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Im hoping to pull a 23' boat down to the Florida from NC late July to combine some family snorkeling with some inshore and offshore fishing as well. I have been to the Abacos many times but never to the keys. Time will probably limit us to no more than half way down. Can I please get some feedback on safe and fun areas that would have good snorkeling and fishing. Also any realty offices that handle house rental or marinas to keep the boat in the water. Any advise appreciated.
www.vrbo.com for rentals. (daily/ weekly/ monthy rentals w/ dockage available)
july 29 and 30 is mini lobster season....which is usually busy. plus you'll pay more for stay. (regular season starts 8/6)
Try the Florida Sportsman web site, there is a link/thread there just for questions about the Keys and the folks there are more than willing to point you in the right direction
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Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
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Second the VRBO site. We found a house in the lower keys last month and had a great experience. If you are staying in the upper keys. Key Largo has some great snorkleing. Islmorada is a nicer (and slightly more expensive) area. Lots of resturant choices in both locations.
I would look at one of three areas....Islamorada area, Marathon Area or Big Pine/Little Torch area. All three are great for snorkeling and fishing. Let us know which area you are going to stay and I am sure we can recommend a lot of specific things.
I agree with the others, VRBO is great for locating a house.
We are thinking about islamorada for keeping the boat. Can you reccommend a resort/marina combo where we could stay and keep the boat and also have other boaters around. Will probably do a day trip by car to the lower keys
I just got back from a stay at la siesta on islamorada. very nice place for the money. it has a ramp and two marinas one on the bayside and one at the resort on the oceanside. I stayed on islamorada a few times and La siesta is the best place so far. I'll stay there agian.
P.S.
From one guy who goes to the abaco's to another the keys are not like the out islands of the bahamas. not to say there any less fun. just don't go down thinking it's going to be the abaco's linked together by bridges (thats what I did my first time). good luck and have fun.
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WhiteBoy 36 yellowfin
Last edited by gashogg; 07-07-2009 at 12:07 PM.
Reason: info
based on a recommendation from THT, I stayed at the Breezy Palms in Islamorada a couple of times. An older hotel but worked very well with the boat. They have a ramp, slips, and trailer parking on site.
I made the same trip a couple months ago (moved from Fayetteville, NC to Cudjoe Key). I pulled my 22ft boat down in March and then a camper in May. I purposefully did most of my driving at night to avoid traffic. They're doing round the clock construction in Georgia. Wish I'd went through there during the day. The light rigs they used were pretty blinding and they have it down to one lane in several places. I normally don't mind one lane on the highway but they made it pretty narrow and used concrete barriers on both sides. I remember one was at least 10 miles long. From the looks of things they weren't going to be done anytime soon. Traffic was better at night but no one wanted to slow down (or let somone with a large truck and boat combo over) through the construction. There's also a good bit of work going on US1 in the keys right now up around Largo. Coming south won't be bad but they're detouring folks around Card Sound going north. Not sure how long that will be going on but I'll check it out if you want. Also not sure if it will be bad going north, just never been out that way so it may be an ok drive just add some time.
I made the same trip a couple months ago (moved from Fayetteville, NC to Cudjoe Key). I pulled my 22ft boat down in March and then a camper in May. I purposefully did most of my driving at night to avoid traffic. They're doing round the clock construction in Georgia. Wish I'd went through there during the day. The light rigs they used were pretty blinding and they have it down to one lane in several places. I normally don't mind one lane on the highway but they made it pretty narrow and used concrete barriers on both sides. I remember one was at least 10 miles long. From the looks of things they weren't going to be done anytime soon. Traffic was better at night but no one wanted to slow down (or let somone with a large truck and boat combo over) through the construction. There's also a good bit of work going on US1 in the keys right now up around Largo. Coming south won't be bad but they're detouring folks around Card Sound going north. Not sure how long that will be going on but I'll check it out if you want. Also not sure if it will be bad going north, just never been out that way so it may be an ok drive just add some time.
The Big Pine Key fishing lodge is a really convenient place to stay. They have rooms available- some right on their canal. The place is located on the top end of the island, right by the bridge- so you have quick access to the Atlantic as well as the gulf. Looe Key is 6 miles offshore- beautiful coral reef. If you want to avoid the crowds - do not go on the 2 day mini lobster season. In the keys the water is not always clear close to the shore as in other Caribbean Islands. Sometimes you have to run out to the reef line to get good clear water.
Beware of houses that offer deep water access that are really so far back inside canals that it takes 30 min to get out into the ocean.
Thanks for the suggestions--I'll check into the places you guys mentioned. Should I expect the offshore fishing to be any different this time of year at Islamorada or further down like Marathon or Big Pine.
Big Pine key is where I'd go, Looe Key for snorkeling, lots of fishing at the coral heads or the drop off....most places have docks....google earth the address to see how far it is to the main channel....some homes are buried so far back in the canals that it takes 30 plus minutes to get out...
You did not say how many are in your party, but I have stayed for many years at the Edgewater Lodge on the tip of long key, they have a web site just google for it. Not real fancy but docks, gas around the corner, and easy access to Florida Bay and the Reefs and off shore. If Melinda is there tell her Terry Sent you.
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Coming south won't be bad but they're detouring folks around Card Sound going north. Not sure how long that will be going on but I'll check it out if you want.
I always do that detour on purpose so I can stop at Alabama Jack's. It's worth the detour.
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There is no more detour of Northbound Hwy 1 traffice onto Card Sound Road. They lifted it a week ago, and I just drove it about 2 hours ago.
The Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge is a wonderful place, great small boat marina, you may even be able to get a unit right by you r boat. Key deer walk through the place on a regular basis. Keysey, yet very clean and well kept up.
Here is a link to the FS Forum "Keys FAQ" thread. Lots of good information here. http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=615140
Also check out their Keys Sections, general and fishing for some more helpful information.
We used to stay at Breezy on Islamorada until our boats got to big for thier marina. Always enjoyed it there. We now rent a house in Marathon that we found on VRBO.com.
Florida keys - Need Advice 
