We heard that we could catch our own shrimp near where we live in South Florida. Shrimping comes only in February and March during the full moon. Then there has to be the correct wind direction and weather work together to bring the shrimp into the bay and up to the surface for shrimping.

Watching YouTube & Asking Locals to Learn to do Shrimping

There is so much content on Youtube with instructions to learn how to do almost anything. We searched for videos of people shrimping in our bay. We found several and watched so we could figure out what supplies we would need and when to go. One of our favorite fishing and shrimping YouTube channels is https://youtu.be/PvAUNouXnUU

Shrimping Persistance Equals Shrimp Caught in Net

Then we went up every night for a week during the full moon in February. Finally one night there were a lot of people on the docks with shimp nets and green lights in the water. We learned that that is our best clue as to whether the shrimp are in the bay. Sure enough there were shrimp. We watched as the fisherman dipped their nets into the lighted water when they saw a shrimp drift near to the dock. Then the fun was on as they tried to outwit the shimp and get them in the net.

I had no idea that shrimp had such long feelers (that is what I call them, others call them antennas). They can feel the net near and they literally skip across the top of the water and jump out of the way of the net. Even then many fisherman caught enough shrimp for a nice dinner. We decided we would be there ready to shrimp in March.

I always like to be sure we are doing things correctly. We made sure we had the right fishing license, a proper net size and knew the limits. We again drove up to the bay several nights during the full moon, except for one night when we could not go check. Guess what? That was the big night for shrimping. When we went the next night and heard the fish stories or should I say shrimping stories from the other shrimpers we were sad we missed it. We did get some shrimp that night. Enough for supper. Fresh caught & cooked shrimp have a great flavor.

We removed the heads and then fried them in olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper. Oh, wow they were tasty.

This was our “Doing Someing New Together” Unique Stay Vacation activity.

Doing something new made us laugh a lot. We had something new to study and learn about together. We also had all kinds of new conversations. Having something new to do together is always a great boost to our relationship. We are ready for next year.

Fishing not Catching?

When booking a fishing trip consider the difference between a private fishing charter and a shared fishing charter. The most significant difference is the fishing time guaranteed to each person.

I hear fisherman say; “There is a reason why it’s called fishing, and not catching!” Sometimes even the best fisherman spends a day fishing and still doesn’t catch anything.  That is still ok because they got to fish. There is just something about holding a fishing rod in your hand waiting for that tug on the line that keeps a fisherman at it for hours, whether they are catching or not.

On the other hand, imagine if you paid for a fishing trip and you never get to fish? That wouldn’t be fun. In fact, it would be very disappointing. Well, that happened to my husband & son last year.

My husband and son went on a shared fishing charter where each of the 6 people on the fishing boat paid 1/6^th of the trip cost.

Once they were out on the ocean, they found out that they had to draw straws and that gave them the order that they would fish in. Once the first person caught a fish then the next person would get to fish. They went on a half day trip and neither of them got to fish.  Only the first and second person got to fish. The first and second person caught a big fish that took a long time to bring in so no one else had time to get their turn.

That is disappointing to those who don’t get a chance to fish even though they paid to fish and took their valueable time to go fishing. I have heard of a lot of people in this same situation.

Want a New Result…Make a Different Choice

This year we decided it would be worth the extra money to charter a private fishing charter trip. My son was here during one of the worst catching weeks of the year. But he loves to fish so we chartered the fishing trip anyway.

We found Captain Tom Hinterschied Fishing Charter on Trip Advisor. His contact was at fishandhuntflorida.com The captain was local and very knowledgeable. Both Father and Son got to fish the whole time.

The private fishing charter was a set price for up to 6 people. There was only the two of them but even if they had taken other family or friends to make up to 6 people, they would all have gotten to fish. We felt the price was budget friendly compared to others with the same size boat. Captain Tom shared his knowledge of fishing with them. They ended up catching kingfish.

So How Did it Go?

My son was so excited to have fished on the half day fishing trip where they got to fish and do some catching too. They were very happy with the high-quality live bait that he provided as well.

Meet Captain Tom

Some questions to ask before you charter

Is it a private fishing charter or shared charter? If the other people of the shared charter don’t show up do you have to make up the difference in price with the remaining people in the charter?

What is the best time of day to go fishing for the type of fish you want to target?

What type of fish have they been catching in the last few days?

Do they use live or dead bait? What type of bait do they use?

Where does the charter go out of? You don’t want to spend a lot of your time getting out to the ocean.

Are drinks & snacks included or do you bring your own?

What other things should you bring?

What ever type of fishing charter you choose I hope you are catching and not just fishing. Remember you can’t catch if you’re not fishing.

South Florida holds so many beautiful places to learn about nature on your educational vacation. One of those places to add to your Florida Vacation is the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, in Boca Raton, FL.

Our grandchildren’s educational vacation where they learned about the nature on the Hammock Trail. The family took turns making video’s to share with their class/teachers when they got back home to school.

They were learning and practicing many skills at once. They learned about the plants, animals and bugs, videography, journalism, public speaking, cooperation, and had great family time. Education vacation travel is a great couple vacation or family vacation tradition.

When you travel don’t just run through a site or destination. Ask what to see and take time to really explore the travel destinations that you have chosen. When we asked the information desk what the best way to see thier nature center they gave us a trail guide and a seek and find game. The kids loved those. They also gave the kids a prize at the end of the seek & find mission.

Making the video’s made them not only look at the items on the Hammock Trail guide and game but they had to talk about them. They will now remember what they learned.

Family vacations are a great time for bonding and making memories. Most families have more than one phone or camera so they can make a plan and coordinate taking turns making videos and taking photos.

Have a blast traveling and learning. Education is more than sitting in a classroom or learning from a book. Make life long learning fun by getting out and experiencing nature.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

is in Boca Raton, Florida. It is a hidden gem for learning about and experiencing the nature of South Florida. Take your grandkids on an educational vacation.

https://www.gumbolimbo.org/

Camping really??? My idea of camping is staying in a cabin at the very least. I love roasting hot dogs and marshmallows then heading indoors about the time the mosquitoes start biting.

We went camping when we were first married. It was all really fun until it got dark and we got in the tent. Then I just knew there were things moving around in the dark outside and I didn’t trust the tent material to protect us. I felt like bait. I jumped and said “what was that” every couple minutes. I was terrified. About 2 o’clock in the morning my husband gave up, packed up and we went home. I think we only went camping in a tent a couple of times after that.

A tropical vacation home but not just any tropical home purchase. I know exactly what I am looking for I just can’t find it. Some day I will have one of those deja vu moments. We love to go stay on a beach for our main vacations but I am always searching…..

In my dreams I have a vision of a beautiful tropical place where we buy a house on the beach. The back of the house faces the ocean although there is a long  island in the middle of a smallish bay before the open ocean. The water is deep enough to boat between the main land and the island. It is close but not close enough to swim to. It has great snorkeling right off our dock. It is not heavily populated in that area. There is one small resort with a store down the road quite a ways. The house needs lots of work but is in an ideal location. It is so beautiful there. Just the place for us to retire on a beach, at least part time.

I know it is just a dream but every once in a while I will look at maps to see if I can find it. Maybe I just watch too much episodes of “House Hunters International.” Whatever the case may be it too is on my bucket list. If you have been somewhere like I described please help me by sending me the location to look at. If I find a photo similar too it I will also post it. Dreams…..

Does anyone else dream of having a house on the beach??