fishing at disney

[dunky]

my wife and i have just booked a week at disney feb6-14,she has given me the greenlight to duck out for a days fishing.i have never been to the orlando area,i am interested in saltwater species ie bonefish, baby tarpon, permit,or redfish whatever would be available. can you guys give me some suggestions if i will need a guide,if so whom to contact. is there accessable shoreline where i could try on my own. disney offers largemouth bass fishing on site but i'm not really interested in that.thanks in advance chris

[Ray]

Save the driving to the coast and go into the canals for Peacock Bass --127-3-

[Onshore]

I'm afraid you will be about two-three months early for good fishing. February is a pretty slow month in the Orlando Area for saltwater species. You may find Trout and Redfish if the weather has been warm before you get there. You will not find Tarpon, Bonefish in that area anytime - too far north.

Checkout: www.camirl.com (http://www.camirl.com) for area fishing information.

[lowwall]

2hr East of Orlando, Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon located in Titusville good Flats fishing Redfish, Sea Trout. COCO Beach is near by and is a nice spot for the family (maybe not in Feb though). Last time i was there I fished a local lake (Don't Remember the Name) with Huge shiners and caught crap. The freshwater guides are murder. They have a deal with the bait shops and have you buy like $50.00 worth of Bait. You don't end up using all the bait and they give it back to the bait shop. Who sells it again? As far as fish I have had better days Bass fishing the Cape!

The canal thing sounds good but learn the in and out of the local snakes, spiders and gators. When I was 12 I went on a family fishing\ Disney trip them Disney me fishing. I was fishing the Saint Johns river alone I got out of the boat for a stretch on an Island, I saw a raccoon looking at me kind of funny? I am thinking i haven't said anything can't be the Boston Accent. I then turn around and see what he is looking at. There was a huge gator 2ft behind me. Looks like i interrupted his breakfast hunt. I stayed in the boat after that!
Good luck

[sagamoron]

Last year I read COnfessions of an Eco-Redneck by Steve Chapell, he had a chapter on the large mouth fishing at Disney it seemed pretty unreal. It might be a good option if you can't get anything else.

[constant_menace]

There are some *BIG* bass in the canals at the Carribean Beach Resort this spring. Guys were working the banks there real early in the AM

[Slamdance]

You will not find Tarpon, Bonefish in that area anytime - too far north.

You may indeed not find any tarpon or bonefish, but it won't be because it's too far north. There is a vibrant tarpon fishery as far north as Charleston, SC and along parts of the Georgia coast. The upper Bahamian islands are only slightly lattitudinally south of the Space Coast, and they certainly have bonefish.

I've fished the area in February and, as onshore said, it can be hit or miss. Mostly it depends on the weather. Oh, it only took me about 45 minutes to drive to the Haulover, so I don't know where the 2 hour comment come from.

[vinnymackeral]

Disney has great bass on property I,ve fished those canals for about 5 years using red and black rubber worms my biggest being 9lbs on a digital scale. Saltwater in feb if you want to go offshore there will be sailfish wahoo and kingfish around usually. Off the piers and bridges sheepshead will take shrimp and crab pieces Also off the coco pier lots of whiting and puppy drum Theres a state park near coco beach call jetty park lots of spanish mackeral small bluefish as well as jacks. good luck

[albacized]

You may indeed not find any tarpon or bonefish, but it won't be because it's too far north. There is a vibrant tarpon fishery as far north as Charleston, SC and along parts of the Georgia coast. The upper Bahamian islands are only slightly lattitudinally south of the Space Coast, and they certainly have bonefish.

I've fished the area in February and, as onshore said, it can be hit or miss. Mostly it depends on the weather. Oh, it only took me about 45 minutes to drive to the Haulover, so I don't know where the 2 hour comment come from.


Yes, tarpon do move that far north...but not in Feburary. The space coast is (as mentioned above) 2-3 months from seeing any tarpon at that point. If the original poster wanted to fish for juvenile tarpon, there may be some in the creeks around the coastal area adjacent to Disney/Orlando (afterall, the St John's River system certainly has them). However, I'd still recommend a drive to the south and west to areas south of Tampa/St Pete.
When I lived in Tampa, we caught small (12"-18")tarpon, lady fish, as well as small snook and redfish up various creeks at all times of the year. There is also tilapia (we used to mis-call them 'nile perch' which obviously is the name of another game fish from Austrailia) in those creeks. So while, there's not much to around at that point to burn a drag system out, there are plenty of opportunities to keep yourself busy and catch fish which aren't available here up in the north.
So in conclusion, I'd say if you're going to travel to an adjacent shoreline within a reasonable distance from Orlando, I'd go to the west coast of Florida to the areas I mentioned above.

