Keys in Mid-March - The Hull Truth

Jamisjockey · 02-26-2010, 02:45 PM

Okay so I've had enough of this snow and awful east coast weather.
I'm really, really tempted to try and throw together a couple guys and make a run for the keys. I've got a couple days set aside (in a week and a half from now). Plan would be to drive down.
Anyways, what I need are ideas on where to fish. Depending on the number that go, i might try and rent a skiff for a day, but we'd probably be mostly bank and wade fishing.
Which key is best for that, where should we stay on the cheap, and what should we do? What fish should we target?

Any advice would be nice.

triumphrick · 02-26-2010, 03:06 PM

I would head to the upper keys, Key Largo, Islamaroda, Marathon. You can fisbh from shore in many places, especially arond the bridges. All lightweight fishing with DOA's. Terror Eyz, gold spoons, etc. If you get to marathon and Bahia Honda state park, the railroad trestle holds fish as well as the inlet across the street on the Gulf side.
Any bait shop in the areas you go to can help you target specific areas. The water is always clear and beautiful.
Here's a link to the area...

http://www.fla-keys.com/maps/

Jamisjockey · 02-26-2010, 03:43 PM

Thanks! I was starting to think Islmorada, too. Now to get a crew together.

Steve_250 · 02-26-2010, 03:49 PM

I sometimes stay at Captain Pip's in Marathon.
For the cost of the room, you get a 21' CC also.
You just fill the tank back up.
Sunrise to sunset use only.
You can google them for their rates.

My concern is that you say you have a couple days set aside.
It'll take that much just to drive, you'll need more time, like a week!

Jamisjockey · 02-26-2010, 04:02 PM

Don't have more time. Wife wants to have family time during the kid's spring break. 18 hour road trip, 3 days in the Keys, 18 hours back. Why not, we only live once

I'll look up Captain Pips. My only concern with that is getting there and the weather being iffy (windy, for instance), and not being able to take the boat out.

Steve_250 · 02-26-2010, 04:13 PM

Ok, thought you only had two days for the whole trip.
Whew......

If it's windy on the ocean side, you can do the bay side.
Lots of mangroves all over the place to hit in the morning, target the shade and watch before approaching.

If bay is windy, hit the ocean side.

For $1300 - $1600, not bad even without use of the boat.
http://www.captainpips.com/suites.htm

Jamisjockey · 02-26-2010, 04:50 PM

Leaning towards a notellmotel deal, trying to keep the cost as low as possible. Having trouble getting any of my friends on board, since its last minute and all, though.

ccboatguy · 02-26-2010, 05:35 PM

Look into this place http://www.oldwoodenbridge.com/
It's nothing fancy, but It's right next to the No-name bridge which has a deep channel and one of the better bridges for fishing.

bird2 · 02-26-2010, 11:23 PM

im gonna be down in the keys march 11th for about 10 days....im lookin for someone to throw up on costs of maybe chartering a boat down there

ljk · 02-27-2010, 05:35 AM

Here are some cheap motels in Marathon, in the order that I would probably try them: Kingsail, Royal Hawiian, Coconut Cay. As previous poster said, lots of places to shore fish, and in Marathon we have the Marathon Lady head boat for $35 or $40 for a half day fishing, tackle included.

Jamisjockey · 02-27-2010, 06:28 AM

Thanks for the scoop

Still trying to find the rest of a crew to travel with me from up here. Hope I can pull it off, even if I've only got 3 days down there. Another dusting of snow this morning

23Dorado · 02-27-2010, 12:57 PM

If you are worried about wind (and you should be in March) you should really not consider Marathon in my opinion. It's the most exposed on both the bay side and ocean side. I would consider Big Pine, Islamorado or even Key Largo. All of those areas have a more sheltered bay side with some good back country areas.

caltexflanc · 02-28-2010, 08:42 AM

Old Wooden Bridge is "rustic", you feel like you have really gotten away from it all. A big plus is that you are a block or two from the No Name Pub, a real Keys funky institution with some of the best pizza and bar food you will ever have; it is family friendly. Somebody in what passes for the marina there may lend or rent you a boat. You are about a half hour from Marathon or Key West, give or take, and 15 minutes from the fantastic beach at Bahia Honda, so you can fish while the kids have a blast.

