Looking for Florida Keys advice

[JimC]

I have a family vacation slated for the first two weeks of March in the Florida Keys. While the focus of the trip is not fishing, I plan to sneak out and wet a line a couple times. I’m looking for recommendations for a low key, back county guide. I’ll be looking to FF but since it will be a completely new environment for me I’ll be more interested in the experience than driven to catch a bone, permit or tarpon. Don’t get me wrong I want to catch fish but I fish way too much not to distinguish fishing from catching.

I’d also be interested the general information on areas that lend themselves to public wading access in the vicinity of Sugarloaf Key. Can anybody shed any light or offer any suggestions? If you live in that area and have access and local knowledge, I’ll gladly offer a trip swap on the Merrimack/Plum Island Sound on the Mass NH boarder (if you haven’t fished for stripers here on an ebb tide in June at false dawn you’re missing out!)

[gf]

quote:Originally posted by JimC:

I have a family vacation slated for the first two weeks of March in the Florida Keys.



Jim, I sure hope Ethan isn't going to miss any school!

My wife, a teacher, would not approve!

Sorry, I can't give you any suggestions. I went to the Boy Scout Sea Base in Islamorada in '91, I thought it was great.

[JimC]

Hey Gordon, two weeks in the Keys with his own personal marine educator? Com'mon man, she'd have to approve! I'll forward a copy of his science journal to if it would make you more comfortable!

[Capt Bill Welder]

From Sugarloaf key to Key West their not many places to wade. However, heading back towards Marathon from Sugarloaf their are many good places to wade. Bahia Honda State Park [12 miles] and Missouri Key[16 miles]to name a few.
All the tarpon will be on the gulf side filling up on mullet until the 3rd week in April.
Lots of jacks and barracuda that time of the year in shallow water on or near the flats.

[blazeman2]

jim, hate to say it but you might post the same question on the floridasportsman site in the florida keys section there are a bunch of guides that contribute , my experience says there is a lot more back country to be offered in the islamorada marathon area but good luck