Marathon Florida
 

Spent seven days in Marathon in the Florida Keys. Weather was great 80 degrees and fishing was great too, fished five mornings. Fished aboard the Marathon Lady about 65 foot for a half day at a cost of 45.00 dollars and if you wanted to fish the afternoon they charge another 25 bucks. Caught a lot of small fish such as yellow tail, grouper and grunts. Average morning catch was 25-30 fish, enough to keep me busy either throwing them back overboard or giving them to the crew or others that were not catching fish. Do not use them boat rods.

Gear to use is light spinning rod set up cost 30 -36 bucks, 1/16, 1/8 or 3/16 yellow jigheads depending on current with a piece of squid.

One day was very windy, blew 25 knots, 4 foot chop and whitecaps, didn't see any chummers on board.

Stayed at a nice motel on a beach, as long as the wife has a beach I can fish, excellent trade off, a Tiki Bar and restaurant next door and also a nice Tiki Bar just before the seven mile bridge with a swimming pool and Tiki Bar at pool side.

I'm hoping to take a trip like this either next winter or the winter after. Glad you had a good trip and, from the sounds of it, great weather.

I'm going there next month for a week with two friends (no wives). We are staying on Islamorada. But thats a short hop to Marathon.

We have 1 or 2 charters lined up, but also thinking of a head boat like you did.

Any more information you have would be greatly apppreciated.

I've been fishing the Marathon Lady for more than 10 years now. Great bunch of guys and a quality operation. There is a restaurant at the boat on rt 1 that will cook the fish for you very reasonable. Best fish dinner in the keys.

Fished Islamorada once, nothing to really do after fishing for day, good food at the Green Turtle if still open. At Bud & Mary's there were always plenty of guides waiting to book trips.


Marathon much better for life after fishing.

No matter where U go along the keys watch out for cops. Do not drink much if driving, they get you for driving and speeding.

If in Marathon best tackle shop about 4 miles south from Marathon Lady on left called "The Tackle Box," they have everything. The one next to boat and restaurant sucks.

you can also rent center console boats by the day by the 7 mile bridgeuse to cost a couple hundred a day plus gas.

We've switched to a rental duplex on Marathon. We have 3 offshore trips booked for every-other day. Two are out of Islamorada, the other Marathon. Hope to hit a sail on the offshore trips.

Only worry is the wind.....although we are fishng a 31 regulator with trip yamis. Should take the seas just fine.


What to do on the inbetween days we will decide when we get there. Maybe backcountry fishing or some head boat or reef action just for fun.

Flyrod:
I heard of Bud and Marys and we will check it out for those other days.
Three weeks to go !!!!!!!!!!:jump1::jump1:

Good luck w/ the trip van - sounds like a great trip. Try fishing the bridges in the downtime. Never know what's hanging around, caught a good size moray eel a few years ago. At night - just watch out for the rats
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With real estate down there where it is, I am seriously thinking of buying a small place down there within the next couple years (on the water with a canal behind the house and a boat lift) and I can not decide exactly where I want to be yet. I have fished it a few times before but have not spent enough time there to really know the keys. I plan a few more visits with the wife to check it out and educate myself but can you give me any regions that would be great for seasonal snowbirds who fish/boat? I know I want to be no closer to mainland FL than key largo and away from key west crowds.

Van...go offshore wreck fishing while you are down there, it is awesome!!! the fish are huge. Do the butterfly jig thing as well as live bait deep. The sailfish thing is exciting for a day or two but they are almost like bluefish down there at times. The wrecks have so many different species it is mind boggling.

I want to follow you Mr Sandman keep me updated to your findings :)

I saw a resort for sale. On water, dock, pool, multiple units of all sizes. 450K,. FOR A FULL WORKING RESORT !!!!!!

I looked at some single family houses that cost that up here.

Thanks for the tip on the wreck fishing.
We really want to hook up with a sail or two or three !:jump1:

I would also look into renting instead of buying in the keys. Property taxes can be 4,000 a year or better, insurance 2500-5000 a year, most people need flood insurance and maintence cost. If you buy you are obligated to going to same place all the time.

You can rent for 2000-2500 a month, rent two or three months and give the key back. If any hurricane damage you can rent the place next door. :)

No question short term there is something to be said for renting and I may end up doing that for a while but I am looking for longer term appreciation on a neglected or outdated house in a ideal location that can be gutted and fixed...Renting is a good idea in the mean time.

I think locations like this will rebound eventually.

