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Florida Trip Notes
1. Housing is very affordable compared to where I live, and staying a
day with relatives north of Tampa helped in my effort to convince my wife we give Florida a try, but it's not a done deal yet. The only way we'll do it is to rent a house down there for a couple years before we sell our home, so we know we're making the right decision. 2. It's not practical for me to have a boat until I move there. I had planned on chartering a couple (Carolina Skiff 2480 DLX and a Mac 26M) but was too busy doing other things in the 2 weeks I was down there. Mostly canal and bridge fishing, floating on air mattresses in the gulf, and taking my wife shopping - can you believe she kept me waiting an hour while she examined every item in a GD Dollar Store? We have plenty of dollar stores here, so why keep me from fishing, swimming at the beach, or even just watching TV while we're in Florida? Because she can, I guess. Anyway, she made nice about that, and it won't happen again. Sure. 3. Excellent fishing, for us. Nothing big, but every day on the Tampa Skyway north fishing pier was fun, unlike the last couple years. Had one something I couldn't turn finally break my line around a pier leg, another bite my jig off, caught a couple nice mackerels, etc. All but one puffer were lip hooked and easily tossed back healthy. The puffer had to be sent back with a hook in his gut. We saw our share of porpoises, and a large sea turtle made a daily appearance. Couple of polite young men a ways down next to us were fun to talk to, and had been fishing the pier since they were 5 years old. I learned a trick I never thought of myself. When they first set up I soon saw a bucket floating out to sea, then noticed they had their baited rods leaning against the rail unsecured. I made a couple of snide comments to my wife about their experience level, learning once more it's not always smart to make assumptions. The baitshop guy had told me that morning that a fellow at the end of the pier had just lost a $300 rig to a fish when he left it unattended for a moment. Of course I've heard the story many times before, most recently a couple days ago from my dad who told me my BIL had lost dad's best rod/reel off the dock in the canal by a fish taking it. The Tampa fishing piers are the remnants of the old Skyway that met disaster in 1980. Here's a link to pictures of the north pier, where I fish, http://picasaweb.google.com/skywaypi...thPierPictures I've never seen anything like it elsewhere, and if you're down by Tampa, you should check it out. You drive your car, RV, whatever right out into the bay and you can practically fish from your car. In any case it's easy to unload gear, coolers, chairs and start fishing. It might get crowded on some weekends, but we fish there weekdays only, and sometimes you have almost the whole pier to yourself. And it's only 6 bucks for a car with 2 people for 24 hours. Anyway, me and the wife are sitting down, her on the high curb and me on a folding chair, our lines in the water about 12-14 feet below us. Our line of sight 6 feet out from the rails was about the same. A tarpon about 6' long, a 12" mullet sideways in his jaws makes an arc in the air just to the left of us, about 6 feet out. I saw head through tail make the arc, my wife caught the tail end. A really spectacular sight that left our jaws hanging. She said she thought "What's a fish doing on the bridge - there's nobody fishing to our left." The young fellows came over to ask if we saw that, and noted they had never seen a fish jump that high. One of them spent years taking his wheelchair-bound champion tarpon fishing uncle fishing, and never saw a tarpon make such a prodigious jump. From their angle they saw that the tarpon had come up to the rail in its jump, about 15-17' above the water. It was really amazing. Anyway, one kid's (they were probably early 20's) father owned a tackle store, and he could chat gear well. I asked them about leaving their rods loose and they said they never lost a rod because they kept their drags real loose. That's the trick I learned, and for that bridge and a long fishing day it works, and I used it a couple times when the situation dictated it. I always have my drag set when actively fishing, but for a quick trip to the car or when rigging another rod, loosening the drag beats pulling in your bait, or somehow tying the rod off. BTW, the biggest difference in our fishing success was changing bait, from squid/shrimp to jigs, applying soft plastic flutter tails to the hook. And using the outgoing tide, which suspends a 3/8 ounce jig a few feet below the surface, tails fluttering. Next time I'm going to try live baitfish and fish parts too, as the kids said that works best for just about anything there worth catching. Also caught my first tarpon off the boat dock in the canal behind my dad's place. Maybe 24" 4. Florida doesn't like my Lumina's A/C. Last year it quit as soon as I got there. About $130 in an A/C shop fixed it, but that was just evac/freon charge, no leak found. It was good until this summer. My kid found the original compressor leaking, put in a $300 rebuilt from Murrays. A month later the clutch solenoid shorted out. I got a replacement from Murrays, and it worked fine until I got to Florida. I shot 12 ounces in at the pier, and that only held for that morning. Luckily we didn't need it, doing our fishing from sunrise until noon, our shopping in the evening. I think what ****ed me off the most about my wife spending an hour in the dollar store was it was about 1 PM, and it was getting hot. I'm sitting on a bench in the shopping center starting to sweat, watching all the cars come and go, all with working A/C, even the Fords and Chrysler PT Cruisers. And here I am for the second year in a row in Florida with no A/C. I felt like pure chopped liver. I'm actually thinking about breaking my rule about not spending more than $2500 for a car. When I got home my mechanic kid found that the front compressor seal is shot. Friday he'll take it out again and I'm going to try to get a refund from Murrays and get a GM factory compressor. Murrays' rebuilder is crap. 5. I did check out the Punta Gorda Marina, AKA Fisherman's Village Yacht Basin. $16 a foot monthly, electric, water, cable TV/internet included. No yearly or seasonal rates, just monthly, per harbormaster, who gave me a tour of the shore