Man, when I was a teenager I had a 14' fiberglass flats boat and I used to fish out of Bullfrog Creek, Seabreeze Restaurant (next to the Tampa Shrimp Docks), and the TECO plant frequently. I was fishing on the sand flats in about 8" of water the one day with a buddy when I hooked into the biggest damn snook of my life. I mean this thing was 40+ inches! I was fishing with a Walmart bought medium 6'6" Ugly Stik with a maybe 2000 size Quantum Snapshot reel with cheap 15 lb mono, so I knew that I had to be EXTREMELY gentle with this fish. I fought it for about 40 minutes before I got him up to the boat, my buddy reached down to grab it for me (and he was REALLY flipping out over this fish!) and it broke my line on one last major kick. We were both heartbroken. We didn't say anything to each other on the way back in, we just left immediately. This was over 20 years ago, so we didn't have cell phones to take pictures or anything. We still talk about it all these years later and I live in SW PA now.
@@justin_menendez I really didn't think that you'd take the time to read my story, but thank you bud. I miss saltwater fishing so badly. I really hope that I live long enough to move back home someday.
Been watching your vids since I started fishing and you have inspired me to get a little cheap skiff and get out on the water.. just got registered yesterday can’t wait to get out there and try to have as much fun as you! Keep em coming! 🤙
Roll up cots are great, keep you off the ground and very compact. I’ve island camped and fished everywhere from where your at up the coast to Jacksonville. So fun, great vids Justin
Good to see everyone being so gentle with sea trout these days. I know it can be difficult. They are slimy and often pissed off. But they are fragile things.
Got to get in the way back to get the snook. Sweetwater. Northwater. Chevalier Bay That would be closest to where you were without having to go all the way down to Lostmans. Either way fishing the outside in the winter is great. Surprised you didn’t get into the trout more. They were basically in back of you thirty feet in the swift tide. Great video.
My biggest ever snook was out of chokoloskee and 42” and on a different trip my biggest tarpon at an estimated 90-100 lbs. Took all the strength I had to keep the snook out of the mangroves. After the tarpon I was done for the day with sore arms. Both were on artificial. The problem with down there is so much area to cover and so many spots that look good that hold nothing. The fish are spread out. Experience is a huge benefit. That’s why I use a guide down there. I go every year in Oct/Nov.
Check out paco pads. They are kinda pricy but they are water proof and roll up nice for this kind of camping. I use mine all the time for boat ramp camping in my roof top tent. Tight lines brotha🤙🏼
What dates were you there? My buddies and I were just down there this past week fishing the communication towers off shore. Did a little bit of inshore fishing but not much.
Man, when I was a teenager I had a 14' fiberglass flats boat and I used to fish out of Bullfrog Creek, Seabreeze Restaurant (next to the Tampa Shrimp Docks), and the TECO plant frequently. I was fishing on the sand flats in about 8" of water the one day with a buddy when I hooked into the biggest damn snook of my life. I mean this thing was 40+ inches! I was fishing with a Walmart bought medium 6'6" Ugly Stik with a maybe 2000 size Quantum Snapshot reel with cheap 15 lb mono, so I knew that I had to be EXTREMELY gentle with this fish. I fought it for about 40 minutes before I got him up to the boat, my buddy reached down to grab it for me (and he was REALLY flipping out over this fish!) and it broke my line on one last major kick. We were both heartbroken. We didn't say anything to each other on the way back in, we just left immediately. This was over 20 years ago, so we didn't have cell phones to take pictures or anything. We still talk about it all these years later and I live in SW PA now.
what a story! thanks for sharing
@@justin_menendez I really didn't think that you'd take the time to read my story, but thank you bud. I miss saltwater fishing so badly. I really hope that I live long enough to move back home someday.
That’s so awesome! Sad you guys didn’t get her in the boat but still an awesome memory! Thanks for sharing that with us
Been watching your vids since I started fishing and you have inspired me to get a little cheap skiff and get out on the water.. just got registered yesterday can’t wait to get out there and try to have as much fun as you! Keep em coming! 🤙
Good luck out there brother! Hope you put some awesome fish in your new skiff!