We like to anchor the Hatt in the Bahia Honda harbor between the bridges, and take the Whaler over to No Name at least once... ahhh the good life! The photo in my profile was taken from the old bridge at Bahia Honda by a thoughtful stranger. There is a nice little protected beach inside of the bridge on the harbor too. Very popular with families; there is ice cream and snacks right there too.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport

CJS · 02-28-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_250

I sometimes stay at Captain Pip's in Marathon.
For the cost of the room, you get a 21' CC also.
You just fill the tank back up.
Sunrise to sunset use only.
You can google them for their rates.

My concern is that you say you have a couple days set aside.
It'll take that much just to drive, you'll need more time, like a week!

I did the Capt Pips deal once. Nice rooms, but pricey. Boats was a
major POS, so be careful what you get. Attitude of the staff was
lousy. Maybe with the economy in the toilet they'll at least pretend
to care about their customers.

Jamisjockey · 03-01-2010, 01:58 PM

Okay so I wasn't able to pull together a crew, but now the wife wants to take the family down there at the end of the month, rather than pollute this thread further, I'm going to start a new one.

shoot-straight · 03-02-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJS

I did the Capt Pips deal once. Nice rooms, but pricey. Boats was a
major POS, so be careful what you get. Attitude of the staff was
lousy. Maybe with the economy in the toilet they'll at least pretend
to care about their customers.

i go there alot, staff is OK (not great, but OK), but i dont know what you are callling expensive.... 200 a night for a room (clean one) WITH a boat. you have to be kidding me.

the rental fleet is just fine in my opinion too. unless you think a classic mako is junk. most boats now have new 4 strokes on them too. my 20' cobia ran like a top for me.

Jamisjockey · 03-02-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoot-straight

i go there alot, staff is OK (not great, but OK), but i dont know what you are callling expensive.... 200 a night for a room (clean one) WITH a boat. you have to be kidding me.

the rental fleet is just fine in my opinion too. unless you think a classic mako is junk. most boats now have new 4 strokes on them too. my 20' cobia ran like a top for me.

The cheapest price I see at Pips is $280 a night, before all fees.

Joe Mc 44 · 03-02-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamisjockey

The cheapest price I see at Pips is $280 a night, before all fees.

If you are looking to come. to the Keys on the cheap you are going to be disappointed. Be prepared to spend some $$$$ but it will be money well spent. Pretty windy in March though so you may be spending most of your time in the back country.

WHITEY1736 · 03-02-2010, 08:09 PM

I'm going to possibly be in the Daytona area on Memorial day weekend...any ideas on good day/half day fishing trips that I can hit up? I figured I'd just tag onto this thread rather than start a new one. thanks

airbrush · 03-03-2010, 04:15 AM

Jason:
Beware of the winds of March!!
Upper Keys
Today...Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots and gusty...decreasing to near 20 knots in the afternoon. Seas beyond the reef 5 to 10 feet... Highest beyond 20 nm offshore. Seas inside the reef 2 to 4 feet. Nearshore waters very rough. Isolated showers in the morning.

Tonight...Northwest winds near 20 knots. Seas beyond the reef subsiding to 4 to 7 feet...highest beyond 20 nm south of the middle keys. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters rough.

Thursday Through Friday...Northwest to north winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas beyond the reef 4 to 6 feet. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.

Saturday...North winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas beyond the reef 4 to 6 feet. Seas higher in the gulf stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.

Sunday...North to northeast winds near 15 knots and gusty. Seas beyond the reef 3 to 6 feet. Seas higher in the gulf stream. Seas inside the reef around 2 feet. Nearshore waters a moderate chop to choppy.