Upper - Mid Keys Trip

[Rocktrout]

Howdy! I have read a number of the other threads on this page regarding trips to the Keys, and have some questions to ask.

We are headed down the last few days of March and are hoping to camp on Long Key and fish in that area.

1) Is there a realistic chance to access flats on foot and have a chance to get into something other than 'cuda? If so, where is the best place to access these areas?


2) Are kayaks a viable option to get further out on the flats or to fish the bridge channels?


3) If the state park campground is full, are there other cheap options for lodging?

4) What sort of wind will completely shut down the fishing for a few days?

Thanks so much for any and all advice!!!

Cheers!

[TonyB]

1) At Long Key you have a good shot at Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, as well as sharks and cuda while wading from shore. Look for bonefish on an incoming tide, especially at sunrise. In the campground area, drive south to the end of the cul-de-sac and you can walk to the flat from there. The flat is mainly grass covered, use unweighted or light flies so you don't get fouled so easily.


Good Luck and report back!

[Quicksilver]

I think Long Key is at mile marker 68. There is a much better flat you can wade 10 miles north. Look for the billboard by the road on the ocean side. The tide for the area is approximately 1 1/2 hours after the tide for Alligator Reef. Try to catch early incoming. Dawn and dusk is also good. Kayaks are dynamite for fishing on the bayside. Other inexpensive lodging - Key Lantern in Islamorda, and Bayview Inn(?), on Conch Key. Both have specials. The name of the game is sight fishing so any wind at 20 or more will create waves that eliminate your chances of seeing fish. Wind from the north, as in cold front will shut things down bigtime.

[Rocktrout]

Guys, thanks for the info. So, the flat is 10 miles closer to Miami, at say MM 78? What is the access like? Do you have any recommendations on where to rent yaks?

Cheers,
Adam

[Quicksilver]

Access for the flat at MM 78 is parking by the side of the road and taking a dozen paces to the water. I borrowed a kayak. Try calling Bud and Mary's in Islamorada to rent one or find out where you can rent one.

[donrik]

The flat you guys are talking about is between 74 and 75. There is a Texaco station heading south, park just north across the street from it. Walk south towards the rock outcropping. The bottom here is sandy with the occasional patch of grass. You can rent a boat or a kayak from Robbies around MM78. I have rented a little 15 footer from there and hit this flat. Just south at Anne's beach is another good spot to wade, just have to do it early before the crowds arrive. I met a guy in November who guides kayak fisherman. I was a little sceptical talking to him at first , seemed like he lived out of his van, then he pulled out a photo album and had some great pics of bones and permit caught on fly. If I wasn't leaving that afternoon I would have gone out with him. Decided last minute to head down next week, and will try to find him.

[Quicksilver]

I think I ran into that guy once! He sort of guaranteed multiple shots at bonefish in excess of nine pounds. I never saw the photo album.

[LandlockedinMI]

As far as yaking under the bridges, I would be VERY cautious doing that without knowledge of tides and the general vicinity. It would not be fun to get pinned to a piling and go swimming when the current is ripping. After seeing a 100lb plus tarpon become a hammerhead snack, I'm a wary of using a flats skiff ....

[Rocktrout]

Location question. Last time we were down in the Keys, we went with a guide, I believe on Marathon Key. From his house, we went eastward and got gas/bait at a "marina" where we could throw shrimp into the water and watch tarpon surface. Directly east of there was a bridge where we fished to rollers for a little while. Does anyone have any idea where that might be?

[AlderBrookFarm]

Probably Capt. Hooks. Was it right next to Rte 1? Pool with bonefish, tarpon, parrotfish?

[Quicksilver]

Robbies Marina?

[Rocktrout]

I am not sure really WHAT the name was. It wasn't really a marina, per se, more of a bait/gas stop, but the water that was right there within 20 ft of the dock had tarpon that would come up to live shrimp and gulp them from the surface. It was only a stone's throw from Rt 1 and a bridge there, but not sure how to get there from land?

[MagicSFK]

I'm not sure of the place you describe near Marathon, but farther up the road in Islamorada is Robbie's...I think it's about MM 79 or so. For about $1 you can feed the tarpon from their docks. Kinda "touristy" but it's really great to see!

[Rocktrout]

What about good fly shops down there?

