Needed once in a lifetime fishing trip

[Duayne]

Staying within your budget at that time of the year I would take a charter out of a right side Florida port and go trolling for kingfish, wahoo and phins (mahi mahi). You have not caught a real fish till you feel a king or wahoo make a run, it's like trying to reel in a souped up wildcat.

I had a King ski my butt all the way from the back of the boat to the bow. We've had some take us around the boat three times. That's the beauty of finding the right place in FL. You can fish for tarpon, reds, trout, kings, wahoo, mahi mahi, spanish, blues, snapper, grouper and all kinds of other things all from the same spot. It can be flats one day, the river the next, the bay the next and off shore the next.

I will say that the LSC option is a great one as well. Some place you can drive to in a day will help with the budget..

[publican57]

Sabourin Lake in Canada is a fly in trip. I saw it on Babe Winkleman fishing show. The website is www.sabourinlake.com. That looks like a once in a lifetime trip that would be fun. They were catching a lot of walleye and some large pike.

[timmbur22]

Wow, these are ALL great ideas! If I couldn't afford to go to Alaska, I would definitely consider Montana/Idaho, Canada, Florida, Maine and maybe even The Outer Banks of N. Carolina. I have talked with the folks from Zups in Canada myself, and like what they have to offer. I would also love Quetico/Boundary Waters, but it's not for everybody. The Florida Keys is fantastic, but if money is a big concern, then I have personally found that St. George Island is hard to beat. Very cheap and the fishing is often very good. Lots of fishing options in this area and a underrated place in my opinion.

I stay at a rental house there that might just be the best bang for the buck of anywhere I know of. Perfect for two people. Contact me if you are interested in St. George and/or the rental home. I'm very familiar with the area.

[email protected]

[Longdrive]

Four grand, that should be plenty for a week of fishing with your son. You said guided experience, and not much else, so type of fishing, and where you sleep each night, not to mention travel times seem pretty much up in the air.

Option #1
Fly out west, rent an RV, have local guides pick you up row you down the river drop you off at your riverside camp each day=trout fishing

Option #2
Drive to the coast, stay in motels, have your guides meet you at the marina/dock fish for whatever they tell you is biting that day

Option #3
Pick a famous fishery, Lake St. Clair, some lake in Mexico, KY or Barkley, the Colorado river; Find a guide service, let them know that you want to try and learn it in a weeks time.

Option #4
Ask you son what you guys could do together that would be awesome. If it were me I would want to fish every day, but unless you are packing into the back country, fishing only might eliminate a hike or horse packing trip. With four grand to burn maybe you could mix in a gator hunt or something, but if you want this to be the best trip ever, plan it together

[flyfish]

You should check out Belize. There are many fish camps you can go to where it's all inclusive. Guided fishing everyday and food for 4 days for $1200 per person.

[KyTrkyHntr]

You should check out Belize. There are many fish camps you can go to where it's all inclusive. Guided fishing everyday and food for 4 days for $1200 per person.

Boom!

[downtime]

El Salto x10!!!!!

[artcarney_agr]

I had a King ski my butt all the way from the back of the boat to the bow. We've had some take us around the boat three times.

One of the party boats that I went on out of Islamorada - you could fish off the sides like usual for bottom fish, or you could opt. to fish off of the back. They have chum blocks they drop off of the back for kings. When you fish off the back of the boat, you don't use the big baitcasters and heavy weights...instead you are handed a large spinning rod with a hook, and no weight. You would put a ballyhoo on, cast it over the side, and see what bites! It's kind of cool because you can usually see the fish - you cast that bait out there, let it sink a few seconds, and then you see a streak of lightning underwater, then set the hook and hang on! It's crazy! Fishing from the back doesn't mean big numbers, but it means big fish! Well worth the $50! We did this twice as we finally got bored of fishing for grouper and snapper.

Here are details on the party boat I'm talking about:
http://www.robbies.com/partyboat.htm
$35 per person for a 4 hour trip, plus $3 rod rental, plus tip, add that up and it's basically $50, which is a steal for what you get!

There is another party boat down there nearby, called the Miss Islamorada - avoid it if possible, as it was not that great. We fished the Capt. Michael 3 times, and the Miss Islamorada Lady once. The Miss Islamorada did not have a very fun crew, and they didn't work too hard to get us on fish...the Capt. Michael was a far better experience and a lot more fun.

As for off-shore, we went with this guy:
http://www.suzannefishingcharters.com/
We went out one day for sailfish, landed one and lost another - weather made it tough that day for sails. Went out for a second day to try something a little different and to load the cooler - went after the blackfin tuna - caught several of those, along with a few small mahi mahi, and towards the end of the day we loaded the cooler with cero (like a kingfish). That made for some REAL good eating! John was an excellent capt. with a lot of experience in the area - I was thoroughly impressed by him!
Full day is $875 - add in tip for the mate and it's pretty much right at $1,000 per day total.
Keep in mind that a full day charter is for up to 6 people, so if you can find some folks to split the charter, it would make it cheaper.

[Duayne]

One of the party boats that I went on out of Islamorada - you could fish off the sides like usual for bottom fish, or you could opt. to fish off of the back. They have chum blocks they drop off of the back for kings. When you fish off the back of the boat, you don't use the big baitcasters and heavy weights...instead you are handed a large spinning rod with a hook, and no weight. You would put a ballyhoo on, cast it over the side, and see what bites! It's kind of cool because you can usually see the fish - you cast that bait out there, let it sink a few seconds, and then you see a streak of lightning underwater, then set the hook and hang on! It's crazy! Fishing from the back doesn't mean big numbers, but it means big fish! Well worth the $50! We did this twice as we finally got bored of fishing for grouper and snapper.

That's some great info! A very inexpensive way to hook into a wild ride. I can't imagine how you guys managed to keep the fish behind the boat. We fished for them pretty much the same way only Charlie uses bait fish as chum. He'd throw a few handfulls out. He called it King candy. Everyone would have to bring their lines up and be ready to clear out of the way when we hooked one. I first thought the one that skied me up the boat was a shark. I spotted a huge shark and cast out in front of it. Two seconds later I was getting pulled up the boat. Turned out to be another huge king.