Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I suck at fishing!

I mean I can bait a hook, and cast, and real in a fish, and drink a bear while doing it, and blah blah blah, but I basically suck at fishing.

One of my New Year's Resolution was to learn more about fishing. Specifically saltwater inshore Central Florida Gulf of Mexico fishing (snook, redfish, tarpon, etc...) After looking at one of our new members' photos (Smokey Mountain) I am even more motivated to get better. He was bagging some amazing catches in the exact same waters that I fish in. Right now I usually just cut up some previously frozen squid, poke it with a hook, sink it to the bottom, open a beer, and curse at all the little pinfish that steal my bait within moments of it hitting bottom.

Any tips would be appreciated. Even pointing me towards some articles, videos, fishing forums, etc would be fine. Thanks in advance.

I'm planning to take the boat out fishing tomorrow...

I'm not quite this bad, but not too far off.

Ron don't know if this will help but this is what I did. Our closets lake I was never successful couldn't find anyone to help really. So I booked a guide specifically on a cold front that fished the walleye an how I wanted to fish. Best 200 I ever spent learned his style of fishing an bait selection an locations. Saved me thousands in fuel driving to lakes I fish successfully. Also hours of time an boat gas an the bait shop guys having there way with me!lol. Not sure if u are interested in that but it has worked good for me. Oh an the reason I say cold front is that is when a guide has to work to get u on the fish an u will truly learn all his spots.

Thanks for the idea. I was actually considering that when I saw an advertisement on some guys truck for a guided fishing trip. My b-day is in August so maybe if I can't start catching more by then I'll put it on my present list.

Heading out today...

good luck loser! I mean Brett.

that'll get you a visit from the game warden-------and they dont knock when they come in

We tried that at last years pyro camp out, never did find the fish, to much bait I guess

That's a lot of bait!


Caught a bunch of small stuff, but no keepers. Hopefully they will be grow up by summer time.


some kind of small snapper...maybe a Mangrove Snapper






small spotted sea trout







Daddy. Why do you suck at fishing?

My small snapper radar went off when passing this thread. Thought maybe one of Ed's birthday photos got misplaced. That was wierd.

REPETE wrote:



My small snapper radar went off when passing this thread. Thought maybe one of Ed's birthday photos got misplaced. That was wierd.

OMG, I almost died laughing!!!!!!

Do yourself a favor and book with her. https://www.facebook.com/captlacey
Yes, seriously easy on the eyes as well.

There's a guy named Mark Watson that is a guide near Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. I grew up there and caught snook, trout, redfish, etc.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

For me, the toughest part of fishing is FINDING them. Ron, I am sure you can hook and land any fish, provided your rig is up to the task (circle hooks). But Mike Iaconnelli, Bill Dance, KVD etc. can sit all day withiut a bite if they can't find the fish. A guide will really steepen the learning curve.