Huntinslabs was right - Ft Desoto Park & Update

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08-08-2013, 11:26 AM
Fiishergurl

Huntinslabs was right - Ft Desoto Park & Update

Well I have to say Huntinslabs knows his parks. He has not steered us wrong yet and we have had a blast and learned new things at every place he's mentioned to us.... First it was Highbanks and we loved the beauty of the St John's River and the diversity of fish you can catch there along with the abundance of large crappie that we caught on Monroe (with his advice).

Then we tried shrimping, crabbing and fishing at Oak Hill and Edgewater and stayed at Riverwood RV Park and met some really nice people that go there every year that we can't wait to see again in the winter. HS was the one that told us about the shrimping details and even let us borrow his lights and nets for our first couple of trips out (and that hooked us!).

After that when we were heading to Texas and looking for a place to stop on the way he mentioned Toledo Bend in Louisiana and we stopped there and it was so beautiful with humongous trees the kind of which you don't see in Florida and lots of white perch (Louisiana speak for specks) and bass and such.

Then on our way back from Texas we stopped and vacationed with Terry's sons at T.H. Stone St Joseph Peninsula State Park and scalloped... another first and HS was the one that told us about that park and it lived up to everything he said. It is a little slice of paradise with St Joseph Bay on one side and the Gulf Of Mexico on the other. We caught scallops until they were coming out of our ears and night gigged for Flounder wading around the bay in calf deep water. AWESOME!

And most recently we tried out Ft Desoto Park in St. Petersburg. We headed there this past Sunday and had planned to stay until Friday but unfortunately on Monday morning we got a call from the company Terry works for saying they needed him on site in Virginia as soon as possible due to an injury to another Superintendent. We knew Terry was going back to work soon but it was supposed to be a couple of weeks out. But, we packed everything up and headed back. So no pictures of Ft Desoto, but it is awesome and we can't wait to go back. Heavily wooded sites... and HS.... we did end up getting site 105 and you are correct sir! It is a crazy cool place and we loved that site and loved that place. We hated to leave but you know... bills and being grown ups and such.

So we drove to Virginia on Wednesday and Terry is working and I leave to go do a computer job in NYC on Sunday.

But we hope to be back to Florida for the fall and winter! Sorry no pictures of Ft Desoto. We didn't have enough time there to do any real fishing.

Hope everyone is doing well!
Ginny
08-08-2013, 01:12 PM
Speckanator

Thanks for the update and good luck with your w&%$ :Rofl Did I ever tell you how good it is to be retired?
08-08-2013, 01:34 PM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speckanator

Thanks for the update and good luck with your w&%$ :Rofl Did I ever tell you how good it is to be retired?

Lol... yes you have! Anyone out there want to adopt two grown ups and a powderpuff dog and take us on endless fishing trips? We ARE kids at heart... lol.

Ginny
08-08-2013, 02:59 PM
huntinslabs

Glad ya liked it. Hurry back!
08-08-2013, 10:39 PM
Chill

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 133642

This is my background on my PC. IIRC this is site 17 facing west 'bout 4 years ago. Been goin' to St. Pete since I was 17. Love this campground and the park.
08-09-2013, 12:40 AM
Crappiegirl1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiishergurl

Well I have to say Huntinslabs knows his parks. He has not steered us wrong yet and we have had a blast and learned new things at every place he's mentioned to us.... First it was Highbanks and we loved the beauty of the St John's River and the diversity of fish you can catch there along with the abundance of large crappie that we caught on Monroe (with his advice).

Then we tried shrimping, crabbing and fishing at Oak Hill and Edgewater and stayed at Riverwood RV Park and met some really nice people that go there every year that we can't wait to see again in the winter. HS was the one that told us about the shrimping details and even let us borrow his lights and nets for our first couple of trips out (and that hooked us!).

After that when we were heading to Texas and looking for a place to stop on the way he mentioned Toledo Bend in Louisiana and we stopped there and it was so beautiful with humongous trees the kind of which you don't see in Florida and lots of white perch (Louisiana speak for specks) and bass and such.

Then on our way back from Texas we stopped and vacationed with Terry's sons at T.H. Stone St Joseph Peninsula State Park and scalloped... another first and HS was the one that told us about that park and it lived up to everything he said. It is a little slice of paradise with St Joseph Bay on one side and the Gulf Of Mexico on the other. We caught scallops until they were coming out of our ears and night gigged for Flounder wading around the bay in calf deep water. AWESOME!

