Page 32 - OCL October 2017 Old City Life Magazine

bottom fishermen are various members of the snapper family, triggerfish, grouper and cobia.
Most bottom species have limited seasons and all have daily bag limits, so if you’re new to the sport, a charter trip with one of our local captains pays dividends in knowing what to target
and how to go about it effectively and legally.
Prices for an offshore bottom fishing trip on a local charter boat can range from $60
per person on larger, “head boat” or “party boat” types of vessels, which cater to large groups of fishermen, up to a range of $700- $2,500 per trip on a smaller, more private boat like the J-Hook, Jodie Lynn or Reel Therapy, which typically accommodate 5 to 8 anglers comfortably, providing a more intimate experience.
Local Captains, Bill Hoge and Darryl Lloyd, advise that weekends
are usually more crowded and during the week the larger boats typically have lesser crowds. Prices will vary depending upon the duration of the trip—half day or full day—but the fun you’ll have and the memories you’ll bring home on any given day will be worth every penny. The fresh fish fillets are a nice added bonus.
Trolling is another type of “Deep Sea” fishing we enjoy here off our
Historic First Coast. Like bottom fishing, trolling targets a variety of different species in different conditions, near shore and offshore, but unlike bottom fishing, the trolling angler targets open ocean, migratory, “pelagic” species of fish, by pulling lures and baits
(to mimic swimming bait) behind the
boat.
According to Captain Hadjis, his most
popular target-fish when trolling include mahi-mahi (also known as dolphin or dorado), wahoo, sailfish and tuna.
You can even hook into a big marlin off our coast, particularly in late spring. Pelagics pass through the area seasonally and are targeted accordingly. Again, the experience and knowledge of a local captain or guide is instrumental in learning the basics.
Prices on trolling trips vary like bottom fishing trips, but when split
among several
32 GUEST ADVANTAGE 2017