Florida road trip

[J.A. Veil]

I returned home yesterday from a very enjoyable three-week fishing trip in Florida. Photos of just a few of the many fish I caught are shown below.

Here is a statistical summary of the trip:
• 21 total days
• 18 days in a row that I fished (mostly from kayaks)
• 9 charter trips with kayak guides
• 3,235 miles driven
• 244 fish caught
• 35 species of fish caught (fish in 5 species were 30” or above; another 5 species had fish between 21” and 27”)
• 4 new species caught (barramundi, slippery dick, Sergeant major, Gulf toadfish).

On each day, I kept notes of my fishing activities. After arriving home, I compiled these notes into a single trip report. Although it is 57 pages long, much of that is colorful photos, making it a quick and easy read.

I posted the report on Google Docs. You can go to this link https://drive.google.com/.../1BlcCiWCALFzVrqRGyUJ.../view... and click on the file for the trip report. Then it can be downloaded. If you are uncomfortable about downloading from Google Docs, please write to me at john@veilenvironmental.com and provide your email address. I can send a copy to you that way.
I hope you enjoy the stories.

Feel free to share this with others who may enjoy the adventure.

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slippery dick 1.jpg

bonnethead 2.jpg

mayan cichlid.jpg

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[dsaavedra]

Great report John, I love the detail. Needless to say I am envious of your trip (in a good way)! Sounds like you had an amazing time and congratulations on exceeding your goal of 70 species this year.

[Jigsup]

Way to go!
I will say being able to fish 18 days in a row out of 21 days is a blessing in itself. Sounds like everything was in line for a spectacular trip! Beautiful fish also. Other than the bony fish, were you able to taste the others?

[J.A. Veil]

Way to go!
I will say being able to fish 18 days in a row out of 21 days is a blessing in itself. Sounds like everything was in line for a spectacular trip! Beautiful fish also. Other than the bony fish, were you able to taste the others?

I keep very few fish throughout the year. I kept none for the table on this trip. Lots of safe releases. Regarding fishing 18 days in a row, it took some will power to get out there on some of the days when the wind and low water made for a probable slow day. But when I am away from home on a fishing trip, I would rather get beat up in the wind and catch a few fish than sit in the hotel and not fish.

[Mark]

Wonderful trip for you John and very well documented in the report you linked.

I admire your tenacity.

[Magothyman]

Very nice report, J.! Totally impressed and jealous! But it gave me some ideas for my next Southern trip which I’ll discuss with you off-line. Thanks for sharing with everyone—
Magothyman (Al)

[J. Rentch]

John,
Congrats on your latest venture. i know how you enjoy fishing the Florida waters. Hope ‘23 will be as good or better as ‘22!

[tarponguy]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and thanks for sharing it with us. Congratulations and Merry Christmas to you and family!