I want to go to the Keys in the fall for a little getaway and would like to do some inshore fishing one day. The trip is primarily for me and the wife, fishing is second. The wife wants pretty beaches and water.
Who has been and where should we stay? What should we stay away from? Any charters to book now or avoid? We’ve done the all inclusive thing before and it was nice, but not really what we are looking for on this trip. Secluded with the luxury of a hotel would be ideal.
There’s lots and lots of pretty water, not many beaches though. I have been going to the keys for years and have spent alot of time in Islamorada and Key West. Isla is smaller and more of a village feel, couple decent restaurants. Hungry Tarpon for breakfast for sure.
KW is a fun town and has some great food! Conch Republic for happy hour. 7 Fish for house snapper, make a reservation. El Seiboney for great Cuban food, flank steak and 1/2 garlic chicken are real good! Mangia Mangia is a great little Italian place that makes all their pasta in house. Sarabeths’s for breakfast. Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key is worth the 30 minute trip from key west, Gotta try the fried conch, bbq bacon shrimp and the tater tots. We like the Truman hotel, nice place with a heated pool and you can walk to all the restaurants I mentioned except Square Grouper. KW has a couple “beaches”.
In shore guide, Bear Holeman!! Late Oct he’ll be in La though but can still get you hooked up.
Octoberish is off season so you should be able to get a good deal.
“Those who have the ability to make a difference have the responsibility to do so.” Thomas Jefferson
If you are looking for “pretty beaches and sand”, you will be disappointed with the Keys. They are not noted for that though there are a few small beaches up and down the Keys. There are many places you can just pull over, parks and find a little patch of beach. There are a few public beaches (Anne’s Beach is one that comes to mind). We usually stay from Key Largo to Islamorada. If you like Cuban food and are in the Tavernier area, check out the Sunset Market, real Cuban and good. You may be the only non-Cuban in there. Up in that area try Harriett’s and Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen. Also one up in north Key Largo, The Shipwreck. It is a dive that serves fresh seafood and they are right on the dock so cool atmosphere.
If you want room service and hotel type stuff, there are many nice resorts (Hawk’s Cay), etc… If you want privacy and more of a house, check out VRBO.com, there are houses and condos all over the Keys. We are heading back down in the Summer, been going on and off for 30 years.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
If you want to see a beach, you should stay in South Beach. That being said, the largest “beaches” in the keys are in Key West. As mentioned earlier, the “beaches” in the keys are more like little sand strips next to the highway. If you want to experience the keys, then stay at a little bed and breakfast in Key West. It’s more touristy than the rest of the keys. I am not a huge fan of Key West though. When the wife and I went down, we went down to freedive or fish. Mostly, we did that in Marathon. We didn’t do “inshore” as in the mangrove swamps, but the freediving we did there and bottom fishing there is only a few miles off the beach. I would recommend booking a snorkeling trip or something. I don’t think that you would enjoy the keys unless you got on the water at least 1-2 times. If you don’t fish, dive, or snorkel, I would think you get bored to death.
That being said, my two favorite things to eat in the keys: 1) Fish tacos at Shark’s in Key Largo. 2) The tuna nachos at Island Grill on Islamorada.
Here is another pro tip. In Islamorada, there is a “Worldwide Sportsman” (Bass Pro Shops). They have a cool restaurant there. Not many people realize this, but it’s swarming with big tarpon and you can feed them. Just north of the restaurant (on the water, about 30’ away) is a little baitshop. Stop there and buy a pack of frozen shrimp. Then, head back over to the restaurant. You will see that the restaurant is kind of made to be on a little lagoon. Throw a piece of shrimp into the lagoon. After 2-3 pieces, you should see dozens of tarpon nailing them on the surface. Fun for the whole family.