[MagicSFK]

There are two excellent fly shops in the area....Sandy Moret's Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada (http://www.floridakeysoutfitters.com), and The World Class Angler in Marathon (http://www.worldclassangler.com).

[Rocktrout]

Ok.......so I figured out that the marina with the tarpon was right by the bridge for Vaca Cut.......anyone know which it is now?

Also, we are a group of eaters heading down there, where do you recommend a meal after a day of fishing?


Thanks again!!

[TonyB]

I remember a place like you're describing. I was fishing with a guide out of Islamorada, Jimmy Lozar he fishes out of the LoraLei(?spelling) Marina. It was kind of a rickety old place, we stopped for crabs/shrimp and there were plenty of Tarpon hanging around.

[Rocktrout]

Yeah, that sounds about right!!!

[Rocktrout]

Any ideas for eats in the Keys?

[KLudwig]

donrik, I ran into the same guy while I was fishing a flat in Boca Chica. He showed me the album and basically ran me through his sales pitch. His name is Jay Grant I believe. I ended up going out with him the next day and it was pretty memorbale day. He's absolutely insane. Certifiable. Fished 10 hours for 100 bucks and a complete loss of my self respect. He was the most unpleasant person to fish with but at least he put me onto a couple permit. I literally had to yell at him so he wouldn't cast at the fish. Anyway, I'm sure he's got a rep among the local guys down there. I would only reccomend him to people who can deal with absolute mental abuse while paddling a kayak for 10 hours.

[Quicksilver]

THAT'S IT !!! THAT DUDE TRAINS ALL THE KEYS GUIDES !!!

[AlderBrookFarm]

There are lots of good places to eat. If you are lucky enough to catch something like tuna or mahi some restaraunts will cook your fish for you. They charge you for the vegetables, salad bar, etc. with some for the cooking. We did it with tuna two years ago....awesome but I can't remember the name of the restaraunt.

[Bullsey398]

RT,

The name of the marina you're looking for is "Capt n Hooks". I've been going there for 20yrs. They've changed hands a few times and the advice you get there is not nearly as good as it used to be, but, it's very convenient from water or shore.

The help you get is highly dependent on who's working and how busy they are. There used to be a couple of great guys for fly advice, but they're guides now. Tournament Bait and Tackle is a much better shop for fly tackle / advice.

There are usually several med. size tarpon around there small dock. They also usually have a couple small ones in their "recovery" tanks in front of the store. Lot's of species in there... it's pretty cool to watch them up close!

As far as eating... the Quay is pretty good, although "upscale" for the keys. They will cook your catch... as will most of the places down there.

Have fun!

Greg

[Rocktrout]

Ok, thanks, hopefully the fishing will be self-explanatory!

[Rocktrout]

So, thanks for all of your help, but we were skunked down in the Keys. Not sure if the few days of N winds had anything to do with it, but at most, we MIGHT have seen a few bones and a couple tarpon rolling in the channels. Definitely planning on renting a skiff next time down there.

[Quicksilver]

Don't feel too bad, a lot of anglers have the same experience. I have gone to Islamorada four times and the last time I was skunked. It is a completely different type of fishing. Afraid the boat thing won't necessarily cure the problem. If you want to pursue tarpon then a boat will be a good idea, especially if you fish the bridges and the outside. If you venture into the backcountry my guess is you'll run into a bunch of problems. How bad was the wind? It sounds like you didn't see fish, did you spend much time wading the flat at MM 76ish?

[AlderBrookFarm]

The wind from the north was the biggest factor. Not to mention that it was also from the west alot which is bad for the Keys too. It's opposite of our rhyme...wind from the west, fishing the best, wind from the east, fishing the least. In the Keys east wind is better than west. I got skunked on the flats & tarpon fishing too. We went on an offshore charter for 3 days and on spinning tackle I caught a small mahi-mahi, a bonito and 2 sailfish over the 3 days. The day we were supposed to go with the flats guide it was blowing 20-25 out of the N with Tstorms predicted. He rescheduled us for another day and that was just as bad...add tornado watch to the severe Tstorms. The other half caught a 50lb tarpon at night on live pinfish and several cuda in the 3' range in addition to the 2 cero mackeral, mahi, 2 blackfin tuna, and 3 sailfish that he caught when we were offshore. Can we say rod hog? I think I'm voting for separate vacations next year.:-% :-% :-% :-%

[Quicksilver]

Seriously rough weather!