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Random Quote: If it's got tits or tires, sooner or later its gonna give ya trouble!!
My wife and I are heading to Ramrod Key the first week in April for some polespearing and fishing. We usually just head out the coral heads on the ocean side and wear out the snapper and occasional grouper. I have been doing some research on places backside on the gulf and will be exploring those during this trip. One place that looks real promising are the content keys. Looking at maps it looks like it could be real difficult to navigate and get to. Was wondering if anyone dives or fishes here and what would be the best way (where to launch and what channels to follow) to get there and how is the fishing and diving there. I will be trailering my 18' hewes flats boat down, and doubt i will be able to get out on the atlantic side. Also if anyone has any suggestions for any good spots around ramrod key please let me know. Thanks
Jonathan
I have fished out there from Big Pine Key. There is a good channel from the ramp at Big pine fish camp. you will have to be able to navigate by sight and there are a few poles that mark it. I have only fished for bonefish and Permit there and it was good for that. just outside(west) the keys there is a reef/shelf that may be good for your activities.
Ramp on Blimp is at the end of the road and is not some where I could launch so I didn't think of it but you are right , he might try it, it's a nice little spot !
Kemp Channel (between Summerland and Cudjoe Key) allows access to both the Atlantic and Gulf sides. Its accesible from the aforementioned ramp on Blimp Road (north side of Cudjoe, look for Fat Albert blimp in the sky as a landmark), as well as a couple other ramps in the area.
The backside is gorgeous...Contents and Sawyer Keys, as well as Johnston Keys and more. Lots of shallow bars, so pay attention to water color (and birds standing), at low tide the exposed bars seem to go on forever, most of it is in the Great White Heron (actually a color morph of the Great Blue heron) preserve. Once you are just north of the actual keys back there it's pretty deep, ten to 25 feet, lots of BIG brain and star coral heads and small ledges for pole spearing.
My favorite area in the Keys.
Ramp on Blimp is at the end of the road and is not some where I could launch so I didn't think of it but you are right , he might try it, it's a nice little spot !
Yes, it's a shallow ramp. I can't launch my 24' bay boat there except at a real high tide - but can get the boat out except at a real low tide.
There's a pay-for ramp at www.cudjoegardensmarina.com/ $7 I think.
I've launched a 25 ft'r at Cudjoe Gardens ramp...Mile Marker 22, IIRC, then south about a quarter mile or so, on the left. It's on the west side of Cudjoe, you'll have to head out the Atlantic side (marked channel) then turn left (north) up Kemp Channel to get to the back country area.
won't be down until the night of March 31 so that leaves lobestering out. Looking forward to trying to get some grouper since the pressure has been off of them, hopefully we will be able to poke a few.
Will be down the same week myself and on Ramrod; I grew up spending the winter on Ramrod.
Niles channel goes all the way through, not a real tricky route. Will the boat be in the water on Ramrod?
Dolphin Marina on Little Torch is a decent facility and very close if you're staying on the east side of Ramrod.
__________________ Frank 30' Hydrasports Vector "Jolly Roger"
Will be down the same week myself and on Ramrod; I grew up spending the winter on Ramrod.
Niles channel goes all the way through, not a real tricky route. Will the boat be in the water on Ramrod?
Dolphin Marina on Little Torch is a decent facility and very close if you're staying on the east side of Ramrod.
It's been a while since I was at Dolfin Marina. Could that ramp handle a 30 ft. walkaround? My father has told me stories about the incredible fishing in the content keys in the 1950's. I'm glad to hear it's still beautiful.
__________________ 1998 Key Largo 222 (sold)
1998 175hp Mariner
I will prob be dropping the boat in everyday, I can keep in the water but have some rivets that leak and dont want to rely on the auto bilge, I know what that leads too. But hopefully will have very good weather and little wind. I know, yeah right, but I can hope. I will staying on the west side of Ramrod
First went there with a canoe, fishing gear, frying pan and warm beer.
Went with a tent for twice ayear for four years starting in 1978. Then the girls wanted showers and A/C so we stayed at Looe Key Resort.
There is a public ramp on the north side of Little Torch Key, get a chart and work your way out there. You can not camp anymore and I still pull my whaler down twice a year.
I have hundereds of pics , but I will try to post one of our first camps. Good luck.
Content Keys Florida 
these are from 1978,me and my canoe . Boy things have changed 
