I’ve fished every spot on the skyway, and spearfished below off to the side, climbed on all the rocks, and I’ve seen all kinds of cool stuff there. Happened to witness a massive drum school, and as quickly as my line got wet, they moved away. Sheepshead are tricky but so good to eat, I had the best luck with a spear, they like to go into the rocks and snag line. I caught a ton of kings one night on incoming tide on rod. My husband got a ray on the bridge and that was a challenge to pull up! File fish, box fish and puffers also like to steal bait, and I’ve caught more of those than I can count. Caught the biggest pin fish I’ve ever seen on the bridge in winter and ate good! 😂 it actually filleted nicely. Keep coming back!
Just an FYI. Don't reel in when you hear your drag releasing especially with a spinning reel. It twists the line and can make weak spots and a tangled mess. Also the fish that nearly got your rod probably swam under a rock. Sometimes if you just wait it out it will swim out and you can catch it . Just loosen your drag and sit the rod back down.
The small fish you were catching were grunts very common their I fished the skyway my whole life whenever you do have a set rod make sure you loosen you drag so that way if a fish does take it you will just hear your rod scream then to set the hook just tighten the drag otherwise that fish will pull your rod in the water you got very lucky catching your rod before it disappeared forever loving the channel keep up the great work and maybe one day I’ll catch you out in sanibel one of these days
I have learned that. Even down in Boca Grande we are catching grunts and using them for bait. I have the drag loose but, I guess, definitely not loose enough. I will make it very loose next time. We want to go back up and try again knowing all the new information we received. Have a great day!
@@BeyondFishingFamily another great way when using grunts or large pin fish and mullet is to butterfly them basically filleting the fish backwards but keeping the meat attached to the head and pulling out its back bone
@@BeyondFishingFamily 1 it helps with a sent trail and 2 it’s easy for sharks etc to get the whole fish in its mouth instead of them just biting chunks out of the tail til they finally get to the hook
Quite helpful. We live in sun city center, close to Ruskin. Fished bass tournaments for years, but going to give skyway a try. Something new. Well appreciated.
Hi John, you are right there. I am glad it was helpful to you. If you watch the drone shots you can see where the rocks are. I would situate myself close to them but near the bridge and pylons are great as well. We will also try again there but it will probably be a few months before we get to. After you go out and fish the pier let me know what your experience was like. If you catch something good please post a photo. :-)
I’m a local around tampa and fishing for skyway has lots of fish you can catch. Grouper Spanish mackerel w tarpon etc. To catch grouper, around 6/0 circle should be good with 80lbs leader with a medium size pinfish for Spanish mack small long shank j hook with a thread fin/ greenback
I am waiting to catch my first grouper. We will head back over to Skyway at some point but we have been fishing between St. Augustine and New Smyrna Beach right now.
I have fished all over the country and my top five fishing spots were.. Valdez Alaska the Kenai River in Alaska Homer in Alaska Seward in Alaska and one strip club called the Bush Company 🐠
Videos like this is why I started my website and youtube channel is to help people like him learn how to use their fishing tackle. I mean it's all about having fun to but not fun if your losing fish. The drag on that reel sounds like it was a bit too loose could've tighten a bit more.
When you set your rod on the pier it needs to have loose drag so it doesn't get pulled in when a fish bites. When the fish has your bait tighten the drag so it doesn't take you in a rock or piling
I have tried this but at times they are so quick you will not have time to tighten the drag in time before they take it into the rocks or piling. :-) I go in-between, what I mean is that I will loosen the drag slightly but angle the pole enough to where the top two eyelets are above the rail on the pier or bridge. This seems to work better, for me at least.
4 gold Aberdeen hooks on a 50lb. Mono strand each one tied into 2inch leads off main line with a swivel on top and lock swivel on bottom and a bass cast sinker size varies with current on bottom swivel mackerel love it just jig no bait needed.