facilities and said I could walk the docks despite the signs about occupants and guests only. The place looks very clean, orderly, and well-managed. I just looked at the website and it says 98 slips, and reduced rates off-season until November 30. That's a reminder to always check the website before making a deal. Wonder what the harbormaster would have said if I brought that up. Saved a hundred bucks with an Enterprise car rental a couple years ago when I invoked the website as the rental agent tried to charge me for unlimited miles. Probably about 15 slips were occupied by various motor boats and a few sailboats. The only life I saw was couple cleaning and oiling teak on a 42' Marine Trader. They're selling it, having cruised it a couple years. Going to an RV to get closer to the grandkids. He gave me a tour and we talked boats for a while. He's boated all his life, mostly sail, and if he gets another boat it will be a sailboat. Showed me a picture of his 32' Catalina yawl. He had engineered the boat from sloop to yawl by installing the aft mast into the Catalina tiller fitting. He explained that even when Catalina 32's are purchased with wheel steering, the tiller post structure is maintained, and using CAD he came up with the yawl. The reason he gave for doing the conversion was the yawl is a better sailer in a mess, and it enabled him and his wife to sail on weekends when he was working, even if they had to beat back home in heavy weather. He sailed out of Hull, MA. First time I was on a "cruising" boat, and it seemed nicely set up. I wasn't too impressed with sleeping arrangements when I saw the V-berth, but as the tour continued he showed me the aft cabin. Wow. Seemed to be about as big as my bedroom, and also had a head. Nice kitchen and dining lounge. The bulkhead forward of the nav table was a built-in control panel that must have had a couple dozen gauges and switches. I asked how you get to the wires and he quickly opened the midships head and unlatched and pulled off a long hatch on the aft bulkhead. There were all the wires, neat as a pin. I asked about the engines and he had twin diesels, but since he really wanted to talk about sailing the conversation went that way, and I didn't get much technical info. We went to the bridge for a bit, but mostly talked about sailing stuff, and my head was already on info overload, so I all I remember is it was big, and intimidating to me. A boat like this must take some getting used to to feel confident about driving it. Even climbing on and off told me that I need some exercise to get back my formerly good balance, as I was REAL slow and careful not to fall in the drink, whereas in the past I would have clambered on and off like a monkey, and if I fell in just considered it a good swim and a laugh. I took my leave on signals that probably came from the wife, who was stuck rubbing oil into teak as her husband loafed with me. They had just listed the 1987 boat with a broker for 143k. So I slowly mosey back to the Fisherman's Village mall, fully expecting to see my wife at the cafe I told her to meet me at when she was done shopping. That had been close to 2 hours ago. I got some iced coffee and nursed it and a couple smokes for at least another 45 minutes before she showed up. There's probably a rule that says something like, "Whatever amount of time your wife says she will shop should be quadrupled and then augmented further by 600% of the total. This will sometimes ensure your wait for her will not exceed 24 hours, or the amount of time the local police require for filing a missing persons report, whichever comes later." Actually, the couple at an adjacent table suggested we both carry cell phones, and I might try that. Hey, I'm not really complaining. She got our main "Florida gifts for family and friends" shopping done in one fell swoop, leaving more time to go fishing. So I'll just shut up and plan my next trip.. --Vic |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:00:27 -0400, HK wrote:
The rest of the state, south of Daytona, is so damned hot and so plagued with natural and manmade disasters, I don't know why anyone owns real estate there. All those millions of people living in south Florida must have found something they like. Maybe the great winter weather, fine boating, world class beaches and fishing might have something to do with it? North of Daytona you still get freezing winter weather on a fairly regular basis. |
Florida Trip Notes
Wayne.B wrote:
On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:00:27 -0400, HK wrote: The rest of the state, south of Daytona, is so damned hot and so plagued with natural and manmade disasters, I don't know why anyone owns real estate there. All those millions of people living in south Florida must have found something they like. Maybe the great winter weather, fine boating, world class beaches and fishing might have something to do with it? North of Daytona you still get freezing winter weather on a fairly regular basis. Oh, I don't mind visiting south Florida during the winter for a vacation or a business trip. In fact, I almost always do. But it's too hot south of Daytona for my living comfort. I lived a bit north of Daytona for more than five years. "Freezing weather" was not that common, but it did happen. We had three seasons: spring from February through mid-April, summer from mid-April through October, and fall from November to sometime in February, but even winter had many bright sunny 70+F days. Also, in northern Florida, we had reasonable looking trees and forests. As for beaches, north Florida has miles and miles of beautiful, unspoiled, practically unwalked upon beaches. Our favorites were at Big Talbot Island State Park and of course just across the St. Augustine Inlet and a bit south. |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
On Tue, 23 Oct 07, Vic Smith wrote:
1. Housing is very affordable compared to where I live, gfretwell wrote: Just be sure you know what taxes and insurance will be. There can be a significant sticker shock when you get that bill. Which taxes? Advalorem? Sales? Estate? Other? IIRC, FL doesn't have an income tax does it? Vic, for comparison, which state do you live in presently? Rick |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Rick |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. |
Florida Trip Notes
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:11:04 -0400, HK wrote:
