Tampa Bay, Florida, is a fisherman's paradise, with fishing clubs for every skill level, personality and taste. There are clubs for deep-sea fishing, fly fishing, family fishing, bay fishing, clubs that fish for bass, or fish from canoes and kayaks. And the catch is impressive, including Spanish and king mackerel, bluefish, permit, pompano, shark, Jack Crevalle, bonita, tarpon, snook, redfish, grouper, kingfish and of course, bass.
Bass-only Clubs
Tampa Bass-only Clubs are extremely keen on catching largemouth black bass, but some will also weigh in spotted, red eye, sunfish, smallmouth and peacock bass. Florida state statute limits each member's catch to five and under per day. Only bass that are at least 12 inches or more in length can be weighed. When it comes to tournaments among members, dead fish count against participants. Most of the fishing for bass is done in area lakes. Tournament standing, auxiliary awards and final winners for each club's monthly competition are determined by the sum of the points for the total weight of their catch. Clubs like this include the North Tampa Bass Club, the Tampa/Lakeland Outcasts Bass Club and the Tampa Bay Area Bassmasters.
Fly Fishing Clubs
Fly fishing is the only kind of fishing in which the hook that anglers use to catch fish is usually artificial, created with a few feathers, fur, foam or yarn attached by thread. Other types of fishing, the bait is more likely to be alive or dead, like worms or tiny shrimp. Fly fishing uses a special fishing line and a very long rod that can be swung and the lure is piratically weightless. Fly fishing is done in both lakes and salt water. The city of Tampa offers a wide selection of locations for the fly fisherman. There are wading waters, flats, fishing off the shore or a pier, and, of course, using your own boat or a charter. Within the Tampa area, the catch is likely to include reds, trout, snook, shark and tarpon. Two local fly-fishing clubs are the Suncoast Fly Fishers and Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club.
Canoe and Kayak Fishing Clubs
The use of kayaks and canoes to catch fish has grown by leaps and bounds since the early '90s. Although there is still a big demand for center-console outboard motorboats for fishing, using kayaks and canoes has become the next big market for the sport. At first glance, it may not make sense, since kayaks and canoes can easily tip over and the seating isn't that comfortable. Environmentally-oriented fishing fans, though, love the idea of the non-electrical paddles and just the idea of hooking a big fish in a small boat is a real challenge to most fishermen. To fish from a kayak or canoe, you can fly fish, cast or troll. These boats let the fishing party get close to the target before they fly fish or cast. But with trolling, you cast your line behind the boat, with the rod in a holder in the fisherman's hands. Kayak and Canoe clubs in Tampa include Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers Club and the B.A.C.K. Fishing Club, or Bay Area Canoe and Kayak Fishing Club.
Family Fishing Clubs
Fishing trips make ideal family outings, and in Tampa, Florida, there are several fishing clubs that include the wives and children on their trips. Most clubs advise that the best age to teach a child about fishing is age 7. Preferably the boat they will go on should be big enough and kid-friendly, with a large cockpit where kids can hang out. Kids enjoy catching fish, the bigger the better, but they may need an adult's help reeling them in. Tampa's Old Salt Fishing Club has separate fishing tournaments for children and for women. The Golden Triangle Fishing Club is a friendly-family fishing club with two family picnics and a club banquet. Tampa Bay Area Bassmasters is a team/buddy fishing club, and also runs a children's club for kids aged 5 to 17 years old, and the Tampa Bay Boys and Girls Club holds a catch-and-release tournament and a dinner afterwards.
Deep-sea Fishing Clubs
Fishing from a larger boat off the shore is also known as offshore or deep-sea fishing. Most fishermen pay to board charter boats, since the captain needs to know about weather patterns, safety precautions -- in the event of a storm -- and navigation techniques. Personal or club deep-sea fishing boats are big enough to handle open-ocean waves, and the charter prices vary based on the style of fishing. The tackle for deep-sea fishing should be heavy and appropriate to catch fish like marlin, tuna, red snapper and mackerel; the captain can assist you in preparing your lure. The Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club arranges fresh and saltwater fishing trips as does Tampa's Old Salt Fishing Club.
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