Our one week stay down here has spent mostly fishing. Bought a 30 dollar setup to fish bridges using 1/8 oz tipped with live shrimp is the way to go. Caught lots of big snapper to 14-18" and a few yellow tail jacks, hogfish, small grouper and others. We also did a low budget charter on the Seadog and got into some bigger jacks (smaller ones are better eating). For 175 you can rent a 22'cc for a full day rods included, we where a little late in discovering and planning that...next year. Second time staying at the BlackFin resort, place has it all at about 110 day. Heated pool, fish cleaning stations private boat ramp Bar grill etc. Looking in the waster here Is like being at SeaWorld there's manatee dolphins tarpon big barracuda sea turtles you name it. Gonna dive two reefs this afternoon about 5 miles out for 25 bucks this oughta be good.

Put a circle hook through one of those yellowtails' backs on a heavy outfit and slam it off the water, stunning it. Then watch for the flash :uhuh:

Goose, wheredja go in the Keys? Sounds like very reasonable fish vaca.

:nopics:

tONY WHAT TOWN YOU IN ,,

i FORGOT WHERE WE STAYED , but founded about too much too late .i gotta go back ....
Just snokeling near where we stayed was awesome .

Hows the weather for end of January // I think we went OCT/NOV .

going back

ENJOY MY FRIEND :fishin:

i hope you have an underwater camera

We wnt to Key Largo a couple of year ago in March, weather was perfect.

Marathon is just right for us, reasonable. Snorkeling on the reef was great and cheap. It's been in the 80's and mid 70's. Pics when I get back. I love this place I know you SB'ers will too
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My folks had a home in Marathon for years until their health failed and they moved back up north, some really good Tarpon fishing south of there in May. Well that's only if a 100 lb fish making you zigzag through concrete bridge pilings, while being followed by a hungry shark gets your blood pumping. I love the keys, its been far too many years since I was down.

I think we should get a SB keys trip put together, no that would be fun..

Tony we stayed in the town just south of Key largo ><>< sweet :jump1:

I'd have a real hard time returning back here right now - tired of the cold weather

I'd have a real hard time returning back here right now - tired of the cold weather

I stuck my head out the front door this mornin as i let the dog out to "go"
and there is this loud noise (aircraft carrier sized) up in the sky
all around... i guess it's the "ROAR" of Old man Winter :huh:

sounded like the low rumble of a hundred Harley's going by
i dunno what it was... so cold, so NASTY outside :hs:

:fishin: :soon:

Enjoy the trip Tony
can't wait to see the pics.

The bridge fishing was great considering it was January. There where a few barracuda well over 40'' cruising under the bridges along with a school of large jacks much bigger then the two I caught, we threw every at'um they weren't interested. Bigger jacks red meat aren't as good eating as the one shown unless smoked.

I'm guestamating this jack is about#10, 'tore her up' . we went out on the Seadog for $65 an angler. IMO this is for the person who doesnt fish. IMO Party charter boats down there are a business geared for people who don't fish. Cheap rusty terminal tackle and rod/reels. After the first fish was landed one of the crew members said that the treble hook broke and that it was the only one onboard. WTF!! During another fight the reel seat broke off the rod, guy had reel in one hand rod in the other. He was told to do his best gripping the reel against the rod. There where large schools of big jacks around the boat and not a lure on board!... shame on me too but I was told we'd do bottom fishing and no bottom fish to be found but a few grunts. On the way out they had me convinced we'd catch big grouper. If you go bring good tackle!! The captain was totally hacking the fillet job, Im not the greatest either but I had to get in there and cut my own.

Our resort had all the commendations of a more expensive place. As a return customer you get better rates and January was also the low season.

I had a blast never knowing what would come up next. If anyone wants a few tips as to what bridge's or how I fished them shoot me a pm. The snappers where bigger then what most of the locals where catching because I ran into a great fisherman at a tackle shop on day one and she spilled her gutts to me, except what bridges...I found those which was half the fun. I'll try and do what DZ did next year, plenty of tarpon at the keys.

:kewl:

Those are some nice grey snapper ... although the jacks are rather oily ... the bigger ones are awesome on poppers, flies, live bait ... we used to find them daisy chaining similar to tarpon, although they were not in single file, more like a vortex of them ... and throw a fly or plug near them and they'd go crazy ...

As for the Sea Dog ... that's too bad ... there are so many great charter captains that will steer you straight and give you a great experience in the Keys, but unfortunately you got one of the bad ones ...

...like you said, you would have been better off renting a boat and doing it yourself ... catch some grunts and other small fish off the reef or go to a nearby marker with a sabiki rig, load up and then drift them live by the drop off, over a wreck, never know what you will catch and can be fun and exciting, or chum up some nice yellow tail around the reef, wreck, patch reef, drop off ... drift back some bait and you can be into some great fun and eating ...

... the other option, which is more costly is to hire a good guide but your memories are better ... some boats will split fares for $175 for a half day ... but if you were able to do that well from the bridges, you could manage some great fishing on your own with a boat ...

Glad U had a great time in Marathon...been going there the last 5 years....I basically target the yellowtail snappers when fishing on the Marathon Lady...this boat has great mates....anyone that knows something about fishing would not use their rods they R heavy for big game fishing... I compare their fishing rigs like using the gear in Maine smelt fishing.. always bring my own spinning tackle...next door to this place U can if U want have your catch cooked for about 8 bucks w/fries & coleslaw.

Goose, I'm sure U hit the Sunset Grille for happy hour and great sunsets...there is Lazy Days too for food & sunsets...on chilly rainy days there is Castaways its in doors drinks and food is reasonable...those of U that like burgers Burdines is the place on good days..its open air dinning on the waterway....If ya love italian Franks is the place, need to make reservations one to two days ahead.

Anyone ever looking for a half day trip on the Marathon Lady U need to book the stern four days in advance to be gaurranteed or U will be on the side....cost 45 bucks for half day...I buy a booklet of 12 for 37 bucks a trip.
http://www.fishfloridakeys.com/marathonlady/

i JUST CHECKED MY TIME SHARE ....... THEY HAVE 4 PLACES IN mARATHON ........... I used a 3 month time frame & came back .......... with a Zero ........... :wall: