Fishing Charts by Saltwater Directions

McGillicuddy · #1 03-17-2008, 11:51 PM

Anyone familiar with the fishing charts by Saltwater Directions. I got some from my sister who is trying to convince me to come remodel her home for a few weeks around mid Sep. I think they cover most of Gulf side of FL, at least from Chokoloskee up to Cedar Key or so... Are they a good starting point get to know these areas?

NoBones · #2 03-18-2008, 10:13 AM

From my experience Water Proof Charts has the best for Florida..

See ya, Ken

wavelength · #3 03-18-2008, 06:49 PM

If your going to be pressed for time and want to hire a guide check out Florida Guides Association website.

76Red18 · #4 03-18-2008, 08:30 PM

Waterproof Charts are the most reliable in S.W. Florida area although most of the natives will tell ya we navigate with bird legs. If you can see the knees of the wadeing birds ya can't make it

McGillicuddy · #5 03-20-2008, 02:13 PM

That's good logic Red, some of that skinny water could be a problem for a fool like me comin' in gung ho from deeper waters to hook a snook. I think I've seen the Waterproof Charts, laminated like big place mats, I think, unfortunately I have SW Directions brand. I suppose they're all based on NOAA charts, just a matter of if fishing info is accurate or not...

76Red18 · #6 03-20-2008, 02:41 PM

Waterproof charts is based in Punta Gorda, Fl. which is local. The fellow that owns the place keeps the locals well imformed with very up to date data. Most of our channels are well marked. Alot of the popular out of channel areas are idle zones anyway because of that dang Florida native West Indian Manatee

wavelength · #7 03-20-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Waterproof Charts are the most reliable in S.W. Florida area although most of the natives will tell ya we navigate with bird legs. If you can see the knees of the wadeing birds ya can't make it

Around here we use blue crab traps since they are 2 feet tall.

McGillicuddy · #8 03-20-2008, 05:47 PM

That's classic guys.

Last spring I was up in JAX visiting sister and went over to Guana River to fish from the curb where I met some locals who fish the lake above the dam or flow regulator. On the inpoundment side, there are gators all over. On the tidal side, none. These guy fish on gator side for blue crabs by hanging chicken drumsticks on strings strung between two stakes in about 3-4 feet of water. When the crabs find the chicken the string starts moving and the guys wade in with a net to get the crabs. So I'm sitting trying to catch a redfish or trout by poppin' some shrimp while keeping an eye on a pair of sunning 6 foot gators. A couple of locals set up between me an the gators. They ask me to keep an eye on the gators while they set their lines. Sure thing. They wade out, pound in their stakes and hang the yardbird. They start heading in and I pop up "hey, guys the gator's movin toward you!"
They turn to look and start stumbling in a more hurried way back to shore. I see is the string moving a little bit and let them know. Within seconds all of the lines are moving and the stakes are getting pulled under. A few minutes later one of the gators pop up 15 yards in front of me, apparently wanting more chicken... I reeled in my shrimp and went downstream. And I thought the Chesapeake boys were crazy 'bout their blue crabs

BigLew · #9 03-20-2008, 10:08 PM

I saw a slight variation of that crabbing technique one time in South Carolina. Instead of going out with a net and netting the crabs, the fishermen simply started to draw in the line with the chicken bones back in through the crossed braces and had placed a box just below where the line hung over the braces. The crabs would hang onto the chicken until they reached the braces and would then release their grip and drop into the catch box. I was impressed, but of course, close by gators change the whole scenario!!