Budget Salt Trip?

[BS720]

Looking for ideas on a low cost saltwater fly trip. Walkable flats would be nice(and economical). My partner on this trip can afford to fish anywhere in the world, but I think at his skill level, he'd have more fun with maybe a walking guide for half a day and maybe a skiff for half a day or two. He's not going to enjoy the frustration of fishing with a guide very much, unless that guide is ridiculously patient. Any ideas?

[mushmouth]

where are you coming from? if San Fran, then Hawaii may be economical. Direct flights to Honolulu and supposed to be good wadable flats on a certain side. where does that feel it falls in your economical/species/fishability scale?

[cat in january]

Fly to Miami, bus to Naples and then I think you can catch a local bus pretty close, Hitch hike to the Everglades national park. There are 17' aluminum canoes for rent there. Backcountry Permit is the cheapest camping going. Great Fishing!!!!!!!

Edit: Responded more to the title than the post. Mine offering is a dirtbag cheap salt water fly fishing. Still strongly recommend the Everglades.

[BS720]

I'm in SF, he's on the Least Coast. I'll never get Pops to fly across the country to go to HI again, unfortunately.

I totally dig the Everglades idea, but Pops is not going to camp there. I may actually try this with a motorcycle in the Spring.

Shall we say medium budget?

[schwerty]

I did the canoe-camp-fish thing in the Everglades about 15 years ago. It was a damn fine time. The fishing was secondary to just being out there camping and traveling through that, (unfamiliar to us), country. Highly recommend anyone spending a little time there. Quite a diverse and reasonably wild place for Florida!

When are you thinking of going? That could direct your destination. If you're going for the fishing you wanna be there for the On season of the species you are looking to target. The FL keys could be an option. Decent amount of DIY fishing and guides are plentiful during the popular times of year if you want to go that route.

[happytimefunbox]

For cheap walkable flats that you can do yourself checkout the mosquito lagoon east of titusville florida. Lots of access the best fishing can be had from your rental car, shuffle your feet! Reasonable guides abound if you want to go the flats boat route. Redfish, sea trout, snook, black drum. Do a couple days on the flats then charter a boat out of port canaveral for all the offshore goodies. Stay in cocoa beach party on the beach hookers and blow!

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[Hugh Conway]

Florida Keys?

[happytimefunbox]

I did the canoe-camp-fish thing in the Everglades about 15 years ago. It was a damn fine time. The fishing was secondary to just being out there camping and traveling through that, (unfamiliar to us), country. Highly recommend anyone spending a little time there. Quite a diverse and reasonably wild place for Florida!

Or this! Adventure of a lifetime. Done it a couple times with my dad when I was a grom. Had epic close call with a big gator. We navigated by map and compass and got hella lost. It'd be a breeze with GPS. Go in the winter when the skeeters aren't so bad.


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[snapt]

Cancun can be done pretty easily and on the cheap. I have some contacts there for guides if you want. The flats can be good, more boat fishing than wading, but legit shots at bones, perm, baby tarpon, and snook. A fun combo I've done a few times is 2 days of flats fishing out of Cancun and 3 more in San Felipe for poons.

[BS720]

Thinking late Spring or Summer. Pretty flexible, really. I am strongly considering the Bonefish Bonanza from Orvis, with the free Helios 2 thrown in. Pops would really go for that. Could maybe extend the stay a day or two to hit the flats. Thanks for all the suggestions. Belize is looking like a strong contender.

[skifishbum]

my salt experiences have been if ya tell or look for a fishin charter
$$$$
In both fiji and belieze I found a local and a panga willing to get me out to a reef/flats way cheaper
invest or create a strippin basket if surf/shore/flats chuckin.

[plugboots]

Also Texas coast for redfish. Near Port Aransas. I've done it a lot but I'm too busy to search the details. Fly to Houston or Galveston or whatever.

[Mr. Mike]

Florida Keys?

7 nights for me in March of '93. Great trip.

[snapt]

7 nights for me in March of '93. Great trip.

Most competent keys guides are asking close to 700$ a day, plus lunch, these days. Not exactly budget.

[BS720]

Sorry, but one of the things I should have mentioned is that pop's hasn't thrown anything but a 5wt in the 18 months we have been fishing. I am not an expert, but with 130 days in the water, I know better than to be chained to a skiff with a newb for 8 hours with 1-0's.

The TX option is promising, looking at Belize, maybe Everglades, and Reo San Juan if I can swing it with the mrs/immigration.

[plugboots]

It's a long Texas coast, so there's lots of guides. The thing that I forgot to mention since you said budget is that it's mostly a wadeable coast. So is the area near Mosquito Lagoon, BTW. So spend a day with the guide, then remember the spots and drive to them. Also Redfish are waaaay more forgiving than most saltwater fish for a newby. No wading in the everglades. No wading near New Orleans. The do it yourself flats in the keys are very difficult to fish, especially since the spots are so well known.

[topwater]

naples, florida was mentioned. you could just catch a flight to ft. myers, get a hotel nearby and fish the beaches for snook from sanibel to naples in may and june. not classic flats fishing, and wind can dirty up the water making fish hard to spot... but certainly a less expensive option. early mornings at the passes you might run into other species such as jacks, ladyfish, and mackerel. plus it is off-season so things are a bit less crowded.

and no matter where you go, spend some time practicing your casting accuracy to 50'. work on fewer false casts along with the accuracy. it will payoff.

[schwerty]

I forgot to mention.... PM Warthog! Great guy! He will have some first hand beta for FL for you and can surely point you in the right direction.

[STLHD]

Glover's Atoll in Belize is an option. As a caveat, I haven't been there in ten years, but the fishing was pretty good when I stayed there. Not as many fishing options as the Keys, Texas, etc, but Belize has a little more culture to offer than those places, IMO. The bones are not nearly as big, but they're much easier to catch, which sounds like it may work better with your buddy. Also, there's Belikin beer and Marie Sharp's hot sauce.

Here's a link: http://www.glovers.com.bz/

[steved]

Fwiw..maybe cutting out the Helios2...but have good line & reel...can afford you someplace...
I love a great rod as well...but maybe next trip it'll be with you..y/n? Better to visit and have a good idea of someplace...the fish won't care about the rod. Just sayin'.

[warthog]

Wadeable flats all over the place here. Tons of cheap lodging.


If I wanted to do the Everglades, this is how I would do it: http://www.evergladesrodandgun.com/

Not sure about guides or flats, but that is some cheap lodging, and Old Florida.

[teleee]

I forgot to mention.... PM Warthog! Great guy! He will have some first hand beta for FL for you and can surely point you in the right direction.

Just don't have him guide you on an after hours tour of Key West. Unless of course you intend on chumming with your own vomit.

[Mr. Mike]

[QUOTE=Most competent keys guides are asking close to 700$ a day, plus lunch, these days. Not exactly budget. [/QUOTE]

I quoted the wrong post above. My echo was supposed to be on everglades camping trip. In 1993, I could not have afforded a guide anywhere for anything. That reminds me, my 10 year old soob died on the drive home from the 'glades...good times.

[schwerty]

I was thinking of Hook down in key west. Sometime I get the two FL guys handles mixed up. Both should be great resources.