Hey all,

boy am I glad I found this place! Looks like there is tons of knowledge stored here, so thank you very much for sharing.

I just moved to S. Florida and was out fishing for the first time last weekend and am going to repeat that again in a few days. I just need to get some Florida upgrades to my gear, this is not lake / river trout fisching any more! I was out on a pier in Bill Baggs and I really like it out there. Once I get myself tuned in, maybe I will even catch something interesting and not just small or "garbage" fish. Whatver, better than catching just a cold which was more likely where I am from!

So I hope to meet some of you out there fishing or at least get to know you here.

Thanks again for all of the work this Forum has obviously been to put together and keep updated with information.

Cheers,

William

Hello and Welcome

Welcome to our world!

welcome to the site and the world of saltwater fishing

Welcome to the club. Don't worrie you will catch them and be able to post a report soon.

Another one makes it in!!! Welcome!!!

thanks for the welcome!

I also have a few questions. As I wrote I had my first day of pier fishing last weekend in the Bill Baggs park and am headed back now. Not much happened the first time out. I am sure that it was just a bad day, but to try and increase my luck on even a bad day, I would be thankful for any tips at all.

Lures: tried flashy ones as well as natural looking stuff, no Bites, but those Needlefish liked following them around, just the small things of course.
Bait: I used frozen Shrimp, but have read that live ones work better/ what else?
Bottom: I used a weight on a sliding sinker sleeve above two hooks with the bait. I know that the set up better for live bait, but is that rig otherwise OK? Should a add a float (Fish finder rig) to the set up? I just seemed to get these stupid "mud-suckers" (or whatever you call them here) things nibbling off my hooks.
Gear: I will be going to a Fishing shop this weekend to make sure my rig(s) are Ok for what I am doing, but any tips from people who are not trying to sell me the most expensive piece in the store would be helpful.

Thanks to all the posters in the forum, I ahve already spend much time searching and enjoy the knowledge! Should I have missed many answers to my questions in my search, glad for a point in the right direction.

Thanks again and wish you all bent rods and tight lines!

William