Was talking to a guy at work this morning. His friends family member took a trip down to check out retirement housing. After visiting several that were on the water, they found one they could not pass up even thought is was inland a bit.......

They ended up in a "fully furnished" 2 Bdrm "house" not a condo.
In a retirement community less than a mile from the beach.. for.....

wait for it !!!!!!!!!!!!


17.9 yes 17.9.......even with a $500/mo maintenance fee its still a bargain. Story is the couple that sold it did not like living in FL so they just left it furnished and moved further north.

WHERE DO I SIGN !

I spend that on boating and fishing related costs each year

I hve been to Duck Key twice this year. It's the key just south of Marathon, but I guess it's technical part of Marathon. The fishing at the both the Islamorada & Marathon hump is fastastic. The North wind has been pushing the gulf stream waters real tight too and much closer than the humps. The sailfishing, wahoo, and blackfin tuna fishing has been fanstastic. I luckily have 2 free places to stay now and access to a brand new 225 Seahunt, a 30 Island Hopper, and an Egrit flats boat....doesn't suck!

If I were to get a place in the Keys Marathon or Islamorada would be my pick. Anything further and the drive is just too far for flying down on weekends and driving out. Marathon airport is starting to make a come-back and is supposed to pick up a major airline again. Both keys are big enough for other things to do for the family etc...as well as big grocery stores and regular conviniences.

Been fishing marathon for 20 years. Going with my 3 Brothers in law in March for our 18th annual March Madness trip always first weekend of NCAA tourney. Went through several guides but for last 12 or so used Captain Jack Carlson and the Two Conchs. He also owns Big Time bait and tackle 2 blocks south of the Marathon Lady. Used to do the Lady a lot as well. With jack we have caught Tarpon, Permit, Cobia, Grouper (red and black) as Goliath (formerly Jewfish), Blackfin tuna at the hump and many kinds of snapper as well. Also King, Spanish and Cero Mackeral and too many other species to name. He has a great 4 night 3 day package and above bait shop and in front of dock for his 31 foot Contender we stay in his 2 bedroom apartment that sleeps four, has kichen as well as gas grill on the dock.

On way down stop and feed the tarpon at Captain Robbies below MM 80 on right. Captain Robbie also has a great headboat at MM 86 at Holiday Isle where I have cuaght snapper and keeper grouper. Also witnessed a kid catch a big sailfish when we were fishing for kings on that boat a while back as well.

Nice thing about keys is if wind is issue you can fish atlantic or gulf side. Some days we did Cobia on gulf in AM and snapper (big Muttons) as well as Amberjacks on atlantic side in the afternoon.

Look up Captain Jack if at MM 50. Say hello for me. Get there after 4:30 if you want to see his haul. As the other guides say the only thing worse then fishing next to Jack is to come to the dock and throw your catch out next to his.

Bill

Heading back to Marathon on the 5th of March and going to enjoy another ten days of fishing. might check out the places that rip runner and hardcore mentioned.

I lived on Big Pine for a little while and was in Marathon a lot. My girlfriend at the time was actually a teacher at Marathon middle school. The fishing is fantastic there, but unfortunately I never made it out on a fishing boat. i fished the bridges( mostly the No Name bridge) and caught tons of different types of snappers, big barracuda, and I hooked a half dozen BIG tarpon but never landed one.

The Keys are awesome if you want pristine marine life without the beaches( one exception being Bahia Honda). and whoever mentioned the cops is right on. When I moved down there someone asked me if I knew why they called it the Keys. When I replied, "no" they explained that they call it the Keys because they will take your keys if you are drinking and driving. Sort of a contradiction as they pretty much promote drinking( and driving) in the Keys. You can walk into any bar, order a drink, ask a for a cup, pour said drink into said cup, then proceed to the next tiki bar.

The Keys are beautiful an have a lot to offer, but at this point in my life I have no interest in living there. People who have spent their lives in the Keys are a different breed, and like most locals in other areas, they are very protective of their territory. Of course, KW is a whole other deal though and one worth exploring if you have the opportunity( and liver).

here is a picture at the tarpon feeding dock that my sister took a few days ago...

Our first charter is with Capt Jack on Two Conchs !!!!

Good info...thanks Bill,

I will say hello for ya.
Doing the other two trips with a capt that Frank fished with last year.
He did quite well too.

anyone going to the keys may want to check out "Last Minute Vacation Rentals.

Some places are resonable.