Just an fyi as a mod for the same rig cut straws 1-2 inches different colors green yellow white orange etc. Can help target diff fish types and protect the lead lines a bit I make tons of rigs with no hooks on them so i can decide if i want to use straws or not white or mcdonalds striped straws work well for pompano and jacks closer to shore on pier but will also catch trout, cobia, spanish, king, lady fish(good shark and grouper bait) blue runners, and occasionally pick up a flounder. Best of all very cheap set up smaller gold hooks act like a sabiki and catches greenbacks and threads even at night, without worry a spanish will cut off the fly with 50lb. Mono. Use the live bait (greenbacks etc.) 5' down with a bobber or free line if you want and float the line out to the rock piles (if it makes it that far) and grab a nice grouper. If you look closely you will see the dark patches to far to cast too but with a float and current you can make it.
@@terrysimms1790 We saw the dark patches from the drone. I would like to catch a large grouper or cobia. We will be going soon again with a lot more knowledge. I would like to see a photo of the rig you described.. Thanks for all the information.
@@BeyondFishingFamily be happy to make one I'll get one together and show you an example or 2 of what im speaking about. Though not too sure how to get the picture to you without exposing my personal info here but ill figure something out. Not really a social media person
If you don’t have a net I’d say buy a sabiki rig to catch greenbacks(the bait fish),cut it up or throw it out live and you’ll be able to catch mostly everything around the bridge
I have a sabiki rig now and it works most of the time. There are times when it does not or I get catfish on it which is a pain. I was told when I was there to use fish and not shrimp. You live and learn. 😁
Thank you for watching. Renting a Rod/Reel, I would google or just call a bait store and ask. I have rented before but it was a while ago and I do not remember where it was. The Bait shop will also have good bait. For Skyway you want green backs, pins etc.. live. You can use lures and they work but the live bait, in my opinion, is better. I hope that helps.
Thank you for the feedback! There are three things I will try next time, a spoon, free lining pins or Grunts, and float/cork with a pin or Grunt. I tried greenbacks last time and it seemed the smaller fish took those as well. I am trying to figure out how to keep them alive because they seem to die quickly.
@@BeyondFishingFamily - the only way I have found to keep greenbacks alive is with a large bucket and 2 aerators. It's easier if you strap it to a dolly to move it around when it's filled with water.
@@PassivePortfolios The bait cooler I have is pretty good size, but I only have one aerator. That is good to know about the bucket and two aerators. Maybe I will try a bucket next time.
Send those grunts out on outgoing tide, live free line over the rock piles and the gags will rock your world. Lol. Probably won't be able to land a keeper, though. You need the gear and experience to land them......if the dolphins let you. Lol
Thank you for watching. I believe I have the gear now but experience is lacking. We will go again and give it a shot and hopefully, with new knowledge, we will do better. 🙂
@@BeyondFishingFamily 80 to 100 lb class with 80 lb braided line with 80-100 lb test fluorocarbon or monofilament leader No weight, just hook. Watch @Thony He is one of the best on the skyway
@@nicklausb I have 130 braid with 100 lbs top shot. I purchased that for my new Avet Reel and all-roller Shimano pole. I am set.... The next is to see if I can catch anything with it. 🙂. I will watch @Thony. Thank you!
@@BeyondFishingFamily lol Nice! But might be too heavy for that particular spot, because they're sitting wayyyyyyy out over the piles and you have to cast the bait fish way out to get a headstart on the drift. Thony uses a bigger sized spinning outfit. And then backs across the bridge as he's dragging it in to keep from getting rocked up. It's a trip. Good fortune on it.
did you caught anything good? can we sleep overnight in the small RV?I've heard Tampa bay w/ red tide for last 2 years an the fertilizer factory dumping toxic waste has ruined the bay for fishing. it's killed saw grass/ mamals/birds turtles fish all marine life.
You can catch some large fish off of Skyway. We did not because we were trying to use live shrimp and that will never work at Skyway. All the pins and other bait fish will just eat all the shrimp and leave you with nothing. 😁
I believe there are places to camp but cannot pinpoint you to where. There is red tide each year or almost each year and at times it can be bad and other times mild. Fishing during this time is not recommended or good. You cannot predict when it will happen but it is typically in the warmer months. I have not seen it on the Atlanta side, not to say it never happened but I have not seen it yet. I usually see it between the Tampa and Naples areas. That does not help as to when but it is not predictable. I hope that helps.@@steveleston1848
I know what you mean. I have actually pulled in lines that have been cut. There are a lot of lines and rigs that have been lost and you are right it is like spaghetti. It is still fun though. 🙂
@@BeyondFishingFamily i pretty sure it’s for the pier maintenance and such along with fees because if I’m not mistaken you don’t need a fishing license to fish it although I could be mistaken
@@joshpavlik3343 You are supposed to have a license but it is free for Florida residents. Do they check, not really, but someone can come along and check at times. I have had this happen probably 1% of the out of all the times I have been fishing but it can happen. I have even had it where they ask what is in the cooler and not even check the license. It is very random but it also happens when you do not expect it either.
