Marathon in February

[PhilDKreal]

Family vacation in mid-Feb. Rented a house at Key Colony right above the Vaca Cut.

Might rent a boat to fart around with the kids, and will also try wading here and there, but this is not a fishing trip.

I'll get out at least once with a guide for a bit of serious fishing. Any Reccomendations? Looking to fly fish for bones, possibly tarpon, but also into back-country trout and reds. Could be tempted to try for some Mahi on the fly as well.

Guide suggestions, and any general helpful info appreciated. We have stayed in Islamorada before. First time staying in Marathon.

Thanks.

[LeeG]

Phil-I stayed in Key Colony a few couple years ago for a family vacation. We rented a boat for a day or two and kept it in the chanel in front of the house we were staying in. You'll have fun with snappers, baracudas, and the like without too much effort. Fishing from shore around there is tough-and usually crowded. There were some spots between Islamorada and there that looked good but I never tried them.

We rented a kayak for the afternoon and paddled back into the mangroves. I thought it was pretty interesting and I saw a few bonefish but nothing too exciting. Good birding though. I can't remember exactly where it was, but there was an island out of the harbor that would have been a good kayak destination and had nice flats around it.

If want to hire a guide, try Greg Poland. He fishes out of Islamorada and usually books pretty far in advance. Have a great trip.

Lee

[Slappy]

Florida Marathon?

Boston Marathon!

Marathon is a tiring place, but you are happy when you are done....

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Keys fishing is seasonal as it is any where else. The weather is very touchy in the winter as cold fronts (like today) bring in 20-30 kt winds for a couple of days and then pass until the next one shows.

For flats fishing.... Some years there is a short Tarpon run at the end of Feb if it has been warm all winter. Unless it has been extremely warm Bonefish will be almost impossible to find. Winter flats fishing consists primarily of Sharks, Cudas, Trout, Jacks resident smaller Tarpon can be found. It is not the time to go looking for Bones & Permit.

Best Keys fishing in the winter is on the reef and offshore. If you want some steady, fast and hard action you should find a light tackle guide with a big center console. Tell him if you want to flyfish. You will catch more and larger fish....Jacks, Snapper, Blackfin Tuna, Kingfish, Spanish & Cero Mackerel, Sailfish, African Pompano, Cobia, Sharks, Cudas, the Grouper are down deeper but you can catch them on a fly. Dophin are scarce during the winter but you may get lucky and find some warmer blue water with weeds.

Winter is what all the light tackle/offshore/reef captains wait for while the flats guys live for the spring through the fall.

[PhilDKreal]

Thanks for the input guys. I have no delusions about finding outstanding fishing in Feb., and have been through the cold fronts and wind in Feb as well.

Sounds like going offshore will be the thing to try. Got lucky with sailfish a few years ago in Feb, and a handful of small Mahi.

I've got to check out some guides.

[soundownsam]

Capt. Chris beat me to it. Winter is tme to head offshore. If you can find a guide who will oad up with live chum and take you offshore you should be able to see solid sailfish, kingfish action with any number of other species thrown in.

Sam

[LandlockedinMI]

If I might make a suggestion.....if you are serious about getting into some big time fish, I'd drive down to Oceanside Marina and go offshore for Blackfin/sails. We did very well in march. I've been out w/ Capt Ken Harris out of Oceanside (Key West btw) and always had great luck and a great time. We basically got tired of catching blackfin tuna on the fly rod...can't even believe I'm writing that now. Anyway if you want to drive a bit, google captain Ken. Another option is to go bay side out of marathon for macs which should be around in decent numbers, but you can do that w/ your own boat. Get a block or 2 of chum and anchor upcurrent of one of the banks. We usually start off throwing bare lead head jigs tipped w/ shrimp tails or bottom fishing w/ hoo chunks or shrimp until the macs move in. Then switch over to fly w/ steel bite tippets- great fun.

[PhilDKreal]

Would love to get into some Spanish Macs on the fly-rod. 8wts & 9wts OK?

[PhilDKreal]

Any feedback on Buddy Lapointe? Guide in Marathon area.

[LandlockedinMI]

Never heard of him, which means nothing btw.

I fish w/ Capt Ron Trobis 305-7430776 outta Grassy Key. He's not a fly guide but will put you on the macs, if they are around w/ no problem. If you call please tell him I said Hola.