Florida Road Trip 2013

[MuskieBait]

Rod: Tsunami Inshore Kayak Travel Rod
- 7', 3-piece, H, 15-25lb, 3/4-2oz (but I was casting 4oz + bait with this rod).

Reel: Shimano Baitrunner 4500
- 300yds of 50lb braid main line, 30yds of 60lb mono leader, 8 feet of 150lb rub leader, 2 feet of 135lb wire

Bridge was 15-20 feet from the water. We only have one rope and you really only need one rope, either to rope the tail or rope the front like we did. Nurse shark is not very dangerous so we can rope the front...but tooth sharks we would definitely rope the tail.

We considered the flight option in the past...but driving was still the cheaper option. The cost for gas for the return trip (from Toronto to Tampa) was about $460 (or $230pp). We calculated it would cost at least $500pp if we fly then rent a car for 2 week ($350 flight + $150 car rental).

The other thing that people don't consider is the gear issue. When you fly, you are limited to how many rods, reel and tackle you can take due to luggage restrictions. Some airlines charges $15 for 1st luggage and $25 for 2nd luggage. Reels with braid is considered a choking hazard and line and reels have to be checked into luggage. Rods too long for overhead compartment (most airlines do not allow rods as carry on now) will have to go into checked luggage too. Each piece of checked luggage has a 50lb weight restriction (if the airline is generous...some limits you to 40lbs only).

For just myself, I brought 10 rods and 8 reels for the trip (only spinning and conventional gear). My saltwater tackle bag weights 30lbs alone at the start of the trip when I was full geared. That is not even considering all the misc. gear like rope for landing sharks, Rope for general use, bucket for bait and handwashing, bubbler, cutting board and knife for bait, pier net, regular net, PVC pipe as rod holders...etc, etc, etc. There is no way you can bring all of that on the airplane...which means you have to purchase much of that at your fishing location and you likely will not bring all of it back with you after. It adds to the cost (purchase, use and giveaway) and waste your time having to go shopping for everything (time wasted is money).

So in short...that's why we decided to drive instead of fly to Florida.