Help! Marathon Keys Trip - The Hull Truth

BigNiner19 · 07-13-2009, 10:08 PM

Kind of got a last minute trip to the keys planned for my birthday (the girlfriend threw most of it together). I'm bringing the boat down, and we are staying at a place called Banana Bay Resort. I have a slip and everything. The resort looks to be on the Gulf side and close to something called "Pretty Joe Rock" Its not to far away from the 7 mile bridge.

Any fishing/snorkling recomendations or warnings for me? I currently do not have a GPS for the Mako, but I am looking into one hopefully before the trip. I would like to just drift some reefs for snapper, kingfish, dolphin, or whatever might bight and pull some line for fun. I know the girlfriend will want to snorkle a pretty shallow area too. Please help a newbie out!

Cory

Cmann · 07-14-2009, 03:11 AM

i dont know...maybe its me...but i'd invest in a gpsmap. unless you've been around the area you are going to stay....it's tough without a map/gps.
i guess we're getting spoiled?

29 NORTH · 07-14-2009, 01:15 PM

Running aground is fun in the Keys, most of the time it is all sand problem is getting off the bar is a issue, depending how fast you are going, how ever most bars are easy to see if the sun is out. Having said that, you need a map or a G PS to be happy. Learning your area is not hard, usually if you see a boat some where you can usually go there. The 7 mile bridge is ok for fishing with some deep holes in places, running to the reef is just generally head offshore and look for the other boats and it will be about 5-8 miles out.

CudjoeDon · 07-14-2009, 03:24 PM

Sombrero Light and Coffin Patch are pretty close to there -- oceanside of 7-mile bridge about 4 miles. Sombrero Light is easy because you can see the tower. Looe Key, about 8 miles is the best all-around for snorkeling and diving [plus there are fishing buoys just outside the sanctuary area]. At least get one of the free paper Teall charts when you get here -- better would be a GPS or a real chart. Be careful, if you run aground on sea grass or on a coral reef, and law enforcement is involved, you can be responsible for restoration costs. Dolphin are likely going to be 200' plus, so at least a mile outside the reef [lately most seem to be in 500 feet or more]. Decent fishing right around 7-mile bridge -- just watch the currents there.

CudjoeDon

ljk · 07-14-2009, 03:41 PM

Dolphin are too far out for your boat right now. Buy one of the hotspots charts from the local tackle shops. One of my favorite spots for snapper (various kinds) and grouper is a ledge that goes from 70 to 90 feet of water just south of the southwest yellow buoy marking the Sombrero light sanctuary.

Also, the mangrove snappers are hitting at night right now. Any of the hotspots in 35 to 65 feet of water on the main reef should be good.

jvtuna · 07-14-2009, 03:51 PM

Bigniner19, send me you mail address and I'll send you some info. You will need a gps but for some but I have a few others I'll tell you about.

TinManMike · 07-14-2009, 04:39 PM

As others have said, get a good chart of the area. There are no- fishing zones ( marked by large yellow bouys), around Sombrero Tower and Coffins Patch. Great snorkeling, no fishing inside the yellow bouys. Just got back from 10 days there. PM me and I'll give you a few decent #'s to try. Have fun on your trip and watch the currents around 7-mile bridge and Vaca Cut Bridge.

endotheline · 07-14-2009, 05:11 PM

Sombrero Light is probably the best snorkeling near where you are going to be staying, and 10-30ft deep. Go under the 7mile and you'll see the Tower in the distance. Coffins Patch is good too, though a bit of a hike, from Banana Bay. East Washwoman Shoal is ok too, and nearshore. About 3 miles oceanside southeast of where you'll cross under the 7mile.

Fishing gonna be difficult without the GPS and/or depth (you have that?). Like others have said, Mangoes at night still around 50ft, and Yellowtails deeper, 80-100, with some muttons around too...LOTS of chum!

endotheline · 07-14-2009, 05:18 PM

NOAA Charts....zoom, zoom, zoom

http://demo.geogarage.com/noaa/

Cmann · 07-14-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljk

Dolphin are too far out for your boat right now. .

be sure to tell him when..........

gene therapy · 07-14-2009, 05:59 PM

I have stayed at the Banana Bay a couple times and when you navagate to the docks there, HUNG the wall or you will run aground. Nice place you will like it.

