New England surf fishing. bridge fishing has lost its appeal. you really need a boat down here to do any sort of damage. i've found some wadeable flats thats are accessible from shore, but don't have the money to afford a light tackle set-up at this time. i miss wading out to rocks in the dark, falling down in the surf, getting back up to find that your bag of eels has drifted away, etc. nothing like fishing the new england surf IMO. but i DO like snorkeling/diving, tiki bars(i know i know i was supposed to be a good boy), beautiful scenery, torquoise water, hot chicks in bikinis, cool people, etc.. anyways, i hope S-B can pull off another striper cup victory. i'll be pulling for you guys. go get em...

Rob

I think we need to do a fundraiser for Bart. Kinda like he did when Skitter was in need.

I say he is in need. Anyone got a light tackle setup for him? Or some stuff to contribute to get him one?

hahha thanks man, but no way. i wouldn't feel right. i'm doing fine and will get a set-up eventually. fundraisers should only be for those who really need them. i'm doing fine. just miss the NE surf scene thats all. i really appreciate the thought though. :kewl:

going on 2 dives on friday. pretty psyched about that :)

Get a kayak Bart! Hows that bridge fishing gonna look in January?!:uhuh:

very good point. it will be nice fishing when its 75 out down here in jan. i think i'm just frustrated because the tarpon that were hanging around my favorite bridge have seemed to vanish ever since Fay came through. but supposedly they're resident fish so hopefully they'll return.

don't get me wrong, i love it down here. just something special about fishing the rocks in the deep of night....

ps. we have 2 more storms on the way. better find my drinking shoes. when Fay came through we rode out the storm at a local tiki bar with a few other brave souls. we had tornadoes to the north and south of us and the wind blew the awning off the roof of the bar as we got pelted with rain. pretty wild but we had a blast. now if a big storm comes through, im getting the hell out...

Bart can you email me your new address?

Waaa!!
Talk to me in February..
I had a friend used to hunt snook like bass down there.
Said it was the closest thing there is to striper fishin..

The man has the dreaded Keys Disease. Man, I wish I was there.

Do the keys have an off-season?
You won't miss New England surfcasting in Dec, Jan, Feb, March...

You mean you miss stuff like last night? I sat in my truck as the lightning and thunder and monsoon rain came down, then as it was moving off I got out, got down to the beach enjoying the light show in the sky towards Chatham, all was quiet and I managed a few fish then within minutes it was roaring 25 to 30 northwest and nothing but white water, I couldn't get to my favorite bar offshore because instead of one footers they were 4' rolling through the 4 foot deep channel I needed to cross to get there before I knew it, I managed a couple more on a needle I call my lead filled snowshoe then every weed and piece of flaoting junk hit the beach and I was forced off two hours before the tide would have been peak for fishing.

The only good thing I was the only one there. I wonder why?

I would like to try the girls in the butt floss bikini thing sometime but your right, in a perverse way I would miss nights like last night too.

:cheers::confused:Maybe I'm missing something and with no offense intended but "WHADAYA NUTS!!!!!!" :smash: I save my nickels and dimes all summer to be able to afford to take the annual pilgrimage to Marathon and beyond. The magic number ever comes in for me and priority one will be securing suitable shelter down among the sportfishing battle wagons, the flats, the back country :fishin:and the Tiki bars. Down there the days are like the women, there are no ugly ones, there are just beautiful ones and then more beautiful ones. ( those unattractive weather hiccups excluded) :grins:

The only good thing I was the only one there. I wonder why?


Because you're tall? :laugha:

Seriously Bart, I'm surprised to hear you're bored and haven't been kicked back up to New England yet. You amaze me and defy my intellect..:hee:
We'll keep a candle in the window for you. :smokin:

oh i'm not bored down here. there's plenty of chit to do, and the beautiful scenery never gets old. like i said i'm doing 2 dives on friday for my certification course(b-day present from my girl) so that should be a blast...as long as the storms don't hit. i'm just saying i miss the type of fishing we do back home, that's all. if i had a boat i think i'd be singing a different song. the woman who's renting us the place said she was going to leave us her small center console but she ended up taking it with her. bummer...

i'm going to study for my certification course at bahia honda state park in a few minutes. the beach there has been voted America's #1 beach in the past.should be a bunch of hot european girls strutting around. we'll see how much i can get accomplished. again, i love it down here, just miss hitting the surf...

