Hello All! New to forum

[kljunior]

Hello everyone! I lived in Deland during the seventies as a kid and now live in upstate NY. I am starting to return for vacations with my wife and would love to get a little fishing in.
My dad worked as a roving bridge tender for awhilein the mid to late seventies, so I used to fish a lot of the old draw bridges, both fresh and salt water, on the atlantic side.
Anyhow, I am taking a trip down in early January and will be in the St Pete area for a couple days and then New Smyrna area for about a week.

I would like to try some pier fishing so I don't have to purchase a lisence seperately. Any help would be greatly appreciated as it has been awhile since I have fished the salt water and never fished piers much except for Flagler a couple times. I have light to medium tackle and would just like to catch something I can eat. Whiting, snapper, drum, pompano,...etc.

Any help with what to fish for, what to use for bait, etc. would be great.

I learned about the skyway pier in St. Pete recently, it looks awesome but I know nothing about fish species, bait, location to fish,...etc.

Thanks to all for the advice!

[digger]

I like fishing for Spanish mackerels using shiny gotcha plugs. You can get them at the bait shop on the pier.

[Filletnrelease]

KL, the Skyway and other piers in the area are great. You never always know what your bringing in till it get's under you. Medium gear will do fine for Trout, macks, pompano, snapper or sheepshead, but if you want to target the Grouper you will need something heavier. The bait is usually right under you, so a cast net or sabiki will get you all you need. A 5 gallon bucket with an aereator keeps them alive or a bait bucket if you don't mind pulling it up and down For macks, like Digger, I use the Chrome and Red Gotcha plugs or spoons. Live greenbacks under a float will work as well. For pomps I usually will use a silly willy in yellow with a teaser, but luv's lures can work as well. The bait shop carries a lot of stuff, but it's more costly than say Walmart, so stock up before you come. The Skyway now costs $8 bucks for you and your car with an additional $4 for each person. It's good for 24 hours at either pier, no license is needed.

[kljunior]

Thanks for the info. Are the Spanish Mackerel good eating? Do you need to throw chum to get the macks in?
Keith

[digger]

I lke them grilled with onions or fried. I hear they're great smoked but i could never get one lit

[kljunior]

hehehe