jackknife

First post, regular lurker. Impressive forum.

Like all the posts about Keys fishing. I'd like to move there within a year or two.

Any opinions?

Or would it be better to move just south of Jacksonville area?

Thank you.

don

if you can afford not to work then go to the keys , but if your needing a job move elsewere and trailer your boat down.

jackknife

Thanks, Don. That seems like sensical counsel.

Is it very crowded in the keys (tavernier, islamorada)?

Does it get crowded for a few months of the summer (or other months?) and then pretty much levels off for the remainder of the year?

Is it realy 'touristy'?

Is there an 'away from it all' feel to the place? (I hope so)

Or has the world infiltrated it with fast food and go-carts and goony golf? (nothing against goony golf)?

I know these are dumb questions, but I've not been and I'd like to get a feel for it from the folks in this forum, who seem to have an outlook I appreciate. Thanks.

MrPat

Key West is the most toursty of the Keys. The Keys are not about taking the kids to Putt Putt, or amusement parks. There are no beaches of any quality. The Keys are mostly about boating, fishing and diving. There are not too many big resorts; mostly Ma and Pa motels and hotels. Many people rent houses on the water and bring their boats for a keys vacation. There are plenty of good bars and restuarants for all. The big season is Winter. The snow birds fill up the place. There is also a the lobster season. Rooms cost $$$ during the "seasons".

Many people want to move to the Keys, but few can afford the real estate. As was said above, there is really no work there. If you are retiring, and have a taste for expensive reale state, the Keys will work. If you are moving down to Florida and need to work and you want to fish, the Stuart area is good. Stuart is not as costly as the Keys; has good fishing, and work is available.

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jackknife

Thanks, Mr. Pat -- that really answers alot. I'll be looking into the Stuart area. Any pointers on where that is?

MrPat

South of Cape Canaveral and north of Palm Beach on the east coast.

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Reelnative

Mr Pat is correct, Stuart is a nice place to Fish and to live. The keys are real nice, but like so many said, it's expensive and the taxes will eat you up! I still love it there, and wish I had the money to retire there. One note if you wanted an investment, if you can afford to buy a decent place there and hold onto it for 5 years you could almost double your money ! lol

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http://www.SportFishingFlorida.net

Capt Bill Welder

Property values have doubled and in some cases tripled in less than 5 years in the lower keys.

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"Key West...Where the weird turn pro"