me from being a people person and I love this area of NW. Pa. Nothing better than hearing Coyetes every evening or seeing Bears and deer. The fishing is a awesome variety is tremendous. I wanted to live where best suited me and my lifestyle... you only live once, and I cheated that a few times ...thank God. |
|
| |
|
| You musky fishing will be limited. When you have kids and distance probably looking at 1 trip a year.
I have lived away from musky fishing for a long time. My tuffy deep v renegade with a nice 150 has been stored in private garage in 4 states in past 10 years and never used. Bought it in 1999 and used about 15 times a year until 2002. Past 10 years spent 15,000 on storage with no use.
Living in Texas is great except no muskies. Was tougher when I was overseas as fishing in europe, china, and india is horrible.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | I guess NC has some nice muskies. Maybe that could be a weekend destination from Florida now and then. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 74
Location: Brainerd, MN 56401 | You have to look at all the positives and negatives. MN winters suck, but so do FL summers. In MO you don't have the extreme highs or lows. I love to visit FL in the winter, but can't stand the opressive heat in the summer. You can always put more clothes on, but people look at you pretty weird if you walk around naked, and you'll still be sweating. How are the schools where you're looking to move as copmared to where you are. Fishing is fishing, but Muskies ARE special. Listen to your family and your heart, the decision will come to you. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | MartinTD - 2/21/2013 12:32 PM
Never. We're hoping to move at least as far North as Rhinelander or Tomahawk in the next few years. It would be very tough for me to ever leave WI.
if you do make the move and have kids who wrestle, please choose Rhinelander ... Tomahawk is the enemy. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | I just got back from S.W. Florida and was overwhelmed once again with how hard those satwater fish fight. You never know what mean brute you'll hook on that next cast. I would love to live there November through May. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 536
| winters do suck up here after awhile and throwing wood in the fire for 7 months straight gets real old! however money isnt everything and im not a big people person anyway and dont like to be around alot of crowds most of the time and espicially dont like cities and traffic! I love musky fishing and wouldnt give it up for any other fish! I am actualy pretty surprised by most comments made on this thread that most people would give it up in a heartbeat. If it's just for money than I think your thinking the wrong way! If other reasons that are more important than money than its just a fish! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 55
| After I retired in 2005 I bought a condo in the Fl Keysand moved down to live there full time. I have a 2 mile boat ride to the Atlantic Ocean. It was great to begin with but I kind of burnt myself out with the fishing. I'm not fishing down here anymore but I spend quite a bit of time fishing up north in the summer.
Some thoughts:
I don't think you'll miss the muskie. One reel screeching run from a wahoo bigger than any muskie will blow your mind. The jumps of a tarpon are unbelievable.
It is really hot and humid in the summer. After staying year round for a year or two I started going north for the summers.
Unless you're going to fish with artificial bait and CPR only, the cost of bait, chum, ice, and tackle can really add up. I have to go buy a 100# of ice for every meat fishing trip. If you're fishing for snappers and so forth, you can easilly spend 100.00 for chum. Worst of all is biggerboatitis. Every 5 feet in additional length pretty much doubles the prices for boats.
Good luck!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I would lose the boat and either surf fish or get a good fishing Kayak. You want fun? Try tarpon fishing this way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM5BX1hN13o
Here is a guy catching a black tip shark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jilAUDflfr4
Better yet, how about a tiger shark? This takes guts in my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7EvWK0YxV0
There are some cool Kayaks available too. Check these out. They are designed to stand up on.
http://www.basspro.com/Freedom-Hawk-Kayaks-Freedom-12-Stand-Up-Fish...
http://www.basspro.com/Freedom-Hawk-Kayaks-Pathfinder-Stand-Up-Fish...
Can't wait for my next trip to Puerto Rico... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 496
| Just did a day of red fishing in Jacksonville out of a kayak and it was fun as hell ! |
|
| |
Moving far South...and your opinion