Might I suggest you investigate the area from Tallahassee south to the gulf, via Route 319. The terrain is hilly, a lot different than most of California, Tallahassee is an interesting small city, there's a big national forest along the way, and when you get down to Panacea, there's good boating and fishing. Thanks. I'll check it out. BTW, where I visited about 40 miles west of Ocala was a bit hilly too. In fact, it was called Beverly Hills (-: I'm not averse to going farther north, and can certainly take all the "cold" Florida can throw at me. I remember you saying there are actual seasons north, and the one thing I don't like about Florida is lack of distinct seasons - at least as I know them. --Vic |
Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:11:04 -0400, HK wrote: Might I suggest you investigate the area from Tallahassee south to the gulf, via Route 319. The terrain is hilly, a lot different than most of California, Tallahassee is an interesting small city, there's a big national forest along the way, and when you get down to Panacea, there's good boating and fishing. Thanks. I'll check it out. BTW, where I visited about 40 miles west of Ocala was a bit hilly too. In fact, it was called Beverly Hills (-: I'm not averse to going farther north, and can certainly take all the "cold" Florida can throw at me. I remember you saying there are actual seasons north, and the one thing I don't like about Florida is lack of distinct seasons - at least as I know them. --Vic Much nicer flora in North Florida, too. |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. |
Florida Trip Notes
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat. |
Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. Don't count on that. When the wind blows, the waves kick up just like big water anywhere else. I don't know how many people die around here every year due to misjudging the weather, but it happens on a fairly regular basis. Bring a serious open water boat unless you're planning on staying in the rivers and bayous. Rick |
Florida Trip Notes
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote:
Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think. I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea. But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson to the gulf side. Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker for me than the heat on the west side. The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too. And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty recollection. --Vic |
Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote: Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think. I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea. But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson to the gulf side. Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker for me than the heat on the west side. The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too. And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty recollection. --Vic The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St. Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon. There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself. Never very many boats in one spot. |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:06:51 -0400, HK wrote:
The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St. Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon. There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself. Never very many boats in one spot. Dammit! I can't be driving all over hell, deciding! But thanks, though I was hoping you wouldn't say that (-: Now I just hope Larry doesn't pipe up, and I have to drive to Charleston too! --Vic |
Florida Trip Notes
"Vic Smith" wrote in message ... On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:06:51 -0400, HK wrote: The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St. Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon. There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself. Never very many boats in one spot. Dammit! I can't be driving all over hell, deciding! But thanks, though I was hoping you wouldn't say that (-: Now I just hope Larry doesn't pipe up, and I have to drive to Charleston too! --Vic If you want world class large mouth bass fishing get on over to the Stick Marsh / Farm 13. |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat. I am sorry, I thought you said you purchased the 17 ft'er so you could fish in the skinny water. Since it isn't a jon boat, what do you call it. |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote: Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think. I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea. But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson to the gulf side. Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker for me than the heat on the west side. The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too. And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty recollection. --Vic The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St. Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon. There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself. Never very many boats in one spot. I thought you preferred the creeks and inlets. I understand the fishing is great for red and flounder. |
Florida Trip Notes
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote: Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat. I am sorry, I thought you said you purchased the 17 ft'er so you could fish in the skinny water. Since it isn't a jon boat, what do you call it. You must have me confused with one of those guys you picked up in the airport men's room. To what 17-footer are you referring? |
Florida Trip Notes
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote: Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think. I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea. But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson to the gulf side. Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker for me than the heat on the west side. The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too. And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty recollection. --Vic The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St. Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon. There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself. Never very many boats in one spot. I thought you preferred the creeks and inlets. I understand the fishing is great for red and flounder. You are making less sense with these posts than usual, and your usual standard is nonsensical. Are you chugging beers? |
