I’m heading down to Key West the first week of Sep for a little family vacation, and I will be dragging my 17’ boat. I’m looking for any info you guys may have on fishing out of Key West. Reef/wreck locations, tackle, techniques, etc. I primarily want to do bottom fishing for meat, and then fill the extra time with flats fishing for permit, bonefish, tarpon, sharks, etc. I would also like to do some snorkeling.
Thanks in advance.
Go on the bayside over grass. Fish the channels either by drifting or anchor up in 5-15ft. Fish with FRESH pieces of bait on the bottom. You should catch all the Mangrove snapper you want. Remember the size limit (10") I caught Ballyhoo in the cast net and cut them up into small pieces and also saved the bloodline out of some Dolphin. They both worked equally as well. Fished out of Cudjoe Key (20 miles north of Key West)
irobalo we’re gonna be in cudjoe key the last week of sept.got any suggestions on where to fish.we are not taking the boat.i might rent one though.
Go to Google Earth and you will see how the channel runs past the Blimp Base then out towards the gulf…fish that channel going out near those islands…without a boat you can drive up to Big Pine Key (not far at all) and go to the “Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp” http://oldwoodenbridge.com/ . There is a bridge there that you will see folks fishing off of. Even though we took the boat, we still fished off that bridge some. Even had some deer run across the bridge while we were fishing to get to the next island…strange.
Sharky, give me a call. I’m sitting in our marina watching all the boats running the channels out of Cudjoe with Qbeams for the start of mini season this morning. Think I’ll just wait for sun up…
raining like crazy up here finally, rap. let’s see pix of the bugs later today!
julie and i are working on a honeymoon trip down there in nov- probably trip around from marathon/bahia/KW for a week… lookin for a B&B as a base, a little rental bote, and lots of booze. all tips are appreciated- esp those general fishing tactics (thanks Irobalo). i’ll give you a shout in the next couple to discuss, chris. just got my invite for the last al oswald (3.5wks)…
NW, I tell everybody I see saying they’re going to Keys to check GA and FL boat towing requirements - - they want trailer tags, boat straps, etc not required here. Their DNR’s will have the regs. Hope you have a great trip!
Brock, I’ll be fishing with you guys for the Oswald tourney so we can talk all sorts of stuff then.
Mr. Berry I’ll be home on Aug 20th for a bit. I’m trying to figure out if I’ll stay down here for Fall and Winter or come home till I head back down for Spring and Summer.
SaltWater, thanks for the tip. I’ll make sure my trailer meets requirements for GA and FL, and if the Man has a problem, I’ll simply explain that I’m transient.
SaltWater, thanks for the tip. I’ll make sure my trailer meets requirements for GA and FL, and if the Man has a problem, I’ll simply explain that I’m transient.
Been trailering a boat to the Keys for 30+ years without a tag on the trailer. Never had a problem. Perhaps I have just been lucky. Don’t forget to take a spare tire. I had a blowout on the way down there this year…also make sure you have the tools (jack, lug wrench, etc) to change it with. I had to change it with the flat off in the grass on I-95. Didn’t have enough travel on my jack…had to walk on the edge until I found some wood to go underneath it. Be prepared.
John, that’s a good word of advice. Funny coincidence, but when driving out to CHS from WA, I had my only issue on the 4500 mile trip. It was a blowout on my trailer tire in Florida. Lucky, I had everything I needed and FL-DOT sent a guy out to help me pursuade my fender back into shape with a chain and the tug of a F-250.
