Man, when I was a teenager I had a 14' fiberglass flats boat and I used to fish out of Bullfrog Creek, Seabreeze Restaurant (next to the Tampa Shrimp Docks), and the TECO plant frequently. I was fishing on the sand flats in about 8" of water the one day with a buddy when I hooked into the biggest damn snook of my life. I mean this thing was 40+ inches! I was fishing with a Walmart bought medium 6'6" Ugly Stik with a maybe 2000 size Quantum Snapshot reel with cheap 15 lb mono, so I knew that I had to be EXTREMELY gentle with this fish. I fought it for about 40 minutes before I got him up to the boat, my buddy reached down to grab it for me (and he was REALLY flipping out over this fish!) and it broke my line on one last major kick. We were both heartbroken. We didn't say anything to each other on the way back in, we just left immediately. This was over 20 years ago, so we didn't have cell phones to take pictures or anything. We still talk about it all these years later and I live in SW PA now.

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

what a story! thanks for sharing

@Brock_Landers

5 ай бұрын

@@justin_menendez I really didn't think that you'd take the time to read my story, but thank you bud. I miss saltwater fishing so badly. I really hope that I live long enough to move back home someday.

@AndreasChristouSaltwater

4 ай бұрын

That’s so awesome! Sad you guys didn’t get her in the boat but still an awesome memory! Thanks for sharing that with us

Good to see everyone being so gentle with sea trout these days. I know it can be difficult. They are slimy and often pissed off. But they are fragile things.

Nice day. The secret for the year-round Tarpon fishing there is the Tarpon actively feed when the No-see-ums are out. 😂

Been watching your vids since I started fishing and you have inspired me to get a little cheap skiff and get out on the water.. just got registered yesterday can’t wait to get out there and try to have as much fun as you! Keep em coming! 🤙

@AndreasChristouSaltwater

4 ай бұрын

Good luck out there brother! Hope you put some awesome fish in your new skiff!

Roll up cots are great, keep you off the ground and very compact. I’ve island camped and fished everywhere from where your at up the coast to Jacksonville. So fun, great vids Justin

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

yeah lesson learned. thanks for the support!

Got to get in the way back to get the snook. Sweetwater. Northwater. Chevalier Bay That would be closest to where you were without having to go all the way down to Lostmans. Either way fishing the outside in the winter is great. Surprised you didn’t get into the trout more. They were basically in back of you thirty feet in the swift tide. Great video.

@justin_menendez

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! Its just the way I was fishing. If i was blind casting open flats im sure i would have found them a little better. Maybe next time.

My biggest ever snook was out of chokoloskee and 42” and on a different trip my biggest tarpon at an estimated 90-100 lbs. Took all the strength I had to keep the snook out of the mangroves. After the tarpon I was done for the day with sore arms. Both were on artificial. The problem with down there is so much area to cover and so many spots that look good that hold nothing. The fish are spread out. Experience is a huge benefit. That’s why I use a guide down there. I go every year in Oct/Nov.

You should do a Florida key’s series

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

I will be getting a new boat this year and then I will tackle some trips like that!

Nice fishing buddy 👍👍👍.

Love your videos

Hey, if you guys are trying to catch big bluefish, Cape Canaveral has bluefish or 10 pounds and 18 to 16 inch ladyfish

@dylanboucher3974

4 ай бұрын

I meant to say they are 10 pounds

Love your videos Justin, hoping to catch my first fish on the mini mullet tomorrow, keep it up 👏

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

Nice man good luck!

More of these kind of videos! I’m out there on my Gheenoe all the time, can’t beat it

We are literally going to be in Flamingo next week camping. Taking the Gheenoe ✌️

The office reference for the WIN!

1:31 my gheenoe completely beached😂 trip was fun tho man we will have to run this again in the summer for sure 🤙

You need to get a spot lock trolling motor on your new boat 😄

@justin_menendez

4 ай бұрын

Oh new boat will have some cool gadgets for sure! Thanks for the comment.

Looks like Jewell Key? Assuming you headed up the Lopez to get those grouper. Really great area, fish everywhere

Great vid. Just wanted to ask what that rod and reel setup was.

Great video bro

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

appreciate it!

fireeeee

Check out paco pads. They are kinda pricy but they are water proof and roll up nice for this kind of camping. I use mine all the time for boat ramp camping in my roof top tent. Tight lines brotha🤙🏼

What dates were you there? My buddies and I were just down there this past week fishing the communication towers off shore. Did a little bit of inshore fishing but not much.

Hi Justin, u have helped me a lot with fishing but I have a question. What is the best all around color for NLBN

@scottmichael3745

Ай бұрын

Probably the slam shady. It's like an off white. Good luck!

will using that technique work in 20ft+ water

What reel are you using & what size?

“Very cold” lmao

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

50 degrees is fairly cold to sleep in!

@connerlouis7701

5 ай бұрын

@@justin_menendez lol just giving you shit. That shallow water grouper fishing is a blast man

Didn’t you get a free boat or was that some one else ? Or you just using the gheenoe for mobility? Just curious , love your videos

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

I did have a partnership with a boat builder for a year but that was a few years back!

what leader knots do you use to connect on your braid line?

@scottmichael3745

Ай бұрын

Double uni. Much easier than the FG knot and been working great for over 10 years.

I wish I could live somewhere warm I am not even joking I just built an igloo😂

@scottmichael3745

Ай бұрын

I'm a Florida native and just got back from a 2 week trip in Alaska. No WAY I could survive an Alaska winter! 😮 Too dang cold up there!

What’s up buddy love your content

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

An air mattress can transfer a lot of cold so don't use that instead of a sleeping bag. Cots are much better.

you can get inflatable sleeping pads as well which will help :)

@justin_menendez

4 ай бұрын

Yes definitely for next time!

Good 😊

What part of Florida is this

👍

Jealous when you catch all these fish and all my spots are full of lady fish😭

@scottmichael3745

Ай бұрын

Lady fish are good bait! Use little ones whole and chunk the bigger ones. Good luck!

I'm a little stitious myself. I think it comes with being a fisherman.

What’s the next boat?

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

top secret

Yoga mat. Not an air mattress

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

yes!

not a good video for NLBN promotion

@justin_menendez

5 ай бұрын

How?