[MVPAEC]

Will be trailerng 24 Ft C Hawk down to the keys for a week long fishing adventure with some buddies. Looking for some advise as what area of the keys we should concentrate on for this time of year. Will be leaving NJ on 1/10/03 and returning 11/19. Have a chip that covers from Miami all the way down to key west including the Bahamas. Being that we have are own
boat the only thing that we will be limited by will be the weather. Looking to start our trip out of Islamorada and posiibbly head to key west or even the Bahamas if weather permits. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[Hman158]

Florida Keys Fishing

Just got back from the keys and the fishing is hot and heavy. Any of the humps at Islamorada or Marathon are working big time. Lot's of nice yellow tails and the king mackarel were jumping in the boat. They were all over the place.

Of course, there were the standard fare of sharks and barracuda along with blue runners and mutton snapper. The best spot was the Atlantic side of Marathon and the gulf south of key west.

Hope it helps guy. You really can't go wrong fishing anywhere in the keys. The only restriction I see with your boat may be the wind. It blows pretty good down there this time of year.

 

[619619]

Re: fishing in the keys

Islamarada is a nice place to start. The fishing is really good there. January is a good month for sailfish. I was down there last January and witnessed incredible sailfishing. Charter boats were catching them like bluefish. Before you go out for them, talk to the guys in the tackle stores. They are real helpful. If you troll some ballyhoo for them, put a plastic skirt on them.
If you like bottom fishing, the area around Islamarada is full of reefs. The water is shallow and clear so you can see the reefs. Just stop over a darkspot and drift with any cut bait. You'll catch porgy size fish nonstop. They are the most colorful fish you have ever seen. The species of fish you'll catch on the reef is endless. You never know what you'll catch.
If you are trailering your boat down to the keys, I heard from a noreast member that the dolphin bite off the palm beaches is unbelievable.
I've tried fishing down off Key west ,Marathon and Islamarada. Islamarada has everything you ever want to catch. Its a good idea to be where the charter and party boat fleet is. They lead you to the fish. Without them, you'd be fishing blind and guessing where the fish are.
If you stay in Islamarada, pay a visit to World wide sportman store. Its the biggest tackle store in the keys. They got everything, including the boat that was used in the movie "Key Largo".
If your really serious about Key fishing , look up florida sportman magazine. They got a fishing forum just like noreast. You'll get alot more information than I can give.