Small Freshwater Boats
2008
Small Freshwater Boats
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Plastic RV / Boat Storage Tank, Fresh Water, 28X6X54, Has Small Hole, Tank #153 $125.00 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
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Have a Crappie Day Fishing shirt Fresh water Boat Tee Shirt $12.99 |
Where Can I take A Jon Boat Saltwater fishing in FLorida?
I am from Polk County, Florida. I am looking for a place to take my 12ft Jon Boat fishing. I have a trolling motor and 5hp Outboard on it. I know it is a small boat so I am looking for some flats or backcountry. I do not know too much about saltwater fishing, but I am an avid freshwater fishermen. The more details you can give me the better. If you could tell me exactly where to put the boat in that'd be awesome. Also, I do not know much about tides either. How deep are flats when it is high tide, and how deep are they in low tide? Thanks for your help.
You have a "loaded question" !!
I'll do the best to answer as much as possible.
#1. "Tides" are probably THE most important part of ANY type of Florida Flats fishing. Tidal creeks get flooded and sucked dry every 4-6 hours. The 3-4FT "hot spot" (where you may be catching a limit of fish) will probably be COMPLETELY DRY in 3-4 hours.
Baitfish live inside, (and around) feeder creeks off of the main Flats & Channel areas and thereby attract Gamefish such as Reds, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Snook, Jacks, Ladyfish, Etc to those places. These Baitfish, (Pogy/Menhaden, Shrimp, Mullet, Glass minnows, Mud-minnows, Needlefish, Pinfish, Etc), usually move WITH the tide.
The best places to try fishing on a flats are inside and around the mouths of creeks and rivers. However, it must be during the correct TIDE. (Example- Obviously, a feeder creek that only has 4" of water at low tide won't be very productive VS that SAME creek 4-6 hours later with 3-4FT!!!) Finding the best "time" to fish these creeks is vitally important, (and something a novice Flats fisherman usually doesn't understand right away). It takes many fishing trips to learn the appropriate time to hit a creek......However, in general, lower tides tend to be best because it "concentrates" fish to deeper pockets and sleughs.
Other things (besides Tide and baitfish accumulation) to look for??
1. Structure- Oyster beds, old wooden docks, sunken boats, transitions from sandy to muddy bottoms, Etc. Pay attention at LOW tide WHERE these high percentage structure's are, so at high tide you can fish them.....
2. Weeds- ANY type of GREEN weed is an indication of "clean water". Find a weedline and usually you'll find some fish.
3. Current- When the tide is flowing strong is when you will get your best strikes; during "slack tide" the fishing, (in general), will slow down, (or cease).
Add these 3 "ingredient's" (structure, weeds, current) to major tidal influence and baitfish accumulation and you'll have PLENTY of action.
In regards to your 12FT boat- Because your boat is so small and has such low gunwales trying to fish in any area where larger boats might cause a huge wake and swamp you is a VERY serious (and REAL) danger. ( I was once swamped in the ICW on a 15 FT Flats boat when a barge came through and pushed a 4-5FT wake at me. I was just outside a creek, (on the main channel) and was hammering some Flounder in 3FT of water at the time. I wasn't paying attention and WHAMMO!! Thankfully, my bilge pump and bailing milk-jug saved me!)
In your case, you should NEVER venture into ANY main channel!!! Stay inside a creek or on the Flat AT ALL TIMES. Understand even a "smaller" boat (with a jack@ss, drunk or incompetent Captain) could swamp you; it's best to be safer than sorry when out fishing in saltwater with such a small craft. (By the way- there is no "walking home" in some flats situations. The mud on some flats acts like quicksand and can easily "suck you down". I once lost track of time on a HUGE expansive Flat and began running out of water. I said "No problem"!!
I'll just jump out & push my Skiff the extra 30yards I had left to get to deeper water- WRONG!!! Once overboard I lost my sandals, and almost my shorts!!!! If I had not had a hold of the side of the boat when I went overboard I would have lost MORE!)