BigNiner19 · 07-15-2009, 08:45 AM

Thanks for all the help guys. I can use all the help anyone is willing to give.

I'm still looking into a GPS/Sounder. The problem is, it looks like Garmin is coming out with a new model, but havent released it for sale yet...but will very soon. Maybe before the trip? I would hate to buy an older model when the new one just came out for just a few bucks more.

Cory

C Tuna · 07-17-2009, 09:19 AM

Cory,

I have made that trip many times and in fact stayed at the Banana Bay several times during Lobster Mini Season.

Here are some must do's:

Sombero Light -- Great snorkling and easy to locate. Just becareful when going under 7 mile bridge. There is typically a sandbar on the SW side and can be issues at low tide.

7 mile bridge -- Get a couple pounds of chum and anchor on the up current side of the bridge, we typically go down to the little island (can't remember the name) and fish 3 or 4 pilings down. Great mangrove snapper fishing.

Lobster -- You will be there during Lobster season. Go to a dive shop and get the info and equipment. The best method is drag behind the boat with snorkle gear and look for antennas. If you get lucky and get a few, take them back to the hotel and grill them. Nothing better.

GPS - As a minimum get a Garmin hand held. I have owned a 76CS for many years and it has allow me to go places I would never attempt without.

Good luck.
Charlie

PS Did you ever figure out where the bilge water was coming from?

BigNiner19 · 07-18-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Tuna

Cory,

I have made that trip many times and in fact stayed at the Banana Bay several times during Lobster Mini Season.

Here are some must do's:

Sombero Light -- Great snorkling and easy to locate. Just becareful when going under 7 mile bridge. There is typically a sandbar on the SW side and can be issues at low tide.

7 mile bridge -- Get a couple pounds of chum and anchor on the up current side of the bridge, we typically go down to the little island (can't remember the name) and fish 3 or 4 pilings down. Great mangrove snapper fishing.

Lobster -- You will be there during Lobster season. Go to a dive shop and get the info and equipment. The best method is drag behind the boat with snorkle gear and look for antennas. If you get lucky and get a few, take them back to the hotel and grill them. Nothing better.

GPS - As a minimum get a Garmin hand held. I have owned a 76CS for many years and it has allow me to go places I would never attempt without.

Good luck.
Charlie

PS Did you ever figure out where the bilge water was coming from?

C Tuna,

Thanks for the great information. I had to rush out of town for a couple days, so I wasn't able to do much to the boat. One thing I did do before I tarped the boat when I left, was I mopped up all the water that was sitting in the bilge with the boat on the trailer to make it dry in the bilge.

I'm sure it rained a little while I was gone, but nothing should have got into the hull with it covered the way it is. The water has a distinct smell and I suspect its wet foam. I still have not ruled out a leak from somewhere yet though, because there could be normal water sitting in the bilge from wet foam, and then more water coming in when the boat is actually IN the water.

I'll continue to investigate when I get the chance too and will post back what I find. Its truely going to be trial and error and here. Thanks again for the responses and feedback.

Cory

mahi231 · 07-19-2009, 06:56 AM

Get a "Top Spot" chart for the "middle" keys. It will give plenty of fishing info to get you started. They are available at West Marine among other places.

Pride's Pace · 07-19-2009, 01:01 PM

Look for birds and troll ballyhoo through them and once you hook a dolphin keep it on the line and the others will follow it right too the boat. We did it once and threw chug bugs on light tackle and tore them up...It was a blast.

Spear_Rod1 · 07-25-2009, 09:03 AM

while you're donw you're deffinatly going to wanna go lobstering becuase fresh lobster on the grill is hard to beat. get in 5-15ft of water and look for their little antena's poking out of the coral heads and what not.