I’m heading down with the family to duck key (middle keys) in the next week. I wanted to post on here to see if anyone had any insight on fishing down there. We may rent a boat for a few days or may also charter a guide. I’ve never been to the keys so this is my first time fishing down there. I had a few things I wanted to focus on so I’ll try to divide them into sections to make it easier to follow.
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Bait- can I catch it in the cast net like around here or should I try to buy it somewhere? Also, would it be worth bringing a minnow trap?
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We are staying directly on one of the canals so are the canals worth fishing or should I focus elsewhere? Also, are there any other good spots to fish from land on Duck key?
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Flyfishing- I’m great with a fly rod and can tie almost any fly but I’m sure I would struggle finding the fish. Would it be worth trying to do a DIY bonefish trip on foot?
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Tarpon- I know people fish for the tarpon around bridges but what makes one bridge hold fish from the next? Also, is this something a tourist can do in a rental boat or is it kinda a long shot?
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Snapper- while reading about the fishing down there I’ve realized they have a much more diverse population of inshore/nearshore snapper than we have here. Can you catch these around bridges or just offshore reefs? Also, what makes one bridge different from the next in terms of holding snapper.
I apologize that this is lengthy but I’m really looking forward to the trip. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
17’ Mako
1 - Bait is cheap to buy down there, I always buy instead of catchhing it, your on vacation, take a break.
2- absolutely, the house we stay at is a friend of mines, and its on a canal on the gulf side, we sit there and pluck snapper out of there all day long. Even caught a small grouper (keeper size still). Also hooked a tarpon. Plenty of fish in the canals for sure.
- Im not well versed in fly fishing, but from my experience (limited) with bonefish in the keys, they were almost always out in the middle of nowhere. There are plenty of flats to walk right off the road no problem, and we do that everytime, but i havent caught any bonefish doing it.
4- Honestly the tarpon fishing is pretty straight forward down there. Pull up to the bridge, drop bait and wait. We always do one mullet on the bottom with the backbone cut out and two on floats.
Duck key bridge is where we caught 3 last time, 12th pillar from the south.
5- Snapper are literally everywhere there is structure down there. Canals, near bridges, on rocks. Definitley denser population on the reefs but you can catch them all day other places as well.
Drew norbegas - 305-393-2332 (out of islamorada) - inshore.
Chris Morrison - 305-393-2353 ( out of marathon) - offshore.
Renting a boat is great and all, but be careful about driving carelessly. Its a different system down there and there are alot more flats and obstructions than around here. You can easily get stuck down there. We trailer a boat usually and havent ever had that problem, but we pass plenty of people stuck on flats ruining them trying to get off.
Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he got guys off the fishing docks.
I’ve speared\fished with Kevin a few times: http://floridakeysreeladventures.com/
Always had a great time.
The keys are pretty picked over IMO, at least compared to Charleston. It would be worth the money to take a guide on day #1 to see a few techniques, etc. If you are after snapper, and other bottom dwellers, CHUM, CHUM, CHUM… The ecosystem is different than Charleston.
You staying at Hawk’s Cay? Pretty cool place. We killed hogfish and black grouper just out in front.
If you fish the reefs for yellowtail, do like Skinnee says, chum, chum some more and then keep chumming. They have become the democrats of the fish world. You won’t see them unless you have a free handout. Free-line some small pieces of squid on a small hook way back and you might pick off some triggers. My son actually caught some smaller Tarpon right off our dock, free-lining minnows (or some such baitfish). You’ll be surprised what you will catch out on the reefs chumming. We’ve caught mackerel, small dolphin, triggers, etc… My experience, if you get a large school of chubs around you, move. They are greedy and worthless and will crap on your boat if you bring one aboard.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
quote:
Originally posted by DFreedom
large school of chubs around you, move.
That is exactly what you will experience if you make it down to "Wet Willie's" in Key West... Moving is good advice!!!
Can’t help you out too much, but I did hook up on a decent tarpon from shore in the canal where we stayed on Marathon a few years ago. That was pretty cool. So much water down there.
I really appreciate all the pointers!. We are driving so I will make sure to take all the gear. I’m really looking forward to snorkeling in the clear water. I’ve never spearfished but might look into getting a Hawaiian sling of some sorts. I will make sure to post reports and will try to take a lot of pictures.
17’ Mako
I’ve been going down for 20 years. I sure would like to know where live bait is cheap. Live bait is hard to get during the summer and definitely isn’t cheap. $100 a dozen of you want goggle eyes. Pilchards are sparse in summer. You must know something I don’t. I did find a guy this year that has opened a bait business but we won’t be down until April.
Life on the line.
Bait delivery in the keys
Take a bunch of old frozen shrimp with you. Or buy a bunch before you go down. Use a lot of that in with your chum. Or in a chum churn.
quote:
Originally posted by skinneej
quote:
Originally posted by Reeldawg
I’ve been going down for 20 years. I sure would like to know where live bait is cheap. Live bait is hard to get during the summer and definitely isn’t cheap. $100 a dozen of you want goggle eyes. Pilchards are sparse in summer. You must know something I don’t. I did find a guy this year that has opened a bait business but we won’t be down until April.
Live shrimps
Exactly, Live shrimps where I bought bait was 2.50/dozen. Good size too.
Look at where Jesus went to pick people. He didn’t go to the colleges; he got guys off the fishing docks.
Just go to a bridge at night and put out a light and in 15 min there will be 1,000 of shrimp around the light catch them in a dip net!
quote:
Originally posted by boatpoor
Just go to a bridge at night and put out a light and in 15 min there will be 1,000 of shrimp around the light catch them in a dip net!
We just walked down to the main marina about 30 mins ago and saw baracuda, snapper, sheepshead, big lobsters, and tarpon in the boat lights. - I haven’t been able to find any underwater lights that I can fish around though
17’ Mako
Go to the ocean side and look for docks with lights. It’s not like at home. Be very very quite. Fish your way towards the lights. The fish under the lights will be very skiddish.