@@BeyondFishingFamily yeah they are quick to do so. As soon as they hit set that hook and walk backwards as you reel. There are a lot of small gags and Goliaths there and they hit hard and go straight for the structure
I hate the Skyway fishing bridge, even the employees know it's a waste of time Tampa Bay has too many problems and too many lines in the water for me to waste another day there!
Hi Krystal, thanks for watching... When we went there were not many people. Maybe it was a fluke but we had space between us and the next fishing. What time did you go? Our issue is that we brought shrimp, which is a bad move with all the small fish eating it all. 😁
@@BeyondFishingFamily 200k people a year fish the Skyway alone when I look at the map at the mouth of the bay it seems like most fish will try to just swim past the bay some might get sucked in during high tied yet not enough to replace the amount of fish that was probably once caught on the skyway. yes there are ways to fish it yet when everyone gets excited over barely legal fish I like to move on. The only keepers I've gotten were black sea bass
@@Krystal_Lynn Hi Krystal, try the pier down at Boca Grande. We have always had good luck there but get there between 4-5pm and then stay. The only issue here is you have to walk through the mangroves and if you do not have long pants on you will get eaten alive. See the Boca Grande Video.
You lucked out meeting the bait guy.
Great source of information. 👍👍👍
You are correct! He was a wealth of information. I just wish I had known these things prior to going. 🙂
This guy is awesome. What an absolute find talking to him. Great share!
Thank you for watching! It is nice when you run into people like this because they have a wealth of information. 😉
That bait guy was super nice! Hope to see him at the pier one day!
Thanks for watching! He was a super nice person with a lot of great information.
thats a good dude .. there are more good people on this planet than bad people. He made the video great and very informative.
He was a great person and very informative.
I’ve fished every spot on the skyway, and spearfished below off to the side, climbed on all the rocks, and I’ve seen all kinds of cool stuff there. Happened to witness a massive drum school, and as quickly as my line got wet, they moved away. Sheepshead are tricky but so good to eat, I had the best luck with a spear, they like to go into the rocks and snag line. I caught a ton of kings one night on incoming tide on rod. My husband got a ray on the bridge and that was a challenge to pull up! File fish, box fish and puffers also like to steal bait, and I’ve caught more of those than I can count. Caught the biggest pin fish I’ve ever seen on the bridge in winter and ate good! 😂 it actually filleted nicely.
Keep coming back!
We will come back. I have known one other person who spear-fished and it is interesting. I would like to try to spear fish someday. 😁
Just an FYI. Don't reel in when you hear your drag releasing especially with a spinning reel. It twists the line and can make weak spots and a tangled mess. Also the fish that nearly got your rod probably swam under a rock. Sometimes if you just wait it out it will swim out and you can catch it . Just loosen your drag and sit the rod back down.
Thank you for the information!
Yep grouper pulled you into the rocks . There are artificial reefs you can see on google maps . When the bridge collapsed they used it .
@@Dasher904 Thank you! You can also see it in the drone footage if the water is clear.
The small fish you were catching were grunts very common their I fished the skyway my whole life whenever you do have a set rod make sure you loosen you drag so that way if a fish does take it you will just hear your rod scream then to set the hook just tighten the drag otherwise that fish will pull your rod in the water you got very lucky catching your rod before it disappeared forever loving the channel keep up the great work and maybe one day I’ll catch you out in sanibel one of these days
I have learned that. Even down in Boca Grande we are catching grunts and using them for bait. I have the drag loose but, I guess, definitely not loose enough. I will make it very loose next time. We want to go back up and try again knowing all the new information we received. Have a great day!
