Fishing the Keys

[polo-dog]

I was fishing in the keys a couple of months ago. I had some success and really had a great time. The waves/wind are a factor every day it seems. I have a CD with all of the NOAA depth charts on it that I purchased from Maptech. com. If anyone is headed down to the keys and wants some numbers of some patch reefs, wrecks, other interesting places to fish I would be happy to send some gps numbers. Here's a picture of a cobia that I caught. I found a small patch reef on my maps put the numbers in my gps and when I threw out my anchor there were 4 or 5 cobia coming out to see what I was doing. This one was about 36". There were also a bunch of snapper that I chummed up too. Different type of fishing but fun none the less.

 

[DHaun]

I was just discussing the Keys today on my way back from visiting family near Apalachicola! Where did you go? I have yet to visit that area and was wondering whether to drive down or fly to Miami and rent a car. I am interested in an Islamorada trip. Flying would be super but then I cannot take a boat, truck, or all my gear. Any advice would be appreciated. Nice cobia!!!

 

[polo-dog]

I was on Cudjoe key. The keys are a wonderful area and Islamorada is a very interesting area, at least if you look at the maps. The keys in general are fantastic. The water is so clear and the fishing and snorkeling is great. I would take my boat if you can. It's an easy drive from Chattanooga as it's all interstate until you get to the keys. I too feel naked without all of my tackle. There are lots of good tackle stores in the keys and there are two Bass Pro Shops, one in Islamorada and one in Key West. If it were me, I would go to one of the middle or lower keys as I think that the Islamorada area is much more crowded. While there you can shallow water fish, including fly fishing, reef fish, both the main reef and the patch reefs, you can also fish the upwellings over deep humps for tuna, and there's always trolling for Dolphin or other blue water species. The weather/wind tends to limit what type of fishing is available depending on the type of boat you have and how comfortable you feel in rough water. The boat that I see in some of your pictures would be able to handle the bay fishing and the reef fishing some days but probably wouldn't handle the fishing outside the reef unless the day was exceptional. What type of boat do you fish out of in the panhandle? In my experience, gulf fishing tends to be pretty mild compared to Atlantic fishing, but I may be wrong. You could always rent when you get down there. Here's a keys forum that I watch that can give you lots of info. Florida Sportsman mag. is a must if you plan to fish Fla. much. http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=9

 

[DHaun]

Wow I bet that was nice!!! Thanks for the information - I will definitly look into the less crowded middle/lower keys. I am more interested in the inshore and flats type fishing rather than rough water. I have been out in the Atlantic a few times offshore from St. Augustine and found it very rewarding but now I prefer the calmer more forgiving (on my back & knees) inshore flats. Pensacola pass is a nice spot with some fast action and it can be 3-5 ft at times - From what I hear the offshore score there is worthy, but I have not been. I sold my boat last summer...so now I am waiting on the right one (I like Scouts 15-16ft - something small, light, and shallow). I would be renting if I went, but that may be awhile since I just got back from the "Forgotten Coast" tonight. Fla Sportsman - Indeed. I have had them coming in the past 4-5 years.

 

[polo-dog]

There are many places to rent from in the area and if you look at the keys forum there are many threads about that. Many will trailer the boat to you. There are miles and miles of flats in the lower and middle keys and one of the best guides down there is from the Chattanooga area. Here's his website: http://www.bigblueflyfishing.com/ He's a McCallie grad from what I hear, hence the name of his website.

 

[DHaun]

Thanks! I have heard about Tom Rowland. I met his folks once at a friend's place. Now there is one man that has the right idea about a long-term occupation.

 

[Guest]

I just returned from a trip to Islamorada. The Dolphin bite was on. Caught 33, all 10 lbs. plus, with several in the twenty lb. class. Best part was using spinning gear and sight casting to schooling fish. It turned into a real bloodbath. I wouldn't usually keep that many but the freezer was nearly empty. We tarpon fished on our last day but lost the only fish hooked. I plan on going back in December for sails. Our captain said that 4-6 hookups a day were pretty much the norm for that time of year. I would definately recomend bringing your boat if you go. Do it yourself tarpon fishing is pretty feasible and the World Wide Sportsman can help you with any gear questions. Definately bring a cast net if you want good bait for tarpon/snook etc.

 

[rsimms]

My daughter and her boyfriend are down there right now. Wednesday they fished with http://www.seadogcharters.net/ They got the bargain-basement trip ($59.95/person) and had a great time. Other folks on trip got bad seasick and begged to return to dock, so my daughter and boyfriend ended up with a private charter. Caught mainly yellowtail snapper, but also a 5-foot nurse shark and said most fun was messing with a monster jewfish. They estimated the fish at 200-pounds.... in clear water they could see him quite well. They apparently hooked up with him several times, but didn't have tackle big enough to handle him. But they had a real neat trip at a cut-rate price.