looking for good fishing boat out of St Augustine

[stormrunner]

Hey guys Im going to St Augustine for the first time in about 3-4 days. Anyone know of a good hotel near old town and I would like to take my son fishing either on a drift boat or in a skiff for some reds. Thanks any info would be greatly appreciated ..

[budman]

I have never fished the boats there, but have heard good reports. There are motels near the marina. You may want to call ahead.

[stormrunner]

hey Budman: just got back and got your message You are right there are several motels by the marina. We took out a full day driftboat called the SeaLove- really good boat but you MUST bring your own tackle if you go. The rods and reels they give you are the worst you can imagine. The boat went out about 25 Mile to some wrecks and the catch was made up of: amberjacks,jack Crevelles, true red snappers, vermillions,trigger fish, grouper, african pompano....

[budman]

glad you had a good time, I'm gonna have to try that boat one day. What size tackle did you use?

[stormrunner]

I used what the boat supplied. They gave us 4 1/2 ft dead sticks with old Penn longbeach reels that are 1 to 1 retrieve. The reels were 1/2 filled with 60lb. They had 80 or 100 lb short leaders with a large rusty J hook. Most of the guides on the rods were broken off or held on with electric tape. If you go on that boat make sure you bring your own rods. A 30lb rod with a nice long 50lb leader and a circle hood would slay some fish. They put you over fish but the tackle is sooo bad that they dont catch all the fish they could with lighter gear and better reels. I saw one reel fall off a rod and another reel get the gears stripped while pulling up a fish and they had to hand line the fish to the boat. well good luck if you go>>>

[WatchTheRodBend]

ya i went on it a while back and on the way in the boat broke down we were pulling up 2 the dock tho like the whole 1 mile in there was a beeping noise

[Itchey]

I used to fish the Sea Love many many years go...In fact used to build and repair their rods in exchange for trips. Well I'll be the first to say I understand the operators going from Senator 4/0's (which they used to use) to Long beachs..It's cost and the people who come on the boat simply abuse the heck out of everything. Not all but a lot of them.

I of course always brought my own rods reels and tackle and having fished other boats would always reccomend it for anyone that is going to do that sort of thing on a consistant basis. The rental or freebie rods and reels are just an expensive investment for the boat and to watch them go over the side, get thrown in lockers or the cabins by mates, stepped on, and god knows what else day in and day out must be really tough.

I prefer a 6' stout rod with either 60-80 lb test. You have to be able to literally winch the fish because if you use light line then you are going to just get tangled up with the other people on the boat and likely cut off. Although a 6/0 is heavier, It retireves faster and I prefer it to the 4/0.

Just my opinion and like A** H***s everyone has one!

Tight Lines