[north coast]

I know you said you were not interested but,I just got back from disney and as others have mentioned,saw some HUGE bass right in front of MGM(the boat gangway) also at disneys boardwalk.some also at the beach club.With the size of these fish,I cant believe anyone who likes to fish couldn't have a blast with these fish.I was dying standing there watching them with no rod. next time.

[medburd]

They offer guided trips within disney and it's fun for the whole family if you feel so inclined. From a former Disneyaholic..actualy spent my honey moon in Disney and we went three consecutive years following. To say the fishing can be outstanding in this park is an understatement. My wife and I took a guided trip while we were there and 3 to 6lbers were the norm. Some of my best memories in Disney were fishing there. (psst. a little inside information if you decide to partake in a little fishing on your own in the park...they don't want you too. but usually don't say anything to you if you do. The trick is live bait. Sunfish to be exact. I wasn't having any luck with my artificials the first time I fished the docks around the Grand Floridian so elected to try some trout bait on the local bluegill population, with great luck. The bluegills loved it and the third bluegill I had on was absolutely hammered by a very large bass. The fish broke off when I was working it back to the shore. So I tried my luck again with the bluegill and elected to liveline like a shiner through the back and tossed one close to some cattails along the shore and banged a 6lber..I used this method to nab a couple of more good size fish (4+lbers). Anyway I fished for an hour and a half and it was awesome. I was talking to one of the ferry operators and he asked what I was using for bait when I told him it was bluegill he laughed and said that was the bait of choice for these lakes if your looking for a big fish. Anyway good luck. There is a lake in kissemme that I fished as well one year when i dragged my kayak down there. I was a little freaked out thinking about the gators though. Had pretty good success but nothing like Disney! Good luck.

[houdini]

Disney has concessions that "provide" bass fishing. For that reason, it is verboten to fish OTHER than with the concession guides. I got chased off the canals by a junior employee and opon inquiring, was told that only guide fishing was permissable. They charge about $400 for a FOUR hour "experience" and live bait is extra. AND you may have up to a total of SIX (including you) other anglers in the boat, depending on how many suckers the guide has at the moment.
Go to the Indian/Mosquito Lagoon. Get a guide there who kayacks.

[vinnymackeral]

You just gotta know where to go to fish those canals on disney property. For example if you stay Old key West resort you can fish along those canals; I know for a fact cause thats where I stay when i go there and I fished there many times with no problems. Fish rubber worms slow along the weed edges and hang on. VTM

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

I would say that it is not really worth the time $ and effort to get to the coast to fish in February that far north. Don't forget Florida is over 500 miles long so weather is not all that great that far north.

I would save up a few more bucks and take the wife to Key West for a weekend. It is an easy long weekend trip. My nephew just bought round trip airfare for $179 from Providence.

I am going to Disney Dec 16 for 4 days and I will have to go buy a pair of long pants since currently I don't own any long pants.

www.incognitolighttackle.com

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

From Orlando it is:

It is 250 miles to Haulover in Miami... Slamdance......you were haulin' if it took 45 min.

60 miles to Daytona

206 miles to Ft Laud

400 miles to Key West

108 to St. Pete

84 to Tampa

45 to Titusville

It is 2 hrs to Stuart for some Sailfish.

[dunky]

Thanks for all the replies. we're booked in the wilderness lodge(where ever that is, I'm a Disney virgin) if its not too hot(I'm a fat white guy) I may just end up doing the family thing the entire time and save my fishing time till a more opportune time comes. peace and happy holidays Chris

[Slamdance]

From Orlando it is:

It is 250 miles to Haulover in Miami... Slamdance......you were haulin' if it took 45 min.

The Haulover I was refering to was the channel between Bananna River and Indian River (I think). It was 45 minute to the boat ramp there.

Chris, I think you're fishing my buddy Jon this week. Make sure he doesn't catch anything 'cause I won't be able to listen to him when he gets back. In fact, email me and tell me his numbers, cause he'll probably lie to me anyway.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Wilderness lodge is pretty cool. As a FL resident I buy an annual pass for all the Disney Parks & Universal and get some pretty good discounts certain seasons on their properties. I have been to almost all the resorts. Wilderness lodge is themed as a Northwest US/Rocky Mountain lodge. It is located right at the Magic Kingdom.You can take a boat to Magic Kingdom or busses to anywhere. It is very nice. Disney staff (cast members) are always top notch but a little too happy and corny. I think you have to be a little wacky to work there.

