Posted: 7/11/2017 5:05:31 PM EDT
So the family and I were on vacation for a few weeks in FL and I was treating myself to some a fishing trip while down there. I figure if the kids get all the Disney parks I should get something too.  I have never been saltwater/brackish water fishing before and wanted to try it. I posted a help thread in the FL HTF. Those folks in there are great and gave me some good info. I didn't know it but it turns out that one of our own members here runs a charter. I was given his company info by another member and I gave him a call. I had my trip set and was ready to fish.
With his permission of course: Slug-O is Capt. Leon Dana and runs his own business Prime Time Fishing Charters I went out with him to catch some stuff to take home and eat to which he was more than willing to help me do. We were fishing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Jacksonville FL. Slug-O is a great guy and is very friendly and runs a great boat and service. I cannot say enough good things about him. 
We caught 3 red fish, a flounder, and a couple of smaller mangrove snappers. I was legally only allowed to keep 2 of red fish that day. 
I went out with him for approx 6 hours and had a blast. I love fishing and was so happy about this trip. Slug-O was very willing to teach me about this style of fishing as up to this point I had only done lake freshwater up here in the north. I was so happy that I asked if he would let me know if he had any more openings in the next week so I could go again. He had a date open and I made it work. This time we were going to go for Bull Red fish. Slug-O found the right spot pretty quick and we had great success within the next 4 hours. This is literally the best fishing I have ever done and the most fun I have had doing it. Unfortunately you cannot keep any of the red fish over 26 inches so all these had to be released. 
Needless to say it was fun and at the end very tiring. Those fish fight a lot and pulling 4 of them out in a 4 hour period of time really is taxing but I would do it again if given the chance. My wife and I are discussing a trip of just me and her going down and fishing with PTC and leaving the kids home. Probably sometime in spring of next year if all works out. So if you are interested in a great time fishing while in FL look up PTC and Capt. Leon Dana and you will not be sorry. He also knows a gentleman down there that does the recreated taxidermy. I am thinking of saving up and having one of the big ones done for me. I think it would look awesome on my wall. |
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I'm not a fisherman so forgive the dumb questions. On your second day out you caught 4 big fish but couldn't keep them. Is that correct? If they had been smaller you could have kept them? Is this a conservation thing? |
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Redfish pull like a damned tractor, don't they? 
Looks like a great day on the water. I need to get back out soon. |
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Slug-O is good people. 
 My friend Slug-O doing beta dumps 
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I'll be down at disney next winter, how far away is he from there? We'll be staying at my in laws and their place is only 10 minutes from disney. I'll see if I can sneak out for a trip, doesn't matter what for, I love all fishing Quoted:
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Do it...  I'll see if I can sneak out for a trip, doesn't matter what for, I love all fishing I-4 towards Daytona I-95 towards Jacksonville |
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I haven't yet. I will probably do one blackened and the other grilled with some basic seasoning. Quoted:
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How are you going to cook the fish up, or have you already? 
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I have a lot of respect for charter guys like Slugo. Just taking friends and family out fishing around here can test my patience. If I ever get sucked into a Disney trip I'll definitely look him up. I had a couple of casts get away from me and was able to salvage one from getting stuck on a bridge. 
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I'm sure he got frustrated with me on occasion. I am an ok fisherman but we don't have giant piers, coral, and as much other stuff to get snagged on. I had a couple of casts get away from me and was able to salvage one from getting stuck on a bridge. |
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I haven't yet. I will probably do one blackened and the other grilled with some basic seasoning. Quoted:
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How are you going to cook the fish up, or have you already?
If you've got a small piece to experiment with while you're blackening, try coating one with Montreal steak seasoning, and dabbing a little butter on top when it is 90% done. That's how I do all mine. On a super hot flat cast iron skillet, outside of course. |
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He knows how to burn up a gas tube too.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VeJy-4AhjE
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b96/leondana/bottershoot-2.jpg I am 99% sure I bought that same beater upper from Slug-o and I same dam thing to it. Mag dumps and melting gas tubes. |
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18-27in is the limit. Quoted:
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Yes. Anything over 26 inches and they consider them to be in prime breeding size. They want more Red fish to grow the population after overfishing for so many years Awesome fish O.P. , glad you had a good time in my home town. |