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Posts: 2376
Location: Chisholm, MN | OK guys. I'm heading south this winter for a week. Mexico, Florida, Caribbean? Not sure yet. Does anyone have a recommendation for fishing during January or February? I'm not even sure what I want to target. Goliath grouper, Tarpon, Dorado, sailfish, permit? I don't really care...as long as it's fun and big! I'm looking for past experience wherever you have been, and what guides you hired.
Thanks guys! |
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Posts: 177
Location: ON | Not Jan or Feb. A lot of Floridas finest are not really on fire in Jan/Feb. Permit, Tarpon, Bonefish all awesome to hunt but better in the late spring.
Most guys go after Cuda and shark in the colder water.
Down in the caribbean they may be more plentiful at that period.
I would highly recommend the flats over blue water or reef fishing. Much more fun to be in a small boat as see the fish your catching the whole time.
And it will give you a whole new respect. A 7lbs Jack Crevelle will make your good sized musky fight look weak. Endurance and stregth, there is nothing like saltwater fish. Have to have one on the line to believe it. |
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Posts: 2062
| Go to Cabo San Lucas - hire Grant with www.baja-anglers.com - Cast topwater catch big fish
If you can throw a fly-rod even better! They will tease them right to the boat for you! Jan and Feb is often a great time for 100-200LB striped marlin ...on the fly!!! |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Cal - 6/25/2014 11:15 AM
Not Jan or Feb. A lot of Floridas finest are not really on fire in Jan/Feb.
I would highly recommend the flats over blue water or reef fishing. Much more fun to be in a small boat as see the fish your catching the whole time.
And it will give you a whole new respect. A 7lbs Jack Crevelle will make your good sized musky fight look weak. Endurance and stregth, there is nothing like saltwater fish. Have to have one on the line to believe it.
Well said! Muskies suddenly seem a bit on the weak side after you fight a few fish in the jack family or any offshore pelagic (dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel, any tuna).
In Jan/Feb I would recommend 2 types of fishing:
1. Bottom fishing the gulf coast for grouper and amberjack (from about Tampa south to the keys)
2. Sailfish off Miami
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Posts: 1269
Location: Walker, MN | Redfish bite in even cool water temps and are one of the toughest fish that swim. The west coast of Florida is good for Redfish, Snook, and near shore Grouper, Amberjack, Goliaths etc in mid winter. You could contact Ben Olsen. |
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Posts: 114
| Ocean fishing is a blast. Contrary to what some others stated, I think blue water trolling is spectacular. Nothing like hearing a reel peel at 10 mph with a 50-400 lb fish on the other end. I know the winter is not the "hot season", but you can catch most pelagics year round off Cancun/Riviera Maya area. I fished with Capt. Ricks sportfishing out of Riviera Maya on two occasions. Top notch!
[IMG]http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll120/MuskieJim747/Wahoo_zps92f07e53.jpg[/IMG]
Also, you can have some serious fun from the beaches. I just used a heavy spinning rod with 80 lb braid and 10" mullet. Caught 28 sharks in a week, ranging from 1-5 footers. Here's what a rod looks like with a 4' blacktip on the other end:
[IMG]http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll120/MuskieJim747/th_219825E8-AA25-4D17-9F48-36DF5A9E1E28_zpsgeaeiaqe.jpg[/IMG]
The fish from the video:
[IMG]http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll120/MuskieJim747/11DF09EC-5927-4298-ABC3-271BC2DBA8A5_zpsv8cmf3db.jpg[/IMG]
Bull Shark:
[IMG]http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll120/MuskieJim747/6674602F-7802-451F-B848-FBA0964D479E_zpsb4khdjw7.jpg[/IMG]
Edited by MuskieJim 6/25/2014 1:30 PM
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Posts: 2376
Location: Chisholm, MN | Thanks guys! Good info here. I realize mid winter isn't the best for a lot if species, but it's the only time I'll be able to go. Redfish do sound fun too! |
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