Rainbow River, FL?

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   habeeposted 11 years ago

   Anyone been diving, fishing, snorkeling, or tubing on the Rainbow near Dunnellon? It looks gorgeous in the pics and videos I've seen! We're thinking of renting a house there for a family/friends vacay. What kinds of fish can you catch?

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   Pearldiverposted 11 years ago

   Nope...
   
   But if you want some real fish and fishing... come down and see me, some time...
   
   A 24lb Brown Trout was weighed in a couple of weeks ago by Barry the one legged axeman... and we regularly have the odd old trout looking to hook up with a real angler, dependent of course on the size of his bait! 
   
   And for Saltwater fishing locally...
   
   
   
   22 lb Red Snapper
   
   
   
   
   23 lb Red Snapper
   
   We don't have catfish here... just dogfish! 

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      habeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Do you have flounder and redfish? Flounder is awesomely delish!

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         Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         We net and spear flounder on the incoming tides in estuaries, rivers and harbors... You need a spear, because of their size and the dangerous nature of them... not like your tame corn kernel fed variety!  More like halibut on steroids!     Sometimes only a lead spinner is the right lure to dispatch them! 
         
         I don't know what your redfish are... but we have a few red, green, blue, pink, silver and even fluro colored fish here... all sorts... we are just islands after all, so we are surrounded by ocean and from the relatively unexplored Southern Ocean.. we often get Giant Squid and humongous penguins...
         
         But often it's too hard to find anyone prepared to take you fishing for them, not just because penguins are protected, but giant squid aren't... and the problem with them is; that to catch them, you need a giant bait and gear and only purpose built boats have the facilities to store the baits and the squid...
         Pretty dangerous stuff fishing down here... even catch Marlin by jumping out of choppers and wrestling them into submission.... so you see, flounder are tame compared to that!    Check youtube...

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            SomewayOuttaHereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            kewl!....i'm heading out on the next chopper.....!!!
            
            ...i watched something on the glowtube last night about giant squids as a matter of fact....i'd luv to see penguin....such an amazing place where you live PD!...i watched the Hobbit the other day too...beautiful country!

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               Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Yeah, it's not bad... but our carbon footprint is getting bigger all the time
               
               You do realize we all have really, really big feet though don't you ML?? 
               
               You need them for holding onto black and blue marlin....
               and for acting roles in Peter Jackson movies! 

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                  SomewayOuttaHereposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  ....and i thought those were fake feet!!!!!!   

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                     Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     We're not THAT pretentious ML... and of course All types of 'movies' are filmed here!! 
                     
                     

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                        habeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        You're in NZ? I don't know why, but I thought you were in Australia.

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      habeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      500-pound grouper:
      
      
      
      This is a redfish - a baby one and a good size to use as bait to catch the big ones. The grandkids catch 'em on cane poles for us.
      
      
      And I'll bet my dog is bigger than yours!!

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         Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Yep... I'm a Kiwi.... we are unique.... there are only 4.5million of us throughout the world, although 2.5 million of them are in Australia, that's why the fishing is still good here!
         
         Cool... those are great shots!!
         And a great way for young ones to grow up! 
         
         So you are good at catching the bait then! 
         
         We have grouper also, but we only tag and release them because they are endangered and probably should be in FL too, around the pins.. they are gentle fish to dive with too.
         
         It's more suitable to use the 800 - 1000 lb fish for chasing giant squid... our Southern Blue Tuna are perfect, but the last one just sold in Japan went for US 1.6 million... so now old dairy cows are being considered as alternatives!  I can't see that working though, as they are not a natural food source to the giant squid and if you know anything about cows... they are full of gas!!!
         
         Yes... I used to own a Great Dane also... but we had to send him back to Europe, coz he was always trying to mount old people in the street!    Sooooo embarrassing..... he was REALLY good at it!! 

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            habeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, Goliath grouper in FL are protected.
            
            No, we let the kids catch the bait, unless we're tossing cast nets.
            
            Why would you want to catch a giant squid?
            
            Do you have manatees there?
            
            Our Danes are very well mannered.

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               Pearldiverposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               That's good... some of the backward ones here, use their kids for bait! 
               
               Giant Squid are the ultimate game fish... they have sunk many boats, attack and feed on whales and just about any fisherman stupid enough to not tie himself in when hooked up!  Consider that they are between 20 - 60 foot long and then I'm sure you can appreciate why you use big hooks!  Normal squid lures don't work and in their natural space these guys are only eaten by the sperm whale, who can stay down for two hours on a single breath...  I have found half a giant squid (fresh) washed up and without its tenticles it was 18 feet long... it kept me in squid bait for 2 years and there was still enough left to make a 'meal' of squid rings for someone I disliked...    
               We don't have manatees... that's probably why old dairy cows were suggested as bait for giant squid??
               Oh yeah well, our Dane was also very well mannered Hollie... he always 'thanked' the people he mounted with a huge lick on their face!  It was sad seeing him leave though, because they have great personalities.... I believe he married a Swedish girl and they had a litter of 2..     
               He would probably have gotten arrested today for what he did to passing pedestrians! 

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   rebekahELLEposted 11 years ago

   Habee, I'm not much of a fishing gal, but the area is incredibly beautiful, the waters of the river are crystal clear.  You would love it, there's so much to do, it's nature's playground. 
   
   I found this video -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oitLVJo … _embedded.
   Looks like fun~

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      habeeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Bek! I'll check out the vid.

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