Marathon, Florida Keys

General Fishing Discussion
1

Need some input form folks familiar with the Marathon keys area. going for 10 days mid November and I have not been in over 15 years. Staying Gulf side, waterfront with dock.

We want to inshore fish, visit beaches, snorkel, and nearshore/offshore fish.

Option of bringing either 1) single engine 22ft Carolina Skiff Dlv fully equipped with Ipilot, power pole, etc. or 2) dual engine 27ft Sea Fox.

Opinions on which is better for the area are welcome, ie is there more shallow water activity and some nearshore when seas are 3ft or less, or are we better to have the offshore boat and limit our ability to do shallow water stuff. Also, the skiff is great for reef fishing (in light seas) with the I-pilot, while the Sea Fox must be anchored.

Also, I would be eternally grateful if any of ya’ll have any great inshore and/or nearshore spots for snorkeling, finishing, or beaching that you would be willing to share. You could PM me or email georgetownwater@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!

2

I just got back from Marathon this past Saturday, we stayed on the Atlantic side with a dock. Not a lot from the dock since we were back a ways from the inlet to the ocean.
Atlantic side is better for good eating fish (all kinds of snapper, mahi, ect…) but both sides have good fishing.
If you want to snorkel from the boat then best place would be the Sombrero lighthouse reef. From land you can try Sombrero beach, Bohia Honda state park, & Horseshoe park. We had 15pmh winds the entire time so the water clarity was not that great.
As far as which boat… I would check & see what is biting that time of year. If they are farther out like going for Mahi, Sails, & larger species of the same fish you can catch at the inshore reefs then you may want to take the 27ft so if the winds are up it still should not be a problem. If the inshore reefs & wrecks are hot then the 22ft should be fine. There are different species of fish at the reefs depending on the time of year. Last time we went in Aug & caught a lot of red species of snapper where as this time only caught yellow tail snapper. There are a lot of patch reefs & wrecks in the general area of the Sombrero Lighthouse.
Either way make sure you have a depth finder with good maps because you do have to be careful for the shallows.
I think the biggest issue with the 27ft would be if you wanted to do any flats fishing & of course it takes a lot more gas to go offshore vs staying inshore.

3

Some old numbers…
3404 Islamorada

34040001 Pickles Reef 24 59.17 80 24.94

34040002 Alligator Reef 24 51.07 80 37.21

34040003 Davis Reef 24 55.32 80 30.36

34040004 Conch Reef 24 57.11 80 27.57

34040005 Mutton Snapper Reef 24 56.61 80 29.72

34040006 Hens and Chickens 24 55.90 80 32.90

34040007 Wreck of the Eagle 24 52.17 80 34.21

34040008 Tennessee Reef Research 24 41.13 80 57.81

34040009 Crockers Wall 24 54.24 80 31.59

34040010 Crocker Ridges 24 54.19 80 31.81

34040011 Pleasure Reef 24 54.81 80 30.95

34040012 Pocket, The 24 53.89 80 32.18

34040013 USS Alligator 24 51.07

34040014 Cannabis Cruiser 24 49.50 80 38.59

34040015 Crocker Valley 24 54.03 80 31.97

34040016 Davis Twenty-Thirty

34040017 Hammerhead Reef 24 53.33 80 32.81

34040018 Victory Reef 24 53.30 80 32.95

34040019 Crocker Reef 24 54.44 80 31.50

34040020 Aquarium Reef/A&B Patch 24 53.47 80 33.33

34040021 Fish Bowl 24 53.60 80 33.16

34040022 Cheeca Rocks 24 54.27 80 36.93

34040023 Horseshoe (Near Conch) 24 57.40 80 27.42

34040024 The Pillars 24 59.53 80 24.51

34040025 The Garden (Rocky Top Reef) 24 53.72 80 34.34

34040026 Snapper Ledge 24 58.91 80 25.32

34040027 El Fuego (or Spanish Lady)

34040028 Pete’s Reef/Amy’s Reef

34040100 Conch Reef Research Only (Habitat) 25 57.00 80 25.42

34040101 Conch Reef Research Only, Monitoring Site AQ1

34040102 Conch Reef Research Only, Monitoring Site AQ2

34040103 Conch Reef Research Only, Monitoring Site AQ3

34040104 Forty Foot Ledge

34040105 MM82 (shoredive)

34040106 Billy’s Reef

34040107 Ocean Pointe Condos

34040108 Harry Harris Park

34040109 Newfound Reef

34040110 Betty’s Bump 24 56.90 80 28.02

34040111 Runway Reef 24 56.27 80 29.06

34040112 Reef near Infante Wreck 24 56.51 80 28.50

34040113 Aquarius S4 30m Site

34040114 Aquarius 20m P

4

Wow Dillydally, thanks.

22’ Carolina DLV - For Reel

5

Just recently stayed in Marathon myself (March-April). Don’t know what the Atlantic side would be like in the fall, but I think you would be better served with the skiff if you want to do anything at all inshore. Since there is good bottom fishing within sight of shore in the bay or the Atlantic, the skiff should work for that as well assuming seas are relatively calm for this time of year. I know the spring was a little breezy, so it limited me in the ocean with my 18’ bay boat on a few days.

As for reefs - good snorkling at Coffins Patch which is straight out from Key Colony beach on the Atlantic side. The other numbers from dilly dally are great intel as well, just pick the ones closest to you, you shouldn’t have to go far to catch fish down there.

6

Get in touch with these guys. Last time I was there it was owned by two guys that moved there from Atlanta.

https://thetacklebox.com/

I’d rather fish than eat.

A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

In God We Trust

7

Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada has a 4 hour bottom fishing charter that I believe was about $50. I did the night trip and got several keeper yellowtail snapper, grunts, and mangrove snapper, plus plenty of throw backs.