And most recently we tried out Ft Desoto Park in St. Petersburg. We headed there this past Sunday and had planned to stay until Friday but unfortunately on Monday morning we got a call from the company Terry works for saying they needed him on site in Virginia as soon as possible due to an injury to another Superintendent. We knew Terry was going back to work soon but it was supposed to be a couple of weeks out. But, we packed everything up and headed back. So no pictures of Ft Desoto, but it is awesome and we can't wait to go back. Heavily wooded sites... and HS.... we did end up getting site 105 and you are correct sir! It is a crazy cool place and we loved that site and loved that place. We hated to leave but you know... bills and being grown ups and such.

So we drove to Virginia on Wednesday and Terry is working and I leave to go do a computer job in NYC on Sunday.

But we hope to be back to Florida for the fall and winter! Sorry no pictures of Ft Desoto. We didn't have enough time there to do any real fishing.

Hope everyone is doing well!
Ginny

Ginny,
You have made me tired just listening to the schedule, but it is exciting, I would be doing the same if I was a little younger- Enjoy
08-09-2013, 06:26 AM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crappiegirl1

Ginny,
You have made me tired just listening to the schedule, but it is exciting, I would be doing the same if I was a little younger- Enjoy

We were pretty tired by the time we made it to Virginia... lol. Cant wait to get back and go fishing with you and see the new puppies.

Ginny
08-09-2013, 06:28 AM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill

Attachment 133642

This is my background on my PC. IIRC this is site 17 facing west 'bout 4 years ago. Been goin' to St. Pete since I was 17. Love this campground and the park.

So cool!! That makes me want to go back even more. What do you fish for there and what time of year do you go?

Ginny
08-09-2013, 06:32 AM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinslabs

Glad ya liked it. Hurry back!

Loved it. Like I said before I grew up in florida and spent lots of time at the beaches swimming, sunning, playing beach volleyball but not fishing. With all the things Terry and I have experienced together I have seen a whole different side of Florida.

Fun fun fun.
Ginny
08-09-2013, 07:03 AM
Anchor Man

Busy schedule, where at in Virginia did you guys drive too? I live near Richmond and if my shoulder was better I would invite you to go fishing. Still a month away from that. Have safe travels.
08-09-2013, 07:18 AM
Chill

FG,
That shot was in Feb. Because 2 of my 4 daughters, 1 grandbaby and ex wife live in St.Pete I go there 3 -4 times a year. In Feb. I come down to a buddy's camp at Lake Kerr (east of Ocala) and crappie fish then go down to see the family. I haven't camped at DeSoto since I took that picture but I just waded out on the flats in front of my camp and fished for trout and reds with shrimp and a sinker. It was a blast. The only annoying thing is the sea gulls, I could hardly cook on the grill without the gulls dive bombing the grill to steal food. They were really bad. I'll be back down for Thanksgiving this year, hope to take the sons in law fishing, either salt or crappie.

:cool:
08-09-2013, 07:42 AM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anchor Man

Busy schedule, where at in Virginia did you guys drive too? I live near Richmond and if my shoulder was better I would invite you to go fishing. Still a month away from that. Have safe travels.

Terry works for a General Contractor construction firm doing contracts awarded to their Midlothian office. Last summer we were in Glen Allen and this time we are in Warrenton. So we arent that far from Richmond. Terry is semi retired and works during their busy season then takes winters off usually. We would love to go fishing when you are able. We are thinking about going to Pohick Bay tomorrow or maybe take a drive aling Skyline Drive. We should be here through mid Oct.

Ginny
08-09-2013, 07:46 AM
Fiishergurl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill

FG,
That shot was in Feb. Because 2 of my 4 daughters, 1 grandbaby and ex wife live in St.Pete I go there 3 -4 times a year. In Feb. I come down to a buddy's camp at Lake Kerr (east of Ocala) and crappie fish then go down to see the family. I haven't camped at DeSoto since I took that picture but I just waded out on the flats in front of my camp and fished for trout and reds with shrimp and a sinker. It was a blast. The only annoying thing is the sea gulls, I could hardly cook on the grill without the gulls dive bombing the grill to steal food. They were really bad. I'll be back down for Thanksgiving this year, hope to take the sons in law fishing, either salt or crappie.

:cool:

Sounds like you have it covered... fresh and salt! Nice! I'm looking forward to going back there.

Ginny