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Hello, doing some reserach on the Florida Keys for possible retirement. And wondering where is the best Area for fishing in the keys An Key that the travel time to the fishing grounds is minimal for both the Gulf & the Ocean. With that being said also thinking on a canal home /mobile home for year round living. so the boat is in the back yard.
For access to both the Gulf (Gulf of Mexico) and the Ocean (Gulf Stream), the closest key is Key West. The backcountry (Florida Bay) is pretty much accessable from any key.
As far as what key has the "best fishing" -- man, a lot of opinions on that!
Where you are going to choose to live is going to depend more on proximity to shopping, amenities, housing cost and how you're going to make a living if you want to supplement your retirement income than the quality of the fishing.
For example, I picked Marathon because it was the most "family-oriented, normal" area. Key West is too much of a party town, we like to go there but we wouldn't want to live there. Key Largo is a suburb of Miami, and we don't like Miami. Big Pine Key was too rural for us.
You need to come down here a lot and develop your own "feel" for the areas. Quality of the fishing, access to the ocean and gulf is about the same throughout the Major areas of the Keys.
Where you are going to choose to live is going to depend more on proximity to shopping, amenities, housing cost and how you're going to make a living if you want to supplement your retirement income than the quality of the fishing.
For example, I picked Marathon because it was the most "family-oriented, normal" area. Key West is too much of a party town, we like to go there but we wouldn't want to live there. Key Largo is a suburb of Miami, and we don't like Miami. Big Pine Key was too rural for us.
You need to come down here a lot and develop your own "feel" for the areas. Quality of the fishing, access to the ocean and gulf is about the same throughout the Major areas of the Keys.
Wow good answer, I do understand what you are saying, and It make very good sense, My thoughts were in and around Marathon for the reasons you stated. But I do want easy acess to the gulf and the Ocean for fishing.
I have been looking at the real estate market there as well and would like a place on a canal . So the baot is in the back Yard.
I now keep my boat in a marina in San Diego.
Thanks for your input and any other important info you can share would be appericated.
Greetings,
I live in Marathon. When I decided to check out the Keys I spent 3 months living on my boat and spending time in many of the Keys areas.
Marathon ended up best for me due to a real town feel and more conveniences then some of the other Keys.
Easy, quick access to both Florida Bay and the Atlantic. Great all year round fishing.
As said above key West is a party town, fun to visit not sure I want to live their.
Key Largo- little Miami.
Outlying Keys are great but a drive to stores and such.
All in all the Keys is the best place to live in the US so long as you like the water, if not you can go a little stir crazy.
when asked recently what country I was from I said "The Florida Keys" it is defently another country outside of the USA. We should be made a seperate country since the US Government wont support us down here with the problems they have brought on us with there Waste Water Issue and Down Stairs inclosures. Thank you FIMA and DC.
Used to love marathon but now i feel as though i am living in Cuba....or Miami. Hate to say it but that is why i moved away from Miami years ago. Also i am getting tired of the rude service. I know things change but IMO marathon has changed for the worst.
Key West is only a party town if you go to party. The problem with Marathon is you can't find a party even if you want to. Depending on what kind of retirement you want, Marathon may be the kind of quiet, dull place you're looking for. If you want the ability for culture, movies, dining choices, live theater, live music, peace and quiet, great waters and an occasional party, down here in Key West isn't bad. The Home Depot is better in Marathon though.
I owned a home on Long Key for 10 years. It's 15 miles south of Islamorada and 15 miles north of Marathon. I loved it. Access to the ocean and bay through channel 5 bridge can't be beat. Spend some time searching before buying, as everyone above has said, the upper keys,middle keys and lower keys are all different from each other. Good Luck
Florida Keys Fishing 
