From college canoeing/camping trips on ocean islands, to the glitz and glamor of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, to epic Everglades fishing excursions, I’ve experienced a wide array of Florida adventures. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things.

If you’re heading to Florida with family this summer or perhaps considering planning one for the future, here are seven suggestions to get off the beaten path, minimize the crowds, and maximize the fun-to-fish ratio when juggling kids, spouse and your angling ambitions.

1. Ask the Local Bait Shop

In this digital era, I still believe stopping at a locally owned bait shop and asking somebody face-to-face, preferably the person scooping the shrimp you’re buying, is the single best way to learn where you should fish.

They have no vested interest in steering you toward a specific pier or guide, and generally speaking they appreciate you supporting their business and want you to catch so many fish you return for more bait. 

Alternatively, you’ve probably never heard a resort owner say, “Avoid coming here in July because the bite is tough.” Nor can you trust everything you read online, because people pumping out answers on forums may have outdated info, share the same three spots with everyone who asks (even to divert people away from their personal hotspot), or have an affiliation with a particular guide, resort or county.

Of course, there is tons of top-notch information in all of the above places, so I’m generalizing to make a point. My suggestion: Head to the closest bait shop your first day, tell them your fishing goals, buy something and ask for their advice.

2. Make Next Trip the Goal of This Trip

As odd as it sounds, if you’re on vacation fishing with kids and family, your priority isn’t really this particular trip. It’s creating a positive experience your kids want to repeat again next year, and the year after. 

Play the long game, take baby steps and let your kids map out the goals for the trip. Use their input and explain to them why, when and where you’re taking them fishing. For example, a phrase such as this helps frame up a day: “Hey buddy, yesterday you caught a lot of medium-sized fish. It sounds like you want to try to catch a really big fish, so let’s try fishing this spot today using this bait because it seems like that will give us the best chance to hook a big one.” 

Always play up the experience beyond the fish. My family and I recently flew down to Orlando, and one day I booked a guide to take my 9-year-old and me deep sea fishing. Early and often I uttered this phrase, “Hey Joe, look how pretty it is out here in the ocean. This is pretty cool, isn’t it?”

3. Make a Discovery (Beyond Fishing)

Excite and educate your kids with non-fishing but water-related experiences during your trip, such as a day at Discovery Cove in Orlando. Discovery Cove is an oasis offering kids and adults an incredible chance to see parrots and monkeys, snorkel with abundant tropical fish and sting rays, and even swim with dolphins. Almost 20 years ago I visited Discovery Cove with relatives and was so impressed — IMHO it is the single best family experience in the state — that I vowed I’d take my own children back there. I did, and it did not disappoint. My kids and I will always remember the thrill of our intimate dolphin experience.

Attractions such as Discovery Cove make an impression and connect people with nature. A couple in our small group orientation for the dolphin swim mentioned the name of the dolphin they swam with years ago during a prior visit to Discovery Cove. The trainer replied with a happy coincidence: That dolphin’s daughter was in fact the dolphin we would be swimming with that day.

The couple beamed at hearing of this connection. My kids also thought it was cool because we talk about conservation, catch-and-release and the long-term impact our actions can have on the environment and its inhabitants.

4.  Go for ‘Shoulder Season’

Understanding that work and school calendars can be restrictive, I always recommend booking family vacations during the “shoulder season” (period of time adjacent to peak season) when possible to avoid crowds, reduce cost and maximize your experience. 

When fishing Florida’s public piers and beaches, shoulder seasons increase your odds of landing quality fish and enjoying the experience. 

An anglers’ mind is a peculiar thing. If I’m the only guy fishing a dock and catch three modest fish, I enjoy the experience. But if I catch those same three fish while watching another angler, who beat me to the prime casting spot on the pier, catch a dozen fish, I’m not happy. It’s even worse if my kids are with me, whining, “Hey dad, why is he catching all the fish?” 

And speaking of kids … you can get away with fishing peak days and prime places when you’re solo and hit the water before sunrise or after dark. But fishing with young children means smaller windows and reduced mobility, making travel during less-crowded “shoulder seasons” even more important.

5. Book a Fishing Guide on Day One 

Do yourself a favor and book a fishing guide for a day at the start of your trip. The benefit will far exceed the fish you catch in the guide’s boat. You’ll get an expert orientation to the overall fishery, water conditions and specific bite that you can apply to the rest of your trip while on your own. Even if you enjoy the process of finding the fish and fine-tuning your approach, remember you’re with your family here and have a finite number of hours to balance angling with other family fun, so it’s important to maximize your time fishing. Quick tip: Don’t book your guide based on testimonials on his or her website. Check TripAdvisor for unfiltered reviews, call ahead of time to speak with a local bait shop, or post on Facebook to seek recommendations from friends. Any rube can cherry-pick a couple good customer reviews to look good on their website or, worse yet, make them up entirely. TripAdvisor, Yelp and now even Facebook offer unfiltered, verified reviews. Seek not only recent reviews but also reviews during the specific month when you’ll be traveling.

Finally, look for reviews that mention fishing with kids if you’re taking the fam. I recall an Alaskan fishing guide with good reviews who barked orders at my dad and me our entire day. As adults, we didn’t mind because the guy put us on fish, but his demeanor would have been brutal with kids.

6. Go for What’s Biting

As I’ve mentioned in past articles, my dad and I embrace the motto of, “Any fish is a good fish.” This is doubly true when fishing with kids or incorporating your fishing expedition into a family vacation.

Do your kids a favor: Target a species that is readily available during your trip and, when possible, fish with live or frozen shrimp on circle hooks to increase the odds of catching a wider array of Florida fish.

Play up the novelty of new species caught, even if the fish isn’t necessarily coveted. I often say to my son, “Wow, this is a really cool fish, Joe! You’ve NEVER caught this type before!” 

This isn’t rocket science, but it’s good to commit upfront to avoid the temptation of chasing your dream species at the expense of easier, more abundant catches during this family trip.

7. Rising Tides

Above all, fish behavior is dictated by their innate drive to consume more energy than they expel, with the need to be prepared for all stages of the spawn. With ocean fish, no daily dynamic affects that behavior more than rising and falling tides. Do your homework on high and low tide times each day of your trip. Be prepared to capitalize an hour before high tide during a rising tide, and the hour after high tide during the falling tide. A good rule of thumb when pier fishing is to seek shallower water closer to shore during high tide, as incoming water pushes oxygen and baitfish in closer to the bank. The opposite of this is true during low tide.

Hopefully these seven tips help maximize your next Florida fishing/family trip. The bottom line to remember is this: Regardless of results, you’re on vacation with loved ones. Life is good!

Photos by Tony Capecchi