Roll up cots are great, keep you off the ground and very compact. I’ve island camped and fished everywhere from where your at up the coast to Jacksonville. So fun, great vids Justin
yeah lesson learned. thanks for the support!
Good to see everyone being so gentle with sea trout these days. I know it can be difficult. They are slimy and often pissed off. But they are fragile things.
Nice day. The secret for the year-round Tarpon fishing there is the Tarpon actively feed when the No-see-ums are out. 😂
Got to get in the way back to get the snook. Sweetwater. Northwater.
Chevalier Bay
That would be closest to where you were without having to go all the way down to Lostmans. Either way fishing the outside in the winter is great. Surprised you didn’t get into the trout more. They were basically in back of you thirty feet in the swift tide. Great video.
Thanks! Its just the way I was fishing. If i was blind casting open flats im sure i would have found them a little better. Maybe next time.
My biggest ever snook was out of chokoloskee and 42” and on a different trip my biggest tarpon at an estimated 90-100 lbs. Took all the strength I had to keep the snook out of the mangroves. After the tarpon I was done for the day with sore arms. Both were on artificial. The problem with down there is so much area to cover and so many spots that look good that hold nothing. The fish are spread out. Experience is a huge benefit. That’s why I use a guide down there. I go every year in Oct/Nov.
You should do a Florida key’s series
I will be getting a new boat this year and then I will tackle some trips like that!
Hey, if you guys are trying to catch big bluefish, Cape Canaveral has bluefish or 10 pounds and 18 to 16 inch ladyfish
I meant to say they are 10 pounds
We are literally going to be in Flamingo next week camping. Taking the Gheenoe ✌️
“Very cold” lmao
50 degrees is fairly cold to sleep in!
@@justin_menendez lol just giving you shit.
That shallow water grouper fishing is a blast man
1:31 my gheenoe completely beached😂 trip was fun tho man we will have to run this again in the summer for sure 🤙
More of these kind of videos! I’m out there on my Gheenoe all the time, can’t beat it
The office reference for the WIN!
You need to get a spot lock trolling motor on your new boat 😄
Oh new boat will have some cool gadgets for sure! Thanks for the comment.
Looks like Jewell Key? Assuming you headed up the Lopez to get those grouper. Really great area, fish everywhere
Love your videos Justin, hoping to catch my first fish on the mini mullet tomorrow, keep it up 👏
Nice man good luck!
Nice fishing buddy 👍👍👍.
Check out paco pads. They are kinda pricy but they are water proof and roll up nice for this kind of camping. I use mine all the time for boat ramp camping in my roof top tent. Tight lines brotha🤙🏼
Great vid. Just wanted to ask what that rod and reel setup was.
Great video bro
appreciate it!
I wish I could live somewhere warm I am not even joking I just built an igloo😂
I'm a Florida native and just got back from a 2 week trip in Alaska. No WAY I could survive an Alaska winter! 😮 Too dang cold up there!
Love your videos
Hi Justin, u have helped me a lot with fishing but I have a question. What is the best all around color for NLBN
Probably the slam shady. It's like an off white. Good luck!
An air mattress can transfer a lot of cold so don't use that instead of a sleeping bag. Cots are much better.
you can get inflatable sleeping pads as well which will help :)
Yes definitely for next time!
Didn’t you get a free boat or was that some one else ? Or you just using the gheenoe for mobility? Just curious , love your videos
I did have a partnership with a boat builder for a year but that was a few years back!
what leader knots do you use to connect on your braid line?
Double uni. Much easier than the FG knot and been working great for over 10 years.
will using that technique work in 20ft+ water
Jealous when you catch all these fish and all my spots are full of lady fish😭
Lady fish are good bait! Use little ones whole and chunk the bigger ones. Good luck!
What dates were you there? My buddies and I were just down there this past week fishing the communication towers off shore. Did a little bit of inshore fishing but not much.
What reel are you using & what size?
Good 😊
What’s up buddy love your content
Thanks so much!
What’s the next boat?
top secret
I'm a little stitious myself. I think it comes with being a fisherman.
What part of Florida is this
fireeeee
👍
Yoga mat. Not an air mattress
yes!
not a good video for NLBN promotion
How?