@@BeyondFishingFamily another great way when using grunts or large pin fish and mullet is to butterfly them basically filleting the fish backwards but keeping the meat attached to the head and pulling out its back bone
@@Conrad_97 Curious as to what that does when you butterfly them?
@@BeyondFishingFamily 1 it helps with a sent trail and 2 it’s easy for sharks etc to get the whole fish in its mouth instead of them just biting chunks out of the tail til they finally get to the hook
I am going to the skyway..you by any chance know the best spots?
Wish I was meeting folks like this while I was fishing down there 😂 awesome video
Thank you! I always meet these people but sometimes it just starts with talking with them.🙂
U got lucky and found a good local to help u out ! Kudos
Great info
Quite helpful. We live in sun city center, close to Ruskin. Fished bass tournaments for years, but going to give skyway a try. Something new. Well appreciated.
Hi John, you are right there. I am glad it was helpful to you. If you watch the drone shots you can see where the rocks are. I would situate myself close to them but near the bridge and pylons are great as well. We will also try again there but it will probably be a few months before we get to. After you go out and fish the pier let me know what your experience was like. If you catch something good please post a photo. :-)
I live in Ruskin...let me know if you have any luck!
This guy knows his shit!! Great video
Thank you for watching!
I’m a local around tampa and fishing for skyway has lots of fish you can catch. Grouper Spanish mackerel w tarpon etc. To catch grouper, around 6/0 circle should be good with 80lbs leader with a medium size pinfish for Spanish mack small long shank j hook with a thread fin/ greenback
I am waiting to catch my first grouper. We will head back over to Skyway at some point but we have been fishing between St. Augustine and New Smyrna Beach right now.
I have fished all over the country and my top five fishing spots were.. Valdez Alaska the Kenai River in Alaska Homer in Alaska Seward in Alaska and one strip club called the Bush Company 🐠
Videos like this is why I started my website and youtube channel is to help people like him learn how to use their fishing tackle. I mean it's all about having fun to but not fun if your losing fish. The drag on that reel sounds like it was a bit too loose could've tighten a bit more.
I agree and I have learned that since this video. :-)
When you set your rod on the pier it needs to have loose drag so it doesn't get pulled in when a fish bites. When the fish has your bait tighten the drag so it doesn't take you in a rock or piling
I have tried this but at times they are so quick you will not have time to tighten the drag in time before they take it into the rocks or piling. :-) I go in-between, what I mean is that I will loosen the drag slightly but angle the pole enough to where the top two eyelets are above the rail on the pier or bridge. This seems to work better, for me at least.
4 gold Aberdeen hooks on a 50lb. Mono strand each one tied into 2inch leads off main line with a swivel on top and lock swivel on bottom and a bass cast sinker size varies with current on bottom swivel mackerel love it just jig no bait needed.
Thanks for the info!
Just an fyi as a mod for the same rig cut straws 1-2 inches different colors green yellow white orange etc. Can help target diff fish types and protect the lead lines a bit I make tons of rigs with no hooks on them so i can decide if i want to use straws or not white or mcdonalds striped straws work well for pompano and jacks closer to shore on pier but will also catch trout, cobia, spanish, king, lady fish(good shark and grouper bait) blue runners, and occasionally pick up a flounder. Best of all very cheap set up smaller gold hooks act like a sabiki and catches greenbacks and threads even at night, without worry a spanish will cut off the fly with 50lb. Mono. Use the live bait (greenbacks etc.) 5' down with a bobber or free line if you want and float the line out to the rock piles (if it makes it that far) and grab a nice grouper. If you look closely you will see the dark patches to far to cast too but with a float and current you can make it.
@@terrysimms1790 We saw the dark patches from the drone. I would like to catch a large grouper or cobia. We will be going soon again with a lot more knowledge. I would like to see a photo of the rig you described.. Thanks for all the information.
@@BeyondFishingFamily be happy to make one I'll get one together and show you an example or 2 of what im speaking about. Though not too sure how to get the picture to you without exposing my personal info here but ill figure something out. Not really a social media person
@@terrysimms1790 I will figure it out and let you know. I would like to see the rig.
