First, thanks for the restaurant recommendations. Best breakfast - lobster eggs benedict at Blue Heaven. Best lunch - conch fritters and grouper sandwich at B.O.'s fish wagon. Best dinner - Hogfish Bar & Grill.

Unfortunately, the weather was lousy, so we didn't get out to Dry Tortugas. We did get out past the Marquesas for some great bottom fishing...non-stop action on red grouper, black grouper, mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, and mutton snapper. My wife fished live bait, I jigged bucktails and butterfly jigs till my arms hurt, then I switched to mait too (live pinfish). Took some fresh fillets from the boat to Hogfish Bar & Grill, and for $11 each, we had the best fish I will ever have in my life.

Captain was Steve Lamb of Dreamcatcher charters. Decorated coast guard vet. Owns a fleet of 7 or 8 boats, we had his 32 Yellowfin. Boat was a beast, wicked fast (twin 300's). Rods and reels all top of the line. Best of all, because my wife was with me, he was a really nice, friendly guy. Some captains I've been with, I wouldn't want my wife to be around for 8 hours. Steve was the best, very affable and patient with my wife. I've been with more than 25 charter captains, several only once by choice. Steve was very near the top of the list. Can't say enough good things about him.

Different (better) way of life down there. Can fish in shorts 12 months a year. Fish bite all day, so you don't have to get out there at 3 AM. Unbelievable variety (flats, wreck, reef, backcountry, offshore). Fish are bigger, prettier, easier to catch, better tasting. These guys catch hard-fighting 10 pound snapper and grouper the way we catch bluegills and scup. And their taxes are much, much lower. In the next life...

I'll post a few simple oics if I figure out how...

Good report. Seems like a great trip.

:cheers:

Best part? My 3 little boys were not there...good to get a break, it was our first trip without kids since my oldest was born 6 years ago...

sounds like an awesome time, always wanted to get down there, someday when we are through this whole "kids" thing....

I forgot to tell you. if you want to have the most frustrting fishing experience of your life, Big tapon and jacks feed at this beach at night. Its near the end of Duval st. Some locals called it bum beach. I got 1 jack on a fly put broke off an a pilon. had tarpon follow flies and plugs but spook, really annoying but lots of fish.

Took some fresh fillets from the boat to Hogfish Bar & Grill, and for $11 each, we had the best fish I have ever had in my life.

Fixed.

Sounds like a good time.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Fixed.

Sounds like a good time.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thank you Spence, it was a great way to re-charge th ebatteries! What a place. Most of us here, rather than choosing our shared hobby, I think, have "been chosen" by the thing we love. For those of us who just have saltwater in our blood and in our sould, the Keys are a magical place. Every building, it seems, is a marina, tackle shop, bar, clam shack, or dive shop. What a place.

We really getthe short end of the stick up here. I can't think of one aspect that's better up here. The beaches are better up here, I guess, that's about it.

Sounds like you got Keys Disease pretty fast..... Makes you hate work, where you live, want to never leave, drink like a fish, fish all day every day, etc.....
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Glad you had a great trip!! Sounds like you'll be going back!!

Sounds great. Right on. on the better way of life. a few more years for me and I will be a permanent resident of short pants land.