good to hear from ya, bartolini!!

what? no talk of Bones on the inside, and huge Kings on the outside??

also, the Keys snook are really skiddish and ya almost need a flats
boat to get to where they are hiding. the backcountry is ginormous
around the SW side of the funshine state. not THAT familiar with the Atlantic side,
if you're interested i'll pm ya sum spots info for around ~~~

Marco, Naples, the Sanibel Causeway flats, Captiva, or Boca Grande. these are just some areas i used to frequent when i lived there. there's wadeable flats, bridges, beaches, and sum inlets/coves/tidal pools to hit within those areas; kindof a haul though ~~from Big Pine. lemee know if yer interested, Rob, and i will provide the skinny for some snooks/reds/specks.

and YES!! there is NOTHING like NE fishing for the striped ones;
although, imho, legal Snook is much harder to find and land than SB.

glad to hear yer having a blast, anywho and hope you CAN return sometime for the Fall Run
or whatever your sched will allow. they's sum BIG fatt beotches being nailed from tha surf this
season and the NShore is just starting to get HOTT!! cheers, brother, and Land sum LAHHGE!!!

Going to the hunk friday night to sunday morning when the Pats open up thier first game. The fricken Ferry doesnt leave the hunk untill 4pm on sunday!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if I can swim home in my wetsuit in the morning. Im torn up about this. Just had to vent.

Bart -

Don't limit yourself on opportunities down there, there are great opportunities around Big Pine Key and both east and west of you.

the variety of opportunities available for fishing for bonefish, tarpon, snook, permit, and more from shore is endless throughout the entire Keys chain.

As with any new spot, you need to explore and be open. Over the course of eight years in Florida - three of which I worked in the Keys almost weekly - I was able to uncover a lot of opportunities.

Granted I had a boat, but also did a lot from shore and know a lot of people who are extremely successful from shore. there are more wading spots then there appear to be, fish the flats into the channel edges and you can do great - bonefish don't like water that is too shallow.

Light tackle is a relative term, as tarpon, permit, snook, sharks and more can make mincemeat out of light tackle ... make sure you have appropriate tackle and take your gear to the tackle shop. Big Pine Key Outfitters I think closed a few years ago, that was Capt. Jim Sharpe's shop, but I think there is another one there. But you can also shoot up to Marathon or scoot down to Sugarloaf key to the marina, they can help you out.

Be observent, make friends and you will get out on flats ... it's the same as up here, the Keys folks are great people and happy to share insight and thoughts. If you need a few names, I can put you in touch wiht people down there who would be happy to give you some pointers.

Andy

Going to the hunk friday night to sunday morning when the Pats open up thier first game. The fricken Ferry doesnt leave the hunk untill 4pm on sunday!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if I can swim home in my wetsuit in the morning. Im torn up about this. Just had to vent.
See if John Paul is going earlier

december, jan, february. Barracuda and shark move onto the flats. Best fishing of my life was reeling topwater lures as fast as I could in 2 ft of water, watching 25-30lb barracuda explode on it. Nevermind the fight bringing them in.,,,,,,

Bart, here are some pics from a rock you showed me.

20 lb Striper came 2 ft out of the water attacking a pencil the other morning. Priceless. I was wondering how you were doing when the storm came through. :wave:

Finaddict- thanks very much for the offer. i might take you up on that.

nice pics casey. one of my favorite spots. hope all is well :wave:

sweet pics tynan!

Rob glad to hear all is well in Tiki land:cheers2:getting your diving certification is Key down there I'm sure wreck diving,fishing for snook & tarpin will keep you busy during the winter months btw Jack is gonna miss you this year @ the play off party :tooth:


Bob

DO you have any Jimmy Buffet concerts lined up yet????:laugha:
:yak4::yak:

Bart, I think you need to go to Keys Fisheries in Marathon and have an order of Key Lime Scallops with a rum punch. Soon you'll feel much better. Jan and Feb are coming and I'm sure all of your New England buddies will be sending you PM's to try and hook up for some good fishing. Hang in there.
How 'bout barbcueing some key lime deer with piping plover on the side?

haha oh man, i'd be in some trouble if the authorities ever found me with key deer venison in my possession. :err: and i've been to that place in marathon. had a few drinks before a snorkeling trip there :cheers: