florida fishing ideas

[Frank]

I feel like flying to Florida for a couple of day to catch some bass.  I need your help with some ideas.  I need a boat down there and dont know how to get one.  all i need is something that floats, has a small motor and a trolling motor.  Sure, bigger and faster is better but i just want to get off shore at this point.  I tried getting a guide last time but thats very expensive and not long.  i want to fish for about 24 hours in 2 days.  are there people who rent boats for a day or two?  are there car rentals that have trailer hitches? 

Have any of you been in this situation before?  I'm not sure what to do.  so far im thinking canoe rental and buying a cheap trolling motor and battery and just leaving it when im done.

Thanks
Frank

[blakstr1]

there are lots of marinas down there that will rent fishing boats...i know they will (or at least used too) at Roland Martins Marina down on Okechobee...then there is a marina on Istokpoga that does, i believe those are Basstracker type boats.  I am thinking that Camp Mack near Toho does as well...i found most of these while searching the individual lakes that i would be heading too and simply searching boat rentals and marinas.  Another option might be to go to bassboatcentral.com and go to the Florida Club pages, last time i went to Florida there were a few guys willing to hook up and fish for gas money, but they could also put you on some first rate information for areas throuhgout Florida.

[dartag]

Check out American Bass Anglers.  My brother used to live in Fla and fished tounrys with them all winter.  They are a draw tourny so you will be paired and fish with a boater.  They have a ton of divisions in the orlando area.  He fished almost every weekend.

[djkimmel]

A number of the marinas around Okeechobee rent various sized boats that you can fish the area with. There's some type of good fishing all around the N, W and SW parts of the lake that even small boats can get to. Smaller boats are cheaper and put you closer to nature for things like amorous gators!

[Manxfishing]

A number of the marinas around Okeechobee rent various sized boats that you can fish the area with. There's some type of good fishing all around the N, W and SW parts of the lake that even small boats can get to. Smaller boats are cheaper and put you closer to nature for things like amorous gators!

We need gators up here
i've been cutting back on the coffee, But I'm sure a gator would get the blood pumping
Plus it would keep the shore anglers from stealing my spots

[djkimmel]

They're fun to catch though I don't recommend it.

[Skip Johnson]

Take a couple buddies with you and hire a guide, your looking at about $150 each and youl get the most bang for your buck.
Id check with Art Ferguson of art of fishing guide service, he's a local tour pro that guides in Michigan in the summer and Florida in the winter.
He's been doing quite well down there and posts huge fish pics just about daily.
On day 2 go down to miami and look for shore access in the canals for peacock bass.

[River Rat]

Frank,
When are you planning on going?!  Not a lot of days that have 12 hrs of daylight in the winter.  If you are down in Kissimmee between Jan and Apr, I can hook you (and a buddy/family) up for a "GLB discount rate".
Scott
Scott@TMCGuideService.com

[Frank]

havent decided when yet.  January or February most likely.  Probably fly down on a Sunday and come home on a Wednesday.  Basically I want to get there Sunday morning, pick up a boat and be on the water by 2pm, fish til Midnight, or later if im doing good, park and charge the boat, go to the bar til 2am, sleep, get up at 7am, on the water by 8am, fish til midnight, repeat. lololol.  then fly home.

[River Rat]

havent decided when yet.  January or February most likely.  Probably fly down on a Sunday and come home on a Wednesday.  Basically I want to get there Sunday morning, pick up a boat and be on the water by 2pm, fish til Midnight, or later if im doing good, park and charge the boat, go to the bar til 2am, sleep, get up at 7am, on the water by 8am, fish til midnight, repeat. lololol.  then fly home.

If that's your plan, you might try Camp Mack on the Kissimmee River. Hope that helps.

Scott