The fiance and I are planning to visit some of her relatives in Tampa, FL in February, so needless to say I need to find a break from the inlaws already. I have never fished anything sal****er but thought it might be fun to try a half day or day charter trip. Any advice on what is a fun fish to go after as I know zero about ocean fishing? The common charters offer, drum, a variety of grouper species, flounder, red snapper, speckled trout, tarpon, snook, kingfish? flats or deep sea doesnt matter to me but something that puts up a decent fight and aren't too hard to ctach?
I'd go with the King Mackerel's then. We run charters out of Wilmington, NC and do the King trips all the time, its our most popular trip. You will be trolling or grinding, in either case casting is hardly ever involved. You can catch a wide variety of fish doing this, King Mackerel, Dolphin, Sailfish, Barracuda, Sharks, Cobia, Amberjacks, all of which put up a great fight, and several of them provide a good meal afterwards.
I've been on some inshore charters here near Cape Fear, NC. Flounder, drum, and trout fishing is a whole lot of fun for everyone, and good eating besides!
Since your port of call will be in FL, the gulf stream is easily accessible (compared to NC/SC) and is the cat's meow. Go to the blue water and don't guide the guide. He'll put you on the fish. You could catch tuna; barracuda; kings; sailfish; dolphin; etc..., etc..., etc... . You're heading to the Mecca of blue water fishing in the US (IMO). Not going to the gulf, when you're in FL, would be the equivalent to checking your watch........when Big Ben's around the corner. Have fun. Good luck.
