So the wife and I finally made our move to Florida. We live in Plant City. We're maybe 15min from Tampa. Anyone know of any good fishing spots in the Tampa area? I've been looking at some of the florida fishing forums including the spin off of the TFF, FFF (flafishingforum.com). They're not as heavily visited as TFF, at least not yet.

Appreciate any input.

Not sure of spots, but apparently they are stocking Peacock Bass in some of the canals there! Freakin sweet if you could find one or two of those spots. Then I could come visit you and catch me some! Let me know! hahahah

I have a good friend in Bradenton, not sure where or how close that is, but I could ask, if it's in the general vacinity.

try www.floridasportsman.com
peacocks are not that far north(not many)
maybe some mayan cichlid h@LL of a panfish would drag a bullgill to death never caught a fish that fights as hard as they do , also very good eating, SHHHH don't tell to may people down here in florida, easy to catch kind OF like a oscar's(yes the tank fish) but better tasting and fight harder
DO A SEARCH ON MAYAN CICHLID IN FLORIDA CANALS SYSTEM AND PEACOCK BASS
good luck on the move
every get down my way give a shout we will stomp the swamp s.w florida the everglades

PP,
Thanks for the link. I've been checking out the site through out the day and it looks pretty good.

need any tips on canal fishing lure and such drop me a pm

GGTROPHYMAN ON SW FLORIDA DON'T post much any more over there

good luck with the new location ed . wish you all the luck .your a good man and deserve it . jesse

I wish I was moving to Tampa too.
Fishing up there is amazingly great.
Catch all species you want to put on your lunch/dinner plate and just a couple of minutes driving.

Good luck to you and yours,

I need to get you in contact with a friend of mine that moved there a year ago, we used to fish lavon every weekend. He is in Lakeland, looks to be right next to you.

Thanks guys.
I went to the Pier in St. Petersburg with the family yesterday. Its amazing what people were catching off the pier. Made me a little upset I didn't take any gear. I'm looking forward to getting in on some of the action. So far i've only hit some smaller lakes and ponds.
This weekend we're going to hit the coast. I'll start a new thread with some pics once we get back.

I grew up in Loxahatchee Fla. just east of Lake Okeechobee. 1st off, if your planning on bank fishing, be aware that the banks of the canals, ponds & lakes in Fla. hold a lot more critters than in Texas. A true Florida Cottonmouth is very different than a Texas water mocassin, they are very aggresive and will sometimes come after you instead of away from you. Not sure if your very knowledgeable about snakes but I've been in Texas for 3 years now and have yet to see a water mocassin, all I have seen have been water snakes and in Flroida, water "mocassins" will be an everyday sight when bank fishing. The other snake you need to watch for is the Eastern Diamondback and again a eastern is way more aggresive than a western and the venom is even more potent. Alligators..... well most of the alligators you will see are in the 2' to 8' long ones and they won't bother you, although they will aproach you will your on the bank out of curiosity. The gators you need to worry about are the ones exceeding 8' in length. Remember a female Gator's nest is a wallered out hole in the bank covered by huge clumps of dead vegatation and most of the time completely un noticeable.

I did alot of bank fishing in Florida, some of the best bass fishing are in the canals that are so narrow as to where if you had a boat you couldn't put it in there if you wanted to.

Just be aware that things are way different on Florida banks then they are in Texas.

Learn how to fish for Snook!