First Time On Lake Okeechobee...

This was the best fishing trip I have ever been on to this day, and what a day it was. I have always wanted to fish Lake Okeechobee, because of all the stories of 1O.lb large mouth bass that anglers had caught, now I hope it was going to be my turn. The first thing I would need to fish, is to book a charter with someone who knows the lake, and where the big fish are. So I e-mailed Scott Martin about his fishing charters, and to see if he was available to take me fishing. Scott called me and said he would not be able to take me fishing until a later date this year, he is just to busy at this time of year, so he recommend one of his charter guys Mark King. As soon as I got off the phone with Scott I called up Rolland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina to book Mark King, and was lucky enough to get a 8hr charter with him. It took me 2 1/2 hrs to get there from where I was staying but it was worth it. I met up with Mark early that morning, introduced my self and we were off, the first boat out of the marina to go fish for Large Mouth Bass on Lake Okeechobee in April. The first spot was sweet, we had caught about 20 Bass all about 5.lbs so I had a big smile on my face already and these were just the smaller one's. Just before we left the spot we were at, it felt like I had a good hit, then felt like I was snagged on something, all of a sudden it let go so again I thought I had a fish, it turned out to be a rod and reel. The reel was a Shimano Stradic reel, and a 7foot B&R OUTLAW rod. Mark and I had a good laugh about that. Now it was time to go get the big fish, and Mark found them, so from 11:30am on we were on the big ones's. The whole day was amazing from catching some big bass, to the sun shineing all day. I recommend fishing on Lake Okeechobee and to look into a guided charter, because these guys know the lake, plus if you have a chance to get Mark King I would. The service at Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina was the best. I would like to thank Mark King for the amazing fishing plus great company,and I can say that I made a good friend. I hope you are doing well in the Florida Keys, oh ya Mark charters deep sea fishing to, I think that will be my next trip. Here's to good fishing and I hope you have a great year. JAMES GOODRICK...