Making Clever Fishing Choices

by Captain Hank Valencia

Cruising for Fish on Florida’s West Coast

I recently marked my sixth year as a full-time fishing charter captain and fishing guide. I'm starting to feel nostalgic about all the seasons I've spent looking for fish in the sea and other nearby waters that I get to explore with Deep Color Fishing here in my area of St Petersburg, Florida. Saltwater fishing and deep sea fishing have always been a passion of mine, especially after experiencing the beauty and fun of a variety of fishing since I was a young boy. I recall all the times in my youth I spent in the water, whether it was a relaxing day spent with my parents or if I was competing in fishing tournaments during my teen years until I was a young adult. After all these years, my love and passion for fishing are still with me. I believe it’s ingrained in me forever because I always missed the ocean while moving around and living in different states. I eventually decided to chase my dream, settled in the Fishing Capital of the World, and became a fishing guide. Now I’m blessed that I spend every day being out in the ocean, sharing my knowledge and love for fishing with others, and living the life of someone who truly is meant to be in the water.

The reason why I prefer saltwater fishing is because of the diversity and challenge it provides. The saltwater fish that I find in places I frequent, like the Gulf Coast and Key West, are all exciting to target because all those fish pose different challenges when it comes to finding, luring, and landing them. My favorite fish species are the ones that are the coolest, funniest, and most prevalent at the time. The key is to know the peak times and seasons for the fish you want biting at your bait or lure. 

As I’m sharing my thoughts with you right now, summer has made its way well into Florida. The summer heat lets me experience some of the best gag grouper fishing. It’s also a great time to target huge breeder snook because they’re aggressively smacking on big live bait on the reefs. This time of the year is also terrific if you’re hungry for fish. You can catch smaller fish like Key West white grunt and red snapper, which you can cook into tasty dishes ensuring everybody has delicious table fare. When fall approaches, and it gets cooler around October, larger fish like kingfish will return to the local waters. Winter fishing here in Florida is also fantastic because there are plenty of sheepshead and snappers to go around. In the spring, you can bet there are countless other species to be excited about. Florida pompano will be cruising along the beaches, and southern flounder will gather near the sandy shores and reefs. You can also find lots of sea trout and tripletail in the spring waters. It’s no wonder Florida provides the best fishing on Earth, you’ll never run out of game fish species to chase in whichever season you choose to visit, and I love it all! Those who book with Deep Color Fishing will also have the chance to have their hook bitten and the fishing line pulled by some of these thrilling targets.

My fishing charter is family-owned, so I like going on fishing trips with families and kids. One of the benefits of having this as my job is that I get to create and cultivate fun memories with my clients while teaching them how to become better anglers. Catching fish can be done alone, but there’s nothing like sharing the experience with other people because undergoing failures and successes leave you with memorable stories that you’ll fondly look back on and talk about. As a fishing guide, there are too many fishing trips to choose from as my favorite. But I can recall an experience before I was a captain. I went out with my best friend for the first time in an area where we couldn’t see land. We took my boat and went around 26 miles out into the water. The furthest I’ve gone before that was 10 miles out. We hooked a massive blackfin tuna, and the reel busted in the middle of us, fighting to get it. We got another rod and somehow tied the lines together without losing the fish. Mind you, this was the first tuna either of us had hooked. Anyways, the second rod and reel ended up being too full with the line, and we had to pull in the fish by hand - luckily, it worked! Until today, that experience with my best friend is indulgently reminisced by both of us, and I’m amazed and proud of our ingenuity and dedication to catching that big fish! If you book your next fishing trip with Deep Color Fishing, my crew and I will make sure you can also experience catching your legendary fish of a lifetime, just like I did with my best friend!

Since I’ve been saying how wonderful Florida is as a fishing destination, it doesn’t escape my mind that we also need to be smart and careful about how we behave and treat our natural environment and resources. As an avid angler, the fact that fishing can be harmful to the environment isn’t lost on me. So as far as conservation goes, I help by netting and cleaning out dead fish after a red tide. It’s important to get rid of the dead fish because the toxic algal bloom caused by the red tide seeps into the fish, and it can cause respiratory problems in humans when the toxins become airborne. Cleaning the beaches is also important to preserve the beauty of our area in southwest Florida. I want to maintain the magnificent fishing in this place, especially after I’ve been navigating the waters here for years.

Next time you’re around St. Petersburg or Madeira Beach, consider booking a fishing trip with me and Deep Color Fishing. My crew and I will take you to some of southwest Florida's most beautiful fishing spots! To learn more about us, please visit our website and Facebook page.