Jack is as Hardcore a fisherman and guide as I ever met. He has lots of great spots. He will not fail due to lack of effort. The 3 of you will enjoy fishing with him.

No place fishier looking then driving into the Keys. Great to see water on both sides. Watch and see the boats anchored up down tide of the bridges fishing for tarpon. Once in a while you can even see them hooked up (if you are not the driver).

We will be at Jack's place the evening of 3/15/12 and fish 3/16, 3/17 and 3/18. Already lifting weights and working out to be ready.

my buddy texted these photos to me the other day. (he winters in the keys and fishes almost everyday). He said he is catching these off his dock with a dip net each evening!

Just returned from FL. I stayed in Jupiter about 4 and 1/2 hrs from key west. I stayed in Marathon Key too. Good central location...Luved it! The Miami boat show was silly.

While in Marathon I stayed at 'The Blackfin Resort' for $110. heated pool, private ramp, perfect spot to chill. In the evening had dinner watching about 15 tarpon swimming near me, awful.

Sandman ... while it may be early to start thinking of this ... the Keys are broken down into five districts with five chambers of commerce - Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key & the Lower Keys, and Key West ... each area has it's own distinct nature (if you spend enough time down there you can see it) ... but if you like to be in out of the way places, I have found the Lower Keys the area where you can steal away the most ... it's much more quiet of course than Key West, Marathon and the Upper Keys ... and has some great backcountry action ... some of the basins behind Big Pine Key and Cudjoe Key are breathtaking and have great fishing. If you like to head across Florida Bay and fish Flamingo and the Everglades, then the Upper Keys are easier for making the trip across ... all areas offer great places to eat and stay, and great guides ... and you can easily drive to most anywhere within an hour during the early hours before traffic gets heavy ... but of course Key West offers access to the Marquesas which are amazing as well as other great fishing ... it may be worth spending a little time experiencing each area of the Keys districts to really get an understanding of what feels best to you. If you want to hook up with some realtors, I know a few that won't steer you wrong and are from fishing families so they know what's going on.

Goose: any fish stories?

Fin: Thanks. We are planning to visit more and spend some time there to get more of a feel of the place.

Because I went alone I wasn't about to dish out 5 bills to get on a decent charter, I could have gotten on a drift boat for $60 but I'm not crazy for drift boats after fishing on one a few days before in Jupiter. The best thing about drift fishing is seeing all the different species of fish.

The capt. of this particular boat I went on was an arrogant know it all who got into a extended yelling match with another boat and to top it off he belittled the guests by yelling at them the whole time. When we didn't see a dolphin swim by our lines he says "what@#$%matter with you guys"(we're talkin retirees) ....he had a live well full baits,,just for him. He see's the dolphin throws out a live bait, lands it and then rubs it in our faces...I swear my tongue was bleeding. I landed a blue runner he says the fish is his...I tell'um...we'll see about that. The tackle suxed. I broke off on 2 big King Fish and the seas where 4-5, I took a wave over the side, got soaked from the chest down and the capt tells me seas are at 2 feet...lol

That experience is not to say Jupiter fishing is crap. Its one of the many hot spots in southern FL. Excellent place to vacation in the winter.

In Marathon you would not get that kind of treatment on the Marathon Lady.

We're back
 

We chartered once out of Marathon and twice our of Islamorada. IMO the fishing in Islamorada was much much better. Different but better.

First day on Marathon I took a nice big amberjack, my buddies got kingfish and mangrove snapper. Several small grouper that had to be released. We took our catch to a restaurant where they cooked it up in fine fashion...What a feast !!!!!!!!!

Next charter was on Islamorada. Right after getting bait, we started moving and saw sailfish free-jumping. Out goes a bait and I'm on. Fish was screaming the drag and staying down. The Capt just followed the fish without getting up next to it. After about 10-15 minutes, it decides to go airborne 2-3 times and its off. Estimated 70lbs. I told the guys I felt like Wes Welker !!! We proceeded to fish more and got black fin tuna, BIG kings and Barracuda. All these fish fought hard.

We had another charter with the same capt two days later and told him we would like to concentrate on sails. No problem.... He headed east and the fish were busting bait but were spotty. Several more chances when we got close but no hook-ups. At one point there were probably 5-6 sails around us showering bait. I looked down when something caught my eye and a nice one swam right by the boat. We saw more free-jumpers and a couple of other boats hooked up.

All in all it was an awesome trip. I took video of sails busting bait, but cant post them here. But here are some various pics.

We are already planning a trip for next year (maybe two)......