Florida Trip Notes
Vic Smith wrote:
you'll find the gulf more often less bumpy than the Atlantic. Not sure the point in comparing one large body of water with another. If you're swamped and drowning, you won't really care how often which body is bumpy. I grew up on the water here and lived here for 60 years. I'm just saying, otherwise competent people come down here on a regular basis and underestimate the Gulf's unpredictable nature, much to their regret. And it happens fairly often, every damn year. I don't know why. Rick |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat. I am sorry, I thought you said you purchased the 17 ft'er so you could fish in the skinny water. Since it isn't a jon boat, what do you call it. You must have me confused with one of those guys you picked up in the airport men's room. To what 17-footer are you referring? I think it was called a SeaPro, it was the boat you had in FL. |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote: Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Reginald P. Smithers III wrote: HK wrote: Vic Smith wrote: On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote: Vic Smith wrote: in Cook county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house gfretwell wrote: we cap tax hikes to 3% for homesteaded residents. hmm.... I think I'll stay put. 1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero. Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though. We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to complain about. Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach. Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by 10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I believe high premiums are here to stay. Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary. I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is. --Vic Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic. Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera. Harry, Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat. Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat. I am sorry, I thought you said you purchased the 17 ft'er so you could fish in the skinny water. Since it isn't a jon boat, what do you call it. You must have me confused with one of those guys you picked up in the airport men's room. To what 17-footer are you referring? I think it was called a SeaPro, it was the boat you had in FL. I had several boats in Florida, including Sea Pros. None was a 17-footer. Wrong again, S.F.B. |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
sudden onset tostitos I'm afraid to even ask...... |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
lid wrote: HK wrote: sudden onset tostitos I'm afraid to even ask...... The short version is that we had a poster here by name of Skipper who claimed to encounter sudden and mighty storms in his 22' Bayliner while cruising in the Gulf of California. Storms with 25-foot waves or some such nonsense, and he was constantly bragging about his seamanship and the seakeeping abilities of his boat. He was sort of like Wayne B. in his braggadocio, but was at times a more entertaining writer. In case you didn't know, Wayne and his floating RV came through the perfect storm in fine order, the perfect storm being 1991 Halloween Nor'easter that hit North America in October 1991, and sank the steel fishing vessel Andrea Gail, who were lost 575 miles at sea. Since then, Wayne has been a really scared skipper, too afraid to run inlets that even 16-foot Carolina Skiffs transit. Forgot...we called Skipper's imaginary storms sudden onset tostitos...because they occurred in Mexican waters. |
Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
we called Skipper's imaginary storms sudden onset tostitos...because they occurred in Mexican waters. I remember Skipper and his Bayliner but I usually skip those long rambling forever threads. I must have missed all that. |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
HK wrote:
sudden onset tostitos PhantMan wrote: I'm afraid to even ask...... "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote: Phant, It is a *******ization of the Tehuano Winds. Oh!! The Winds of Tabasco???? I missed the connection. Must be a regional thing ;-) Thanks, Rick |
Florida Trip Notes
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Florida Trip Notes
"HK" wrote in message . .. lid wrote: HK wrote: sudden onset tostitos PhantMan wrote: I'm afraid to even ask...... "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote: Phant, It is a *******ization of the Tehuano Winds. Oh!! The Winds of Tabasco???? I missed the connection. Must be a regional thing ;-) Thanks, Rick I doubt it refers to the the Tehuano winds. I don't recall that reference in regard to the Sudden Onset Tostitos. I believe the "tostito" usage came about after Skipper mentioned encountering "sudden onset" high winds a few times while claiming to be in the Gulf of California, and some wag here made the Mexican food reference. IIRC, at least once he referred to it as a "sudden, unexpected hurricane". Although he obviously didn't mean that literally, many of us didn't let him off the hook. Eisboch |
Florida Trip Notes
Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message . .. lid wrote: HK wrote: sudden onset tostitos PhantMan wrote: I'm afraid to even ask...... "Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote: Phant, It is a *******ization of the Tehuano Winds. Oh!! The Winds of Tabasco???? I missed the connection. Must be a regional thing ;-) Thanks, Rick I doubt it refers to the the Tehuano winds. I don't recall that reference in regard to the Sudden Onset Tostitos. I believe the "tostito" usage came about after Skipper mentioned encountering "sudden onset" high winds a few times while claiming to be in the Gulf of California, and some wag here made the Mexican food reference. IIRC, at least once he referred to it as a "sudden, unexpected hurricane". Although he obviously didn't mean that literally, many of us didn't let him off the hook. Eisboch That sounds close to what I foggily remember. |
Florida Trip Notes
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