Heading to Indian Rocks Florida What to do?

[RL840]

Hello All,

I'm taking the family to Indian Rocks Florida. My Inlaws have rented a condo for the month of March and My wife and our 3 boys (2, 4, 10) are going to stay with them for 3 weeks.

We are planning on going to Disney for 5 days/4 nights and staying at the Coronado hotel on the resort. My wife has an hour by hour plan color coded already for this portion of the trip already but any tips would be great.

We are planning on going to Busch Gardens and the water park a few days, taking in a spring training game (BlueJays), Tampa vs Oilers game and spending a bunch of time on the beach.

I also want to go to an elite weigh in at either Palatka or Okeechobee. I could go to any of the weigh ins at Palatka and would most likely try and hit the final day but at Okeechobee I could only go to one of the first two days. Any sugestions on this. Either one is a bit of a drive for a day trip but I don't get many opportunities to see this type of event. This would be the first major one.

I'd like to go fishing but it's too much of a streatch on the holiday budget so that is out of the question. I was thinking of bring a rod so be able to play around a little bit from the bank but I have zero experience in Florida. All my boys love fishing and we live at the lake here in the summer so they would love to see different fish that are not native to Canada. We are also planning on taking in the Tampa aquarium if it is worth while.

Any suggestion on what else we can do?

The boys, heck all of us are on the countdown till we leave. Can't wait!

Thanks
Randy


2004 Ranger 185vs Mercury 150 EFI

[Igore67]

Gatorland.

http://www.gatorland.com/

[250bassFL]

Hope y'all have a great time while y'all are down here.

[warcry]

Indian Rocks is a great beach area. March is too early though.

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by warcry &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Indian Rocks is a great beach area. March is too early though.</td></tr></table>
+1 I have a good friend that lives there. I visit him in late april or Oct.

[csurp]

You are talking about Indian Rocks Beach west of Clearwater, right.

Bring at least 7-ft medium spinning rig with 10-15 lb braid.

build a carolina rig with an egg sinker, swivel, and 4-5 ft leader with a Clarks spoon attached.

http://www.seastriker.com/clar...s.htm

take a drive down to John's Pass and fling it. The Spanish mackerel might be in.

SORRY TO SHOUT BUT BRING A SACKFULL OF QUARTERS FOR THE PARKING METERS!!! The meter cops are merciless in that area.

There is a huge flea market in Largo on the weekend. Beer, food, entertainment...the works. I think it is on Park avenue.

If you and the wife can get away, there is a great American Legion across the causeway from Madeira Beach...good bands for an older crowd, food and your favorite beverage. It is right on the water with outside tables.

Fort Desoto State Park south of you near St. Pete Beach has a great long fishing pier.

Have fun!

[Roddy]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by csurp &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">You are talking about Indian Rocks Beach west of Clearwater, right.

Bring at least 7-ft medium spinning rig with 10-15 lb braid.

build a carolina rig with an egg sinker, swivel, and 4-5 ft leader with a Clarks spoon attached.

http://www.seastriker.com/clar...s.htm

take a drive down to John's Pass and fling it. The Spanish mackerel might be in.

SORRY TO SHOUT BUT BRING A SACKFULL OF QUARTERS FOR THE PARKING METERS!!! The meter cops are merciless in that area.

There is a huge flea market in Largo on the weekend. Beer, food, entertainment...the works. I think it is on Park avenue.

If you and the wife can get away, there is a great American Legion across the causeway from Madeira Beach...good bands for an older crowd, food and your favorite beverage. It is right on the water with outside tables.

Fort Desoto State Park south of you near St. Pete Beach has a great long fishing pier.

Have fun!</td></tr></table>

What he said plus throw a gotcha. work it like your walking the dog under water.

[Parrothead]

Eat at PJ's http://www.pjsoysterbar.com/

Herb (beenix') makes it down there about every 6 months. Check with him for more fishin' help

[BeeNix]

We go to IRB every chance we get. You can fish off the beach and have loads of fun with GULP! shrimp on a jig head, a Gotcha plug, and free-lining greenbacks. I always spend most of 2 days at Pass-A-Grille fishin' off the pier, costs about $10 to park for all day. I use mostly fresh shrimp there (buy them at Merry Pier) and greenbacks. My wife has become a pro at throwing a cast net and keeps me supplied with greenbacks. There is another pier at Redington, but I quit going there when they changed the name to Dubai Long Pier. We probably won't get to go again until June......
Eat at PJ's, Crabby Bill's and Keegan's Grill Feel free to im any questions.

[RL840]

Thanks everyone for the info.

The trip is planned around my son's spring break from school and going from 0F to +27F seems like a good time to go to me. Hopefully all the snow will be gone by the time we get back!

This is where we will be staying. <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/29513
" class="zf" target="_blank" >http://www.vrbo.com/29513
</a> Is there a tackle store close by were we can pick up some of the stuff your suggesting? What's a greenback and how do I free line? I was thinking of bringing one of my two piece rods if I can get it to fit in a suitcase. Haven't tried yet. May just pick up a cheap rod there and bring a reel.

Is there any dish that is a must try?

Thanks again,

Randy

2004 Ranger 185vs Mercury 150EFI

[JerryPault]

grouper sandwich!

[csurp]

Here is the website for the American Legion at Madeira Beach that I was telling you about. Not sure of your age but this seems to cater to a middle age and older crowd. Check out their website...there may be something to interest you.

http://www.amleg273.com/