key west report - fishing & food

[Jim in CT]

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...