Don't miss the following list: pretty much in order of how I rate the attractions at Disney.

Rockin Roller Coaster at MGM. I go on this at least 5 times in a row.
Tower of Terror at MGM
Star Wars at MGM
Test Track at Epcot
Soarin at Epcot
Mission Space at Epcot
Big Thunder Mtn at Magic Kingdom
Pirates at Magic Kingdom
Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom
Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom
Space Mtn sucks compared to rockin roller coaster.

Animal Kingdom is a good place but it is more for kids,low key and some of the stuff is sort of corny.

If you can go see the Cirque du Soliel at Downtown Disney. My 8, 10, 11, 14 year old neices & nephews loved it.

If your kids are young and under about 50" don't bother going to Universal Islands of Adventure (Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons) because all the good rides have height requirements and they just get disappointed when they can't go on. Universal Studios is better and is more simulator type rides that are more fun. Islands of Adventures is basically like a 6 flags. But the Universal Studios is good. I would spend 1 day there if you have time. The web site gives all the height requirements as does Disney I think.

Disney does a great job of creating a different little world on every ride. The themes are great and the rides are mostly hidden until you get on it, so you mostly can't see what it is until you go for it. The staging and sets are great and the staff acts out the whole thing. Universal is an amusement park.

Depending on crowd you can probably do Magic Kingdom in 1 day, MGM and Epcot in 1 day and 3/4 day to get through Animal Kingdom.

I know that the annual passes usually have blackouts from Dec 18-Jan 2 but they lifted them since the parks are not getting that great attendance so maybe you will luck out. When I was there in August and again in October there were no lines at all. You can get a fastpass with a return time if there are lines. Make sure you check that out if the lines are big.

Make sure you have a very comfy pair of walking sneakers and if you buy a new pair break em in before you go.

If you want to eat dinner at any of the restaurants in the parks you will need to make a reservation..The concierge will do that for you at the Wilderness Lodge.

If you need any more pointers email me.

Capt. Chris Lembo
www.incognitolighttackle.com
incognitocharters@comcast.net

[uncle4]

DON'T miss The Living Seas (Epcot), or ESP. the
restaurant..... good food, great views.

If you're dive-certified, you can leave the family, and
"join" them from the wet side of the tank!

If you can't fish, you'll at least scratch the
itch! <hehehehe>

Remind me some time to tell the story of fishing for
alligators on the Palm course from my room at Shades
of Green.... now THAT was interesting!

Uncle 4

[ppatricelli]

Well, if you DO decide to scratch that salt water itch, the Indian River - Mosquito lagoon fishery for redfish and trout (speckled seatrout) is year 'round and certainly worth a guided day anytime through the winter. If there is a cold spell or a bad wind day your guide will call it off, but you risk that anywhere you ever go to fish. And we're talking sightfishing tailing fish for flyfishing OR hardware. My first day there in Feb 2 years ago caught 6 redfish on fly. Next year in Dec 2 reds and a 32# Black drum on fly. There are resident redfish schools of BIG breeders and the guides know where they are. They may "start" the day sightcasting to 30-40# tailers. They are tough and the first ones to them in the morning have the best shot but it's real heart pounding to see. And so forth.

Oh, and their rates are LOWER than guides anywhere else I have ever fished, INCLUDING THE CAPE. $325-$350 for a full 8 hour day.

So lets see if I've got the options correct. Fishing at Disney = $400 for a 4 hour experience fishing bait you have to pay extra for in a boat with 6-8 other people fishing amid "fantasyland" to catch 4-6 pound hand fed bass versus $325 for an 8 hour day alone in a flats skiff with a knowledgeable light tackle guide fishing for 7- 40# wild redfish or 30-40# black drum or delicious seatrout in beautiful, wide open flats Mosquito Lagoon. Seems like a real easy choice to me!

2 guides I would recommend: Capt. Jon Turcot or Capt. Eric Perez. They have websites and I have tele#'s if you want them.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Steve:

John is fishing with me on Tuesday. I don't know if he planned for it or if the date changes just hit him but next week is fantasy fest. He should have some fun and see things he never imagined.


I am hoping for some Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish in the morning and Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo in the afternoon.

Hit a few sails this morning.

[Slamdance]

He'll fit right in for Fantasy Fest. I saw him today cutting the butts out of all his pants and turning them into chaps.

[vinnymackeral]

I almost forgot capt bruce tippus new symrna beach less than a hour from the house of mouse great fishing cobia grouper snapper anglershideout@aol.com