As to WHERE? Your closest place to saltwater fish (from Polk County) would be in and around Tampa/Clearwater. Many bridges in that area have "pull-offs" where a small Jon could easily be launched. If I were you I'd get a good map (or go to Google Maps Satellite) and thoroughly investigate any and all creeks feeding into Tampa Bay......
Understand- Most Flats/Saltwater Creek fishing is VERY similar to Bass fishing, (in fact, MOST of your Bass lures will work on the Tampa area Flats). If you decide to use your Bass tackle make sure to upgrade your hooks to 3X strong...
Hope this helps ya? Good luck!
PS- I'm going to mark your Q as interesting in the hopes that the other Florida fishermen see it- Like Brandon, Chimp D, Ingun, Etc. They will be able to add more info on tackle and (possibly) good launching areas...
Boat Fishing Tips and Tricks
If you're keen to find a fun family activity, then give boat fishing a try. There's nothing better than heading off on your boat with the wife and kids, talking about the fish you plan to catch that day.
It's important to realize, though, that there are lots of different types of boat fishing, and each one has specialized boat requirements. You can do everything from dangle some bait on a string over the side of a canoe, right through to high-tech rods and a powerful cabin cruiser. It just needs to be seaworthy - the rest is up to you! But if you're keen to buy a boat, you need to do some homework first. It can be very confusing walking into a boat show or dealership and seeing so many choices. You need to think about what you're planning to do with the boat before you can decide which one to buy. Here are some popular boat fishing choices.
Freshwater Boats.
If you enjoy fishing in freshwater lakes, rivers or streams, then you don't need a massive boat. Instead, choose an aluminum or fiberglass boat. Make sure it's easy to transport and lightweight. Popular choices include bow riders, runabouts or walley boats, with either a small or dual console. These boats are fine for family freshwater boat fishing outings.
Offshore Saltwater Boats.
Fishing out on the open sea is the most common thing people think of when you mention boat fishing. Most people enjoy fishing offshore because they get the chance to catch huge fish and use heavy tackle. It's important to have a dependable, heavy boat for this type of fishing. You'll encounter plenty of different weather and situations on the open sea, so you need to be able to rely on your boat. You can choose twin or single outboard motors, and you definitely need a cuddy cabin or a center console. If you want to spend a bit more, you can start to look at the more luxurious boats, including a bluewater or convertible with luxury quarters, and maybe even an elegant living area. Bigger boats generally have powerful inboard diesel engines as standard.
Inshore Saltwater Boats.
If your tastes run to tarpin, snook, trout, bonefish or redfish, then you will want a boat suitable for inshore saltwater fishing. It's best to have a light boat that is smaller than a 25-footer. All you need is a single outboard motor. You're likely to be in shallow water at least some of the time, so something like a flat or baby boat works well. These have a spacious deck you can use for casting, and are still float well in shallow water.
Bass Boats.
This type of boat is generally suitable for tournament and sport fishing. They're colorful, fast, and ride low in the water. It's preferable if the bass boat has a trolling motor mounted on the bow. Generally they have a platform at both the bow and stern ends, which makes casting much easier. You can choose from aluminum or fiberglass.
Float Tubes.
These don't really qualify as boats, but fly anglers find them very handy for fishing in mountain streams, ponds and lakes. A float tube is simply a flotation device containing a seat. The angler is partially submerged when seated in the float tube, and uses fins on his feet to navigate around on the water. They're tricky to handle, and fly-casting requires lots of practice. You can choose between round float tubes, which are similar to an inner tube, and pontoon float tubes, which have an air chamber either side of the fisherman. The pontoons are slightly eiasier to maneuver, as their v-shaped design reduces the amount of water resistance.
It's always a good idea to speak to experienced anglers who either have their own boat or use one regularly. They can give you lots of help in deciding which type of boat is right for you. Read magazines, guides, and talk to your local boat charter service. Fishermen generally love to talk about boats, and you can learn a lot to help you select the perfect fishing boat for your needs.
About the Author
Steve Dolan is an experienced and keen fisherman, who enjoys the outdoors almost as much as catching the fish! Click on Boat Fishing and Boat Fishing Trips to find more articles and information. For Bass Fishing try Bass Fishing Trips
Small Freshwater Boats
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