Glad to find this forum. We live by Bayou Chico, near Pensacola, FL. Been here in Baja Alabama for 16 years and LOVE it. Fishing is unbelievable and you don't have to go far to kill deer.
Starting smoking albacore while living in Sonoma County, CA then continued local fish after moving here. Hurricane Ivan, Sept. 2004 ate my smoker and I have finally got another. Nothing fancy yet, just an electric Brinkman that does a pretty good job with white oak, hickory, pecan and mesquite.
I brought over 100# of venison back from my Bro's farm near Tupelo, MS, (my birthplace 1938) after Thanksgiving. Smoked some backstrap after overnight marinating in red wine & olive oil, dried and patted down with Tony Cahchere's Lite, then 5 hours over mesquite. Had some friends over who ate the whole thing!
I boned a deer leg, marinated in Dales and Grand Marlin Hot Sauce, smoked over white oak 5 hours and put it out for Christmas dinner appetizers. I was hoping nobody would like it, but they ate the whole thing.
After it warms up a bit, I will go out and try to catch some Spanish Mackeral, Kings or ???
I like oilier fish for smoking. I have even done Bonita, just bleed them immediately and ice down.
Looking forward to learning a lot from y'all. Anyone in the area, drop me a PM and come by. I keep my smoker down by the bayou, so I can enjoy the view while smokin' and a few cervezas.
Tom