Key west trip - The Hull Truth

grady19 · 03-01-2010, 11:16 PM

I know you flordia guys are probly irritated with everybody blowing up your threads about question on flordia keys but I have a couple of questions if you don;t mind. I am going to key west, FL on march 7th to 14th for college spring break. The question I have is I don;t know if it is a good call to haul my boat all the way down there. I have a 22 ft grady white that when I tow sucks down gas, just wondering if it would be worth it to take down there, and how good is the fishing right now. I have never fished the keys nor do I know where to go but I was planning on going in the atlantic side. I have heard you can fish for dolphin and billfish right off key west about 2 miles out, Didn;t know how true this is or not? Just seeing what your guys oppinions on hauling the boat all the way down to the keys was and how good the fishing is right now down there.

Afishinado · 03-02-2010, 02:51 AM

Depends on how lucky you are.. I have had weeks with not being able to take the boat out, and I have had trips where every day was fishable....

787337 · 03-02-2010, 05:07 AM

The spring is hit or miss due to the winds. If it were me I would not bring the boat down if I was going for less than a week. The chances are just too great that you are not going to get offshore. But there are other options like fishing Key West Harbor. It is mostly protected from the winds and can be fun for catching snapper, cobia, maybe a keeper grouper.

Prop Blast · 03-02-2010, 11:52 AM

It can be great fishing/boating or you might never take the boat off the trailer due to weather.

From Dec-Apr our fishing is controlled by fronts that come through. After a front comes through (one came through this morning) the wind swings around out of the NW to N to NE and seas get rough. Only idiots go out. As the wind swings to the east and southern quadrants, things calm down and if we can get a break between fronts, the seas calm down, temps come up and fishing is good. Then the next front comes and the cycle repeats.

As far as targeting dolphin/billfish two miles out of Key West -- I don't think so... You need to run through Hawks Channel out to the reef line; and that'll vary with your direction -- but plan on at least 6 miles.

Grouper season is closed, but Mutton Snapper are available. If you can get offshore to the Gulf Stream, almost anything is possible.

If I were you, I'd leave the boat home and save some $$ to hire a guide for one day trip reef fishing. Contact Rob at Conchy Joe's Tackle in Key West and he can book something for you.

PB

lazydawg · 03-04-2010, 10:26 AM

Don't bother to tow. Use a guide. Or if you find offshore costs are beyond what you desire to spend, rent a boat and fish around where you can get to. Don't be suprised though that if you want a good offshore day trip you could easily spend well over a grand (but you can split it with some friends).
As everyone's stated winds can easily keep you off ocean for weeks on end with a small boat.

omoo · 03-04-2010, 11:12 AM

Totally hit or miss. Spent a few years going during spring break (late March). No more, sticking to summer. Was ready to take the boat down once but had trailer problems so I bagged it, and the forecast helped me decide. Glad I did cause there was white caps running through the docks. A guy from Minn. came down for two weeks and his boat never left the trailer.

grady19 · 03-04-2010, 11:42 AM

I have been looking at the weather everyday to see what I am going to do. I probly want make up my mind tell the last minute due to weather if I take the boat down. As of now the weather from weatherunderground.com the waves for next week are suppose to from 2-5ft. If it stays that and doesn;t change I am going to take the boat down because I can Fish in that all day. Just hope the waves don;t change and if they do I hope it's for the better.

ljk · 03-04-2010, 02:44 PM

Right now, the weather for next week is looking to be the best its been in several weeks. Daytime temps in low 70s, winds below 15 mph.

prockvoan · 03-05-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljk

Right now, the weather for next week is looking to be the best its been in several weeks. Daytime temps in low 70s, winds below 15 mph.

Heading down tomorrow and will be chasing sailfish!

lazydawg · 03-05-2010, 02:18 PM

Beep horn and wave when you go over Bahia Honda Bridge, I just might be in the small white center console.
Also, watch your speed over BH bridge, cop sits in median on west end frequently. Good luck, PS if you can't get out for SF work some of the patch reefs as the mangrove snapper have left the gulf side due to cold water and are hanging out closer to the gulf stream.
Also hate to tell you KW tied or set a record this AM for coldest day!

LD

buddy29766 · 03-05-2010, 04:13 PM

Sun Night 10-15 out of the N Mon. 10-15 NE -E and Tue & Wed. E-SE 10-15 all sea are listed as 2-4. Nothing wrong with that if it holds. And the bottom, Yellowtail , Mangrove fishing is real hot right now due to the cold weather all the fish are right out front .