Here is another pro tip. In Islamorada, there is a “Worldwide Sportsman” (Bass Pro Shops). They have a cool restaurant there. Not many people realize this, but it’s swarming with big tarpon and you can feed them. Just north of the restaurant (on the water, about 30’ away) is a little baitshop. Stop there and buy a pack of frozen shrimp. Then, head back over to the restaurant. You will see that the restaurant is kind of made to be on a little lagoon. Throw a piece of shrimp into the lagoon. After 2-3 pieces, you should see dozens of tarpon nailing them on the surface. Fun for the whole family.
That restaurant has the best Key Lime Pie I’ve ever put in my face!
If it is great beaches and beautiful water you are looking for I will second Destin. It is known for is pure white sand beaches and clear blue green water. Plenty of resort style hotels right on the beach. Also there area plenty of charter captains down there
Dear Sail…I will agree with the other posters who suggested The Bahamas vs. the Keys for a “Beachfront” getaway. The panhandle of Florida, the West Coast of Florida also have great beaches, and you can drive to them. The short flight to the Islands is worth it in my opinion, and the fishing is spectacular. I liked Green Turtle Cay vs. the big island.
The beaches certainly not the main attraction down here. Smathers on Key West is pretty decent, especially when the Spring Break crowd is around.
Kelly’s Carribean Bar at Whitehead St and Caroline St has the best wings I’ve ever had. Everyday from 4-7 you can get a pound of wings and a super margarita for $10. Three of those things (maybe two for you…) and you’ll be ready for bed.
The fishing sucks down here. No good captains either.
The beaches certainly not the main attraction down here. Smathers on Key West is pretty decent, especially when the Spring Break crowd is around.
Kelly’s Carribean Bar at Whitehead St and Caroline St has the best wings I’ve ever had. Everyday from 4-7 you can get a pound of wings and a super margarita for $10. Three of those things (maybe two for you…) and you’ll be ready for bed.
The fishing sucks down here. No good captains either.
Three pounds of wings and three Super margarita’s… I’d be ready for bed too!
There was an all you can eat buffet in Homestead that served everything you could imagine for $8.99. Just can’t remember the name of it…
Went down there Feb/2013. What a fun place. Weather was perfect 4-5 days we were there. Kelly’s was definitely a great place to hang out for food/drinks. We stayed at 2 different B&B’s just to get a feel for the place since we have never been and Im glad we did that. One was down near the party area off of Duval and the other near the Marina. We probably liked the Marina area better. Rented bikes and went all over the place. Went to Fort Zachary State Park to sit on the beach. All of a sudden we hear a bunch of yelling and raising hell off in the distance, turns out to be about 25-8 man rafts of Navy Seals going thru bud’s training. They were paddeling against the tide and making slow progress. Instructers were on jet skis with bull horns raising hell at them to paddle faster. It was funny, one instructur would get on the bull horn and ask the others who had the cold drinks, then one jet ski would pull up and hand him a drink out of the cooler and they would idle by the rafts and drink it while the seals were struggeling. They sure drew a crowd of visitors on the beach, they were only about 40 yards offshore. Planning on going back next spring.
The beaches certainly not the main attraction down here. Smathers on Key West is pretty decent, especially when the Spring Break crowd is around.
Kelly’s Carribean Bar at Whitehead St and Caroline St has the best wings I’ve ever had. Everyday from 4-7 you can get a pound of wings and a super margarita for $10. Three of those things (maybe two for you…) and you’ll be ready for bed.
The fishing sucks down here. No good captains either.
I’m trying to stay away from the spring break crowd nowadays…
Kelly’s Carribean Bar at Whitehead St and Caroline St has the best wings I’ve ever had. Everyday from 4-7 you can get a pound of wings and a super margarita for $10
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why can’t there be places like this around the Jimmy Isle/Folly area…
October is our slow season so you will be fine anywhere pretty much!! Except maybe key west! I’m in Islamorada and it’s usually dead around sept. Oct. You should be able to find pretty good deals as well! I fish out of holiday isle and there’s a nice little private beach here! Feel free to contact me with any questions! Good luck!
