Moving to New Port Richey. Questions...

Stevodod

East coast guy moving to New Port Richey in June. Will be buying a boat and have a few questions.

1. I want to fish mainly for grouper, snook, and mangrove snapper- how far offshore will I have to go?

2. How small of a boat can I get away with? Was thinking a 16’ catamaran

3. Where is a good launch point near Trinity?

Thanks! Went to Fred Howard park and caught a small red under the causeway but mostly giant mullet and small mangroves there. Any good shorebound spots for now?

LTF

Anclote River Park in Holiday might be your closest. The current can rip coming out of the launch though. If you want somewhere calm, try Sutherland Bayou Boat Ramp in Palm Harbor.

You can look for more on the myfwc page in the link...

https://public.myfwc.com/LE/boatramp/public/default.aspx

Stevodod

Thanks LTF

Jack Hexter

Anclote River Park is the closest to Trinity but as mentioned above, the current is a bear.

Nicks Park on the Cotee River next to Hooters is a decent ramp, one lane. Used to have limited parking and the City of Port Richey shut down an overflow lot, but someone recently opened another overflow lot directly across the street from the ramp. Free ramp but $10.00 parking in the overflow. Don't know how long the overflow will remain open as the reason given for shutting down the previous overflow was it was not paved, but then the new overflow is not paved either. I think the city just doesn't like Gildogs, the restaurant that owns the previous lot.

If you are going offshore for Grouper/Snapper, I would not try it in anything less than 20', and then pick your days carefully. The cat would do okay on the flats for trout/reds/snook. Earlier this year, just before the cold front, and it happens most falls season, the grouper move in and we were catching them in 8-10' of water, very reachable in the cat. I'd seriously suggest a push pole and/or a trolling motor if you are serious about reds and snook

grey2112

I launch a 17 foot Key West cc and a 25 foot Cobia out of Nick's Park about 95% of the time. Great ramp, decent free parking with additional paid parking nearby as well. Anclote had bad current and even worse goobers launching and loading on weekends and holidays, but fun to watch from a chair with a cooler of beer. Definitely need a bigger boat for most days offshore.

Stevodod

Thanks so much, Jack!!!

Stevodod

Thanks grey. I used to take 12 foot Malibu a few miles offshore when I was younger on flat days. Was fine, but if the weather had turned....