If you don’t have a net I’d say buy a sabiki rig to catch greenbacks(the bait fish),cut it up or throw it out live and you’ll be able to catch mostly everything around the bridge
I have a sabiki rig now and it works most of the time. There are times when it does not or I get catfish on it which is a pain. I was told when I was there to use fish and not shrimp. You live and learn. 😁
wow whata cool dude
Thanks!
Was the dude that you talked to named Dakota ? We went shark fishing on a Poseidon charter boat !! It was good times .
That name does sound familiar but I do not recall exactly what his name was. He was very helpful.
You got Rocked!
Fisherman are generally the best people. Usually serial killers don't like fishing. Lol
Oh they like fishing alright.
@@totalannihilation9065 oh....do they?
Something a serial killer fisherman would say
Great video!
Thank you!
What kind of rod is the one you put the pinfish on?
that was a 7'6" St Croix rod. I think I spelled that correctly 😁
As a visitor I don’t have a reel/rod and bait. Is there any place I can rent a reel/rod and get some bait?
Thank you for watching. Renting a Rod/Reel, I would google or just call a bait store and ask. I have rented before but it was a while ago and I do not remember where it was. The Bait shop will also have good bait. For Skyway you want green backs, pins etc.. live. You can use lures and they work but the live bait, in my opinion, is better. I hope that helps.
Free line pinfish or grunts near the pilings to catch grouper, and greenbacks for Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper.
Thank you for the feedback! There are three things I will try next time, a spoon, free lining pins or Grunts, and float/cork with a pin or Grunt. I tried greenbacks last time and it seemed the smaller fish took those as well. I am trying to figure out how to keep them alive because they seem to die quickly.
@@BeyondFishingFamily - the only way I have found to keep greenbacks alive is with a large bucket and 2 aerators. It's easier if you strap it to a dolly to move it around when it's filled with water.
@@PassivePortfolios The bait cooler I have is pretty good size, but I only have one aerator. That is good to know about the bucket and two aerators. Maybe I will try a bucket next time.
@@BeyondFishingFamily - use the oversize white buckets with 2 aerators. The standard bucket is too small.
I threw out 3 pinfish rods and dolphins keep ripping them off
Does anyone have any insight on how the shark fishing off the pier is in January?
Great question. I believe it is better on the west side vs the east but I will know after this season.
Tighten your drag bro! Everytime you reel with drag slipping, you put twists in your line, bad news.
Thank you for watching! Thank you for the tip. I have learned that since this video was created. I am always learning something new. :-)
That lady’s been there for ages.
Send those grunts out on outgoing tide, live free line over the rock piles and the gags will rock your world. Lol. Probably won't be able to land a keeper, though. You need the gear and experience to land them......if the dolphins let you. Lol
Thank you for watching. I believe I have the gear now but experience is lacking. We will go again and give it a shot and hopefully, with new knowledge, we will do better. 🙂
@@BeyondFishingFamily 80 to 100 lb class with 80 lb braided line with 80-100 lb test fluorocarbon or monofilament leader
No weight, just hook.
Watch @Thony
He is one of the best on the skyway
@@nicklausb I have 130 braid with 100 lbs top shot. I purchased that for my new Avet Reel and all-roller Shimano pole. I am set.... The next is to see if I can catch anything with it. 🙂. I will watch @Thony. Thank you!
@@BeyondFishingFamily lol
Nice! But might be too heavy for that particular spot, because they're sitting wayyyyyyy out over the piles and you have to cast the bait fish way out to get a headstart on the drift. Thony uses a bigger sized spinning outfit. And then backs across the bridge as he's dragging it in to keep from getting rocked up.
It's a trip. Good fortune on it.
did you caught anything good? can we sleep overnight in the small RV?I've heard Tampa bay w/ red tide for last 2 years an the fertilizer factory dumping toxic waste has ruined the bay for fishing. it's killed saw grass/ mamals/birds turtles fish all marine life.
