[Sgt Mac]

Hello TOTVers,
Tell us about your Fishing area or type of fishing and more.
This is Florida one of the Worlds Best fishing areas there is the beautiful ocean on our east coast not far away you can go and look at the sun rise then there is the Gulf of Mexico one can see the Sun set again not far away and a lot of great lakes in and around I know that a lot of people like to go fishing but need some info about areas to go Who, What, Where, and When.
Thanks
Da Sgt

[rwcw]

I've been researching the same question. There appears to be some shoreline fishing in some of the Villages lakes. One responder said that he goes to the Crystal River (Fort Island Park)--about and hour from the villages where he keeps his boat at a marina and fishes saltwater and crabs there. Lake Griffin boasts good bass, crappie and other panfishing on the State Park web site and the lake is almost next door to the Villages. There's both a fresh water and salt water fishing club at the Villages. Some people own boats and others don't and they can apparently get together with the ones who do for local fishing. The salt water club apparently runs fishing trips to both the east and west coast at reasonable costs according to their web site. There's a string of lakes over near Inverness that is supposed to be pretty good for fishing. Lake George, over on the St Johns River is historically one of the best bass fishing lakes in Florida and that's certainly less than two hours away. I was in the Villages for a recreation expo one year and the fishing club put on a demonstration of how they fish for crappie, a big deal in Florida.

I'm thinking that I'll have all the opportunity I'll want to go fishing whenever I want when we move down .

[Sgt Mac]

Thanks Bob,
Is there a place for surf fishing from the Beach? As I brought along 2 poles with my Penn reels and I would like to use them or is one of the piers the way to start out? I used to have a boat on the Cheasapeake Bay and I have landed some of the biggest logs and old shoes in the area with my $45 license on all types of bait
Da Big one bought me a Beer
Da Sgt
ps it feels like I can go Ice Fishing today in TV

[KayakerNC]

Has anyone tried the fishing piers on the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay. Kind of a long drive, but it looks like a great way to spend a day.

http://www.skywaypiers.com/

[rwcw]

SGT Mac
It's about two hours over to Daytona Beach and about the same time down to St Petersburg Beach, Clearwater Beach (Or Dunneden area) where you can surf fish. I used to fish the Skyway most every evening when I lived in St Pete. With shrimp or squid on the bottom, you'll catch most any thing. Snook, redfish, sea trout, sea catfish, black drum, sheepshead and lots of stuff you won't be able to ID. I used to go out with a small package of frozen squid and with a small hook, catch pinfish and small grunts off the seawall and use them for bait. Most likely fish with pinfish are Snook, sharks, rays, Yellow jacks, maybe even a tarpon or cobia in the hot months. A grouper may even be caught down near the pilings. I've had fish (probably large sharks) take my entire line and break it off at the reel at the Skyway and I got so good at catching snook in July and August that I used to be able to guarantee any one that went with me that they'd catch one. Never missed.
I understand there's a breachway At Caladesi State park which is a good site for fishing and I believe there's surf fishing there, too. About two hours away. I CAN go ice fishing on my local pond here in southern PA today.

[fallingcow2]

Are there no good fishing lakes in THE VILLAGES?

[OpusX1]

The small lakes "ponds" in the villages have been stocked by the fresh water club with bass. When I talked to the fresh water club members they told me that only the ponds north of 466 are stocked at this time. So the answer is yes you can fish in TV.

[Sgt Mac]

Thanks,
It sounds like some great spots and I will try them I may take a ride over to New Smurna beach this week end it is supposed to get warm and I will try to scout out a spot for fishing if so I will post what I see or do. I do not know what is running this time of the year over there but I do know that in warmer times that Sharks can be caught in the surf and more.
Da Sgt
And great fishing to all

[Sgt Mac]

Hi,
We did take a ride over to New Smyrna Beach yesterday it is 72 miles down CR 44 it is $5 to drive on the beach but we parked just out side at a public lot right at the beach no cost and there was rest rooms with out side showers to wash off the sand that is good The beach is 5 miles long at that spot you can swim,or fish and drive also so if you was to make a day of it you can pack your car with all your good stuff like picnic lunch, beach chairs,fishing equipment I was told that on the north side by Ponce de Leon inlet is the better area for fishing. But the beach is beautiful I will be going back
a web link www.volusia.org
Take a little ride it is very good
Da Sgt