Fishing Charlotte Harbor Area (Key West, Islamorada: how much, buyers, price)

[Foxrivman1]

Messing About, I've heard that is a litle bit of an art.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Messing About

I do. I recently learned to throw my castnet with free instructions from Fishin' Franks (best bait shop in SWFL). The technique they showed me is nothing like the useless instructions that came with the net. I have enjoyed success catching pin fish in my own backyard canal. Gotta love that.

I have, but have had better success hooking 'em (pin fish) and throwing them in my live well. I have netted thread herring and green-backs too. When you do it on a boat - it is a two man job. One to steer and control the boat, moving it to the fish, and one to throw the net. Although, a few guys can do both.

I went to a state park down here, and one of the rangers taught me how to throw it which was a lot different than the videos and directions it came with. It is much easier, and you are ready faster to throw it.

Yesterday, I had my oil in the boat changed, everything lubed up, filters changed, and a new airator pump installed for my live well - it just died on me.

I have been catching bait fish and freezing it for use later this year when the fishing heats up. You can also use that cheap chum technique I mentioned to bring the bait fish in and stir them up to throw your net on. you just have to work to clean the net good when you get home - it gets a little messy. I have two different size throw nets. On the warmer days, you can boat around on the harbor and find a lot of spots where the bait fish are feeding and stirring the surface of the water. They float around and move all the time, so if you throw on them, you need to be able to move the boat around and throw at the same time. It is tough by yourself. A guy (FLBob) who used to post here all the time, and is a realtor, showed me how its done, and what to look for. My boat doesn't have a big flat deck area that makes it easy to throw from, as some boats do. I love my boat, but if I could change one thing - I would make the deck area at the bow a bit bigger so I could throw the net easier.

[Foxrivman1]

BH how big/long is your boat? Hey, I bought this rig a couple of years ago while in Orange Beach,AL that employs a 2" x 12" piece of plastic net mesh with a couple of pieces of red ribbon intertwined into the net mesh and a 1 oz sinker on the bottom. You tie it to your line and fish it for bait, the fish swim into the mesh like there is no tomorrow and get there gills caught in it. You will usually catch 2-3 baitfish at a time doing this with this rig, ever used one?

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Foxrivman1

BH how big/long is your boat? Hey, I bought this rig a couple of years ago while in Orange Beach,AL that employs a 2" x 12" piece of plastic net mesh with a couple of pieces of red ribbon intertwined into the net mesh and a 1 oz sinker on the bottom. You tie it to your line and fish it for bait, the fish swim into the mesh like there is no tomorrow and get there gills caught in it. You will usually catch 2-3 baitfish at a time doing this with this rig, ever used one?

No, You'll have to bring it with you when you come down so I can check it out. Sounds cool!

I have those mesh fish traps ( minnow traps), and I have loaded it with bait, put it the canal, and the next morning when I came out I expected to see some fish in it, at least see the bait still in it, but every time I come out - it's completely empty. I can't figure that one out.

[Messing About]

Originally Posted by Big House

My boat doesn't have a big flat deck area that makes it easy to throw from, as some boats do. I love my boat, but if I could change one thing - I would make the deck area at the bow a bit bigger so I could throw the net easier.

Like this?

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Like this?

That's a nice boat!! Is that yours?

I would like that, but if I was casting a lot, I would have lower side rails.

[Messing About]

Yes that's my 26WAC. It's for sale and I have a very positive prospect coming tomorrow...all the way from Big Pine Key (5 hours). If she sells, I have my eye on a Key West 196 Bay & Reef.

I have a very short bridge by my house and I have trouble getting out because of my size, draft and hard top.

Looking forward to downsizing. Wish me luck.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Messing About

Yes that's my 26WAC. It's for sale and I have a very positive prospect coming tomorrow...all the way from Big Pine Key (5 hours). If she sells, I have my eye on a Key West 196 Bay & Reef.

I have a very short bridge by my house and I have trouble getting out because of my size, draft and hard top.

Looking forward to downsizing. Wish me luck.

I see a lot of Key West boats around, does it have a T Top, or a bimini?

The Key West boat is a lot like my Sea Hunt, on it I have two batteries, hydraullic stearing, it is wired for a trolling motor, it has a aluminum framed/blue canvas T top. It has a 115 Yamaha 4-cycle engine which seems perfectly matched for it. It is great for fishing 2 or 3 people at a time, much more and it gets a little cramped.

I just had it all serviced up for the coming year, oil changed, and all lubed up. I put a new light on the Top, because one of my reels came off the rod while I was running and smashed the one I had to bits! My fish tank aerator pump died a couple weeks ago, so it was replaced, and I just put new batteries in this summer. My seat/bench came loose, but it is now all secured again. Sooooo., I'm ready!

I think Harbor Hopper and I are gonna go out soon. I also promised to take a couple other people out - which I am going to do soon, fitting them in and around some of my friends from the North that are coming down to escape the snow and this traumatic winter weather.

I have been filling one of the compartments of my freezer up with all the bait fish I've caught this winter, and I plan on continuing to do that so I'm ready for the warm weather, and bigger fish to move in.

Good Luck selling your boat!

With mine (which is about the same size as yours), I still like to get into really shallow water, but it is tough. Think about a lift plate to raise your motor up. My draft is supposed to be 18", but it is more like 26"-28" because the motor sits down lower than the bottom of the boat. I have a high bow rail on my boat, which makes putting the trolling motor on a tough option - which I haven't done - yet. That may happen later this year though - maybe the fall.

[Foxrivman1]

Messing About, nice boat, flats boat sounds nice, have you looked at Ranger Cayman? Just wondering.

[Messing About]

SOLD!!!
It's officially the second best day in my boater's life, right?

I knew if the guy was coming 5 hours, one way, it was a good prospect.
I just had to find the right price, because the NADA values mean nothing in this market. I revised my price down and got my asking price this time.

No, Fox...I've not seen those boats.

My problem now is I have a buddy coming next week from AZ who expects to go fishing with me. LOL. We're going to Islamorada and KW for 4 days, then were hoping to fish Charlotte Harbor for a few days. Hmmmm.

I have to wait for this buyer's Minnesota check to clear before I can release my boat and buy the next one. Grrrrrrrrr. Anyways, I'm stoked and shopping!

BH...any chance of my pal and I joining you on your boat after Valentine's Day? I'd be happy to return the favor in the near future and of course share fuel/bait costs.