You can catch some large fish off of Skyway. We did not because we were trying to use live shrimp and that will never work at Skyway. All the pins and other bait fish will just eat all the shrimp and leave you with nothing. 😁
still waiting to hear about the pollution an sleeping in the van?@@BeyondFishingFamily
I believe there are places to camp but cannot pinpoint you to where. There is red tide each year or almost each year and at times it can be bad and other times mild. Fishing during this time is not recommended or good. You cannot predict when it will happen but it is typically in the warmer months. I have not seen it on the Atlanta side, not to say it never happened but I have not seen it yet. I usually see it between the Tampa and Naples areas. That does not help as to when but it is not predictable. I hope that helps.@@steveleston1848
Yooo I've met the cast net guy out there before lol
He is a great guy and has a lot of knowledge on fishing around there.
Next time you fish the skyway bridge, look for a UA-camr named Joshua Taylor from salty scales. He's the man at fishing that bridge.
Broke off fishing lines are like spaghetti out there... a real pain..
I know what you mean. I have actually pulled in lines that have been cut. There are a lot of lines and rigs that have been lost and you are right it is like spaghetti. It is still fun though. 🙂
Tighten your drag dude
12:00 a grouper probably dragged you into the rocks
Thanks for watching. You are probably correct but I will never know for sure. 😁
That lady never says good morning back. Lol
The cost for the pier is 4$ per car and 4 per person per vehicle
That is correct. It was $12 altogether. I am not sure why they count the car separately.
@@BeyondFishingFamily i pretty sure it’s for the pier maintenance and such along with fees because if I’m not mistaken you don’t need a fishing license to fish it although I could be mistaken
@@joshpavlik3343 You are supposed to have a license but it is free for Florida residents. Do they check, not really, but someone can come along and check at times. I have had this happen probably 1% of the out of all the times I have been fishing but it can happen. I have even had it where they ask what is in the cooler and not even check the license. It is very random but it also happens when you do not expect it either.
Trying to reel with a loose drag lol. Small grouper might have taken you in the rocks.
You almost lost your pole at that time also 🤦♂
Thank you for watching! You are correct about all of that. 🙂I have since learned from those interesting moments. 🙂
@7:00
You probably had a gag grouper drag you to the rocks
Maybe, but it was crazy. Do they typically try to drag the line into the rocks?
@@BeyondFishingFamily yeah they are quick to do so. As soon as they hit set that hook and walk backwards as you reel. There are a lot of small gags and Goliaths there and they hit hard and go straight for the structure
@@BeyondFishingFamily also when that tide starts to switch from high to low is when you want to be there.
@@chickenmcpoopy112 Thanks Nick! So when they hit hard would you recommend tightening the drag?
@@chickenmcpoopy112 I agree with you from High to Low. Thank you!
Drop a net near the bottom and when a baait shchool comes pull it up fast . FISH EYES FACE UPWARDS AND WONT SEE THE NET
Almost lost the slammer
Those are always the exciting moments
It 4$ a person and then 4$ for ur car or that’s how it’s been for me
Yes, your are correct. It is $4 per car and $4 per person but we had two people which made it $12 altogether.
googs
I hate the Skyway fishing bridge, even the employees know it's a waste of time Tampa Bay has too many problems and too many lines in the water for me to waste another day there!
Hi Krystal, thanks for watching... When we went there were not many people. Maybe it was a fluke but we had space between us and the next fishing. What time did you go? Our issue is that we brought shrimp, which is a bad move with all the small fish eating it all. 😁
@@BeyondFishingFamily 200k people a year fish the Skyway alone when I look at the map at the mouth of the bay it seems like most fish will try to just swim past the bay some might get sucked in during high tied yet not enough to replace the amount of fish that was probably once caught on the skyway. yes there are ways to fish it yet when everyone gets excited over barely legal fish I like to move on. The only keepers I've gotten were black sea bass
in a boat, I am sure the bay is good yet I do not have a boat so my west coast Florida fishing will not be in the bay ill keep it to the gulf
@@Krystal_Lynn That is a lot of people. I am sure a boat would be better.
@@Krystal_Lynn Hi Krystal, try the pier down at Boca Grande. We have always had good luck there but get there between 4-5pm and then stay. The only issue here is you have to walk through the mangroves and if you do not have long pants on you will get eaten alive. See the Boca Grande Video.
Noob
Lol
That's not busy at all for the Skyway. Also, that lady at the booth is almost always there.
Thank you for watching. I hate to see it when it is busy than 😁. That lady is not very personable 😁