We’re planning a trip down to Miami on this July 4th weekend, then work our way down toward the Keys. Have anyone fish down there before? Any pointers on fishing, dining, and things to do while we’re down there? Anything would help! This is our first trip there so we don’t know what to expect!
I have been going down for the last 5 years and am slowly figuring out fishing the reefs. It kind of depends on what you are fishing for. We mainly fish for yellowtail and you must chum, chum and then chum some more. We have caught other fish but mainly target YTs. We are going down July 18 and plan to try a little bottom fishing as well as shark and some night reef fishing. If you want some info, I would be glad to send you all I have. PM an email address and I can send you quite a bit of info.
As far as dining, it depends on where you will be in the Keys. Things to do pretty much all involve water in one way or another. There aren’t really any real nice sandy beaches in the Keys. There are a few scattered up and down the Keys but not like you will find on mainland FL.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Where will you be going? I fished out of Summerland Key for the past three years.
Thank you for the info!
DFreedom, Here’s my email: pqstonecity@gmail.com. Please send me any info that you may have. Thank you so much!
We’re leaving this afternoon to Miami, stay there for a night or two, then head to Key West. We don’t have that much time, but we’ll make the best out of it. I can only manage couple hours to fish in the evening. I may hop on Miss Islmorada party fishing boat if I have a full day. Beside that, I guess fishing from the bridge is my only option. Rapchizzle, where did you fish at Summerland Key? Off of bridges or by boat? Any tips on bridge fishing?
Just sent you an email.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
quote:
This is our first trip there so we don't know what to expect!.......snipped........then head to Key West.
If you’ve never been to Key West, expect to see some sights that you won’t see anywhere else from San Francisco to New Orleans 
They say poop runs downhill, and that’s about as far down as you can go in the USA. Every species of humanity is represented down there, and some you won’t even recognize [:0] Good food, good music, good drinks, crowds of drunks, rated PG during the day and X after the sun goes down. XXX after midnight. The Mel Fisher treasure museum is well worth the visit, butterfly farm is pretty cool too.
Most of the bridges all the way down have been replaced with new ones, but they left many of the old bridge sections in place for fishing piers. Some are a mile or more long. I’ve never fished off of them, always pull my boat, but a lot of people do.
Get a snorkel trip to Looe Key marine sanctuary, that should be no problem. Several boats run those. Check out all the Key Deer on Big Pine and No Name keys. Get there at sunset and you’ll see hundreds of little deer that will come up and eat out your hand. It’s against the law to feed them, but they will stick their heads in the truck window so I reckon most people don’t follow the law. While there, get a pizza and conch fritters at the No Name Cafe, oldest bar in the keys, good food!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Bring some jorts, a fluorescent tank top and some horrible looking sandals. That will allow you to fit in at “Fat Tuesday”, the hot spot of Key West!!!
Forgot to mention too, if in Key West you have to check out the sunset party every evening at Sunset park, where hundreds gather to catch a glimpse of the phenomena known as the “green flash” at the moment the sun sets.
A lot of those folks I’m sure see the green flash on a regular basis, probably more than once a day You can also watch half naked albino tattooed transvestites with albino pythons wrapped around their necks, and one legged pirates with real eye patch, wooden leg and parrot on their shoulder. It’s got to be the greatest place in the world for people watching.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Thank you all for the tips and great info!
We had a blast over the weekend. Saw many interesting things we never seen before. We caught a bunch of mangrove snappers. Jacks are everywhere, chasing the bait. Over all, great view, great food and great time! Best vacation for us so far.
Excellent. Heading down in about a week and really looking forward to it. My oldest is doing his open water cert dives while we are down there.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Headed to Islamorada on Monday. Dolphin bite is hot!
Bigger fish are starting to show up as well!! Goodluck!
Bad Habit Charters Islamorada F.L.