Sorry, not sure where to post this.
We are interested in trailering a boat to islamorada next year (pioneer 202). Looking for advice on where to stay, best time to go for fishing, advice for family fun, etc. if anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated. Never fished or taken boat anywhere other than lake Murray or charleston/edisto.
Once again TYIA and I apologize if this should have been posted somewhere else
We made this trip from Spartanburg with boat for 7 years but have not since we got a place at Edisto. Well worth it. Get a house on VRBO.com and you will have a dock to keep the boat right there. If you are not used to long trips with the trailer you should look into that issue also and there have been posts about this (extra tires, extra hubs, grease, and realization that on a trip like that there will be a trailer issue). For the family some non-boating activities are paddleboarding at Robbie’s Marina, the dolphin encounter place, and the trip to Key West is a good day trip and you go over the 7 mile bridge. Restaurants are the one at World Wide Sportsman/Bass Pro (can’t think of name), Green Turtle, Morada Bay. Best place to take your own fish for the restaurant to prepare is Lazy Days. If you are a big fishing family I think a day charter offshore is worth it especially if you are not used to fishing the Keys. Obviously Bud ‘N Mary’s Marina is the place for this and we have gone on Gonfishin’ V several time even when the kids were young and they are good with kids and will definitely get you on fish. Glen Miller is the captain. Happy to talk to you more about this. I would love to go back but might take the flats boat for inshore and charter offshore. Post photos.
Spartanburg/Edisto
Sea Hunt 27 “Edi-tude”
Maverick 18 HPX-V
What jghall said. We’ve done that trip a dozen times or so over the years. VRBO or Airbnb will get you a waterfront house with a dock. So great just to be able to walk out, get in your boat and hit the nearshore reefs for yellowtail. Google Yellowtail Fishing in the FL Keys. It is great fun and you can limit out fairly easily. You will need to chum, and chum and chum. We have one of those SunPass transponders and we always take the FL Turnpike (anything to avoid Miami). We aren’t going this year as we have other plans but, we’re already planning our 2020 Keys Trip.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Thanks. This should at least get some plans started. What is the best time of year to go?
Irvette 236 cc
Yamaha 225
We have only been during school spring break in April and one time in July. We did well both times and the July week was breezy enough that it did not seem any hotter than a beach on the SC coast. I think that Jan/Feb can be iffy with fronts going through. The main difference that I remember between Spring and July was that the tarpon were gone in July if that is what you are interested in. I agree with DFreedom about the Fl Turnpike. It seems like it is about Ft. Pierce where you pick it up.
Spartanburg/Edisto
Sea Hunt 27 “Edi-tude”
Maverick 18 HPX-V
Yep, Ft. Pierce is where we get on. You can stop at any CVS as soon as you get to FL and buy the cheap ($5) transponder that sticks inside your windshield. It can be reloaded with $ online. We’ve been in April, June and July. Other than the heat, we haven’t found a great deal of difference in the fishing that we were doing though we’ve had a few cool, windy springs.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Go every year at the end of May, if you can hold out a week or two after Memorial day weekend the fishing really heats up. We stay at Futura Yacht Club (http://www.upperkeysrentals.com/Rentals/FuturaYachtClub.htm) in the townhouse and get a dock slip. It has a huge social area for kids to play around, and a huge pool area. Place to launch your boat, and an area to park your trailer. We trailer a 25’ Sportsman every year behind a Ford Expedition.
We’ve never taken any kids, but there are some things for kids to do around the island ‘Theater By the Sea’.
Places To Eat: Old Tavanier Restruant, Morada Bay ( If they are having a Full Moon Party that week, you should try to go), Square Grouper, City Hall Cafe, Dillions, Hog Heaven, Wahoo’s, Robbies and Lorelie Restaurant and Bar are some of my favorites.
** The Dolphin Bite is on fire right now down their.
You can PM me when you get closer to the time you schedule your trip if you have any questions.
We are leaving in the morning. Pretty much go every year and stay in key colony. Kids- take them snorkeling. Even if it’s just a patch of grass or hard bottom on the gulf side. You can fish there for bait and lots of smaller fish. Coffins patch is a protected reef on the Atlantic that is also good for the kids. Fishing- tons of places on the Atlantic side. Just anchor up on some structure and start chumming. Can’t have too much chum. Seriously, can’t have too much chum. Off shore you can start at the reef edge. The further you go, the quality of fish seems to increase. Small lures trolled. Everyone else is pretty spot on with the info.
Been trailering different boats down there every year for 40 years. First 30 was always Islamorada…then last 10 year’s Cudjoe up to Marathon…this year back to my roots in Islamorada. IMO, the upper Keys and the Lower Keys have the:question:
best back country fishing because there are way many more mangrove islands than the middle Keys like Marathon. Stayed in Marathon for the past couple for the offshore stuff but now have a smaller boat so will concentrate on the back country fish. Leaving in a couple weeks. Good luck on everyone’s trips.
John
2019 Hewes 18 Redfisher, 150 SHO
“Can’t have too much chum. Seriously, can’t have too much chum.”
This. Yellowtail snapper are like democrats. As long as you are handing out free